pulling the film leader back out

Eric De Santiago · Jul 10, 2019

So, I shot half a roll of 35mm film, then I wound it back in, with the intention of shooting the rest after I replaced the light seals on my camera. However, I ended up winding the leader into the cartridge. How could I pull the leader back out?

bernard_L · Jul 10, 2019

http://www.apphoto.es/en/app_eng/Film-Loading/
First item on the page; Might be available in US under a distributor brand.
One can find on the internet tricks where one licks a piece a film to make it sticky and catch the leader behind the slot; no personal experience.

Rick A · Jul 10, 2019

cjbecker · Jul 10, 2019

Just lick the leader of another roll and slide it in the felt of the roll you are trying to retrieve. Rotate the film inside the roll you are trying to retrieve till it sticks to the one you licked. Pull out the now retrieved leader

Helios 1984 · Jul 10, 2019

I have a “Matin Film Picker 7”, similar to the one posted by Bernard. I got it on eBay from a Korean seller but I think they’re available in the US. I’ve been using it for 2-3 years now and it never let me down YMMV.

bernard_L · Jul 10, 2019

Helios 1984 said:
I’ve been using it for 2-3 years now and it never let me down YMMV.

My experience with the AP device is that it may struggle when the tip of the leader is severely curved from spending a long time on the take-up spool of a camera. But maybe I'm biased from trying to pull leaders of "found film" that spend years in a camera.

Helios 1984 · Jul 10, 2019

bernard_L said:
My experience with the AP device is that it may struggle when the tip of the leader is severely curved from spending a long time on the take-up spool of a camera. But maybe I'm biased from trying to pull leaders of "found film" that spend years in a camera.

I remember having trouble with a roll of Agfa Superpan 200 from the 80’s. The negatives were so curly that I struggled to fit them in my scanner film holder.

AgX · Jul 10, 2019

-) commercial extractor
-) DIY extractor as described By Andrew Davidhazy
-) film strip w. adhesive tape
-) wetted film strip
-) breaking open the cassette

Helios 1984 · Jul 10, 2019

The FPP store has the Matin retriever.

Rick A · Jul 10, 2019

AgX said:
-) commercial extractor
-) DIY extractor as described By Andrew Davidhazy
-) film strip w. adhesive tape
-) wetted film strip
-) breaking open the cassette

"So, I shot half a roll of 35mm film, then I wound it back in, with the intention of shooting the rest after I replaced the light seals on my camera."
How does your last method help the OP?

AgX · Jul 10, 2019

He then can
-) stick the film to the end-piece from another cassette with the film already cut off
-) load it into a reloadable cassette
-) might even load the film again without cassette

Vaughn · Jul 10, 2019

I used AgX's third method -- a strip of 1/4" wide, 5" long piece of film cut from a piece of 4x5 film and a piece of double sided tape on the end. Used the method for years as the darkroom tech.

foc · Jul 10, 2019

I can recommend the AP film picker. Just follow the instructions and it is very easy to use.
One tip I have found to help, (as shown in the video above) is the stop the cassette core from springing back or moving by applying small pressure from your forefinger just after you hear the film leader click.
Like anything, practice makes perfect.

cmacd123 · Jul 10, 2019

I did get a surplus Noritsu QSS retriver which worked for a while, but I think an internal belt broke as it stopped working.

pulling the film leader back out

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