Razivot 400' bulk loader

[Radost]

Finally pulled the trigger on this. Came in 2 days from Taiwan.
It’s a modified AP bulk loader. Which is already my favorite loader.
I think it will save me a lot of time and money considering the future of C41 film prices. it will pay for itself over the first 72 rolls.
I am planing on dedicating one day for loading the 400’ and bulk rolling 144 film cassettes. After that I will put them in film holders and vacuum seal them in the freezer.
I am very happy with the purchase.
They also make a 1000’ one but the savings on film does not justify the higher price.

 

[Don_ih]

Why does the dial only go to 100 feet?

 

[Radost]

Why does the dial only go to 100 feet?

Because the original loader used is a 100’ AP loader.

 

[ic-racer]

Nice! Thanks for sharing. Something worth looking into.

 

[armadsen]

Am I making a mistake, or is this thing around $900 US at the current exchange rate? Seems like a crazily high price! Reflx Lab's motorized, automatic 400ft bulk loader is "only" $600. Midwest Film Co. has their own manual 400ft loader for $250.

 

[Radost]

Am I making a mistake, or is this thing around $900 US at the current exchange rate? Seems like a crazily high price! Reflx Lab's motorized, automatic 400ft bulk loader is "only" $600. Midwest Film Co. has their own manual 400ft loader for $250.

Yes $900. You get what you pay for.

I saw the reflix. Don’t know how good that one is. I trust AP and like the lack of felt.
I saw the Midwest one. Uses felt. Don’t like my film scratched.

Yes the price is expansive. But the quality is great and if something happens I have 2 more AP for parts.
Just calculated it will pay for itself with the first 400’ 250D.


Yea i can 3d print the 400’ to 100’ roller but it seams it is just a waist of time.
I rather spend time with my kids.

 

[Don_ih]

I'd just pull off 50 or so feet and put it in a regular bulk loader. But you're not me.
Edit: I actually wouldn't even do that - I'd pull of a couple of feet at a time - I know, because I've done it.

 

[Radost]

I'd just pull off 50 or so feet and put it in a regular bulk loader. But you're not me.
Edit: I actually wouldn't even do that - I'd pull of a couple of feet at a time - I know, because I've done it.

So you freeze unfreeze each time?
My calculations are to maximize freshness and time management rolling all at once and freezing them saves time, money and keeps the film maximum fresh.

 

[Don_ih]

No - it was Plus-X and I never froze it. I've been using it for about 5 years and it's still the same as it was. If I wanted to freeze anything, I'd spool off enough for a small bulk loader and freeze the rest.
I think you are doing what will serve you best.

 

[MattKing]

Why does the dial only go to 100 feet?

Cost cutting - they couldn't get the rights to use the Spinal Tap approach.

 

[Radost]

No - it was Plus-X and I never froze it. I've been using it for about 5 years and it's still the same as it was. If I wanted to freeze anything, I'd spool off enough for a small bulk loader and freeze the rest.
I think you are doing what will serve you best.

This is mainly for Vision 3 cine color film. I believe the best approach is bulk roll the whole film and freeze individual cassettes.

 

[Radost]

Cost cutting - they couldn't get the rights to use the Spinal Tap approach.

Ha I would love to get Kodak to sale 11 feet of film or 111 feet. But I am sure it was too expansive for them to keep that machine.

 

[Don_ih]

the Spinal Tap approach

Channelling Sirius Glass, are you?
And 100 is much higher than 11. (I think it was 11 - I never saw the movie.)

 

[MattKing]

Channelling Sirius Glass, are you?
And 100 is much higher than 11. (I think it was 11 - I never saw the movie.)

I regularly look for guidance from the Spinal Tap movie - usually when someone on a photography website seems to take themselves too seriously.

 

[Radost]

“It’s such a fine line between stupid, and uh…clever.”​

 

[dourbalistar]

Cost cutting - they couldn't get the rights to use the Spinal Tap approach.

The Spinal Tap approach would be to spool of 18"

 

[AnselMortensen]

"I nearly trod upon it!"

 

[henryyjjames]

Yea i can 3d print the 400’ to 100’ roller but it seams it is just a waist of time.

I did this and actually had great success with it.

 

[Radost]

I did this and actually had great success with it.

I am sure. It’s just time consuming.
This is all about convenience. Load the roll and bulk it. No extra steps.
And as I said AP bobinquick is safe and easy to work with

 

[henryyjjames]

Load the roll and bulk it.

Completely understandable. I wanted to be able to go from 400' to 100' so I could do them one 100 ft roll at a time or sell off the extra.

 

[Radost]

Completely understandable. I wanted to be able to go from 400' to 100' so I could do them one 100 ft roll at a time or sell off the extra.

For the price I want to shoot all the film…

 

[Donald Qualls]

I just went back to the top of the thread -- that looks like a very nice piece of kit, but US$900+ is way out of my range...

 

[Radost]

I just went back to the top of the thread -- that looks like a very nice piece of kit, but US$900+ is way out of my range...

It is indeed. Considering i will use it my entire life, “at the moment” $4.33 a roll of color film and the amount of time I will save it is worth it. And with inflation I rather put my dollars to use.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I agree, it makes financial sense over time. So does filling a retirement account, but if you have to choose between rent and food after putting money where you can't get it back without a penalty, it's less attractive...

In my case, paying out ~$1400 (for the loader and a 400' roll of Ektachrome or Vision3) is much harder to swallow than paying $20 a roll for Ektachrome when I'll only shoot a couple rolls a year. Now, if I had the film and loader, I'm sure I'd shoot more, but then I'd spend money on chemicals...

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

Someone should really slap together a bulk film vending machine.

Maybe for a few extra credits it would even confection it to your preferred format.