Newbie help - load 4x5 film - any tips for Foma 100

grat · Jun 11, 2021

M Carter said:
In my E6 studio days, myself and everyone I knew would open the box in the dark, take the film from whatever foil pouch or bag it was in, and just stick it in the inner box. The double-lid setup was always fine, and I do that to this day so as not to be fumbling with envelopes or mini-bags in the dark.

The last box of Arista Ultra EDU 400 I opened did not have a double-lid. Nor did the Rollei Infrared 400. The envelopes are a necessity.

film_man · Jun 13, 2021

PerTulip said:
Toyo holders. And I can look at them thoroughly before going into the dark and get some "finger memory". My only worry was the packaging inside the film box.

And I was wise enough to purchase a large changing bag, so I have plenty of room.

Just make sure the film goes under both rails/guides. It is easy to end up with one/both sides over which mean the film won't be positioned properly. Also, if you need to remove the film look for the big-ish round indent near the bottom, you can slide a fingernail there to lift and pull the film.

mark · Jun 13, 2021

Welcome to the large format rabbit hole.

PerTulip · Jun 14, 2021

mark said:
Welcome to the large format rabbit hole.

Thanks!

grat said:
The last box of Arista Ultra EDU 400 I opened did not have a double-lid. Nor did the Rollei Infrared 400. The envelopes are a necessity.

That's why I started this thread. Watching some YouTube-Videos on different films I got the impression, there's different packaging.

abruzzi · Jun 14, 2021

In my freezer the arista/foma (100, 200, and 320, never used the 400 in LF) are in a box with just a lid, the Rollei IR and Catalans 80 also. The Provia is double boxed, the Bergger Pancro 400 is double boxed, the Adox CMS is double boxed.

PerTulip · Aug 17, 2021

BTW: I am halfway through my first box of 4x5. Actually, loading/unloading film holders is a piece of cake. As for my initial question: box, plastic bag with a tape, film is wrapped in a "cardboard". Very easy.

Donald Qualls · Aug 17, 2021

PerTulip said:
Actually, loading/unloading film holders is a piece of cake.

Like anything else, the more you practice, the easier it gets. I find I get the film outside the septum on one side or the other a bit too often (because I don't load 4x5 holders often enough, I'm sure); it's easier (for me) to load either the film sheath for a plate camera or the septums for a Grafmatic because I can load them without the frame of the holder interfering with feeling where the film has wound up. I've got three Grafmatics now, though, which is more capacity than I usually shoot when I got out with 4x5. I just wish they had a separate dark slide -- it's like a Minolta 16, when you open it, if you don't make the exposure, you'll lose the frame, except that with a Grafmatic, it's a 4x5 that costs at least a dollar instead of one frame out of twenty or thirty on a strip you get three or six of out of a $9 120 roll.

PerTulip · Aug 17, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Like anything else, the more you practice, the easier it gets. ....

Of course. But I was overthinking it. Maybe somewhere in my subconsciousness the experience of loading my first 135 onto a spool was still there.... :-D I just went to the whole process in my head a few times (remember the notch!, slide/"door",...) and it was really easy. The size of 4x5 also made it very easy to handle the film by the edges. I put my index finger and thumb on the beginning of the "insert" and it was very easy to get the film aligned. I was worried about not having any clue how to exactly open the film packaging, but it also was very straightforward.

Thanks to all the people in the forum who answered my questions on 4x5 (what lens, film loading,,.....)

Actually, this is my first 4x5 (Intrepid Mk4, Fujiinon W 120mm, Fomapan 100, Rodinal 1+50@9min, contrast added in post):

Donald Qualls · Aug 17, 2021

Looks better than my first 4x5 negative did...

PerTulip · Aug 17, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Looks better than my first 4x5 negative did...

Thanks. I started with Fomapan 100, because it‘s the cheapest film available. I was expecting more hassle. I am quite plessed with the neegatives, sharpness and exposure are good. The only trouble I ran into: my next batch (i have 2 holders, so 4) has some streaks because I used rubber bands for the taco method and they kept some of the anti-halation backing

Donald Qualls · Aug 17, 2021

You can refix (or soak in sodium sulfite solution like hypo clearing agent) in trays, in the light, to see if that evens out. Don't forget to rewash afterward. Throw-away food containers from the dollar store make good trays if you don't have any...

Newbie help - load 4x5 film - any tips for Foma 100

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