reloadable cassettes

[CMoore]

Metal or Plastic.
Snap on or Screw on ends.
Is it just personal preference, or do some types work better than others.?
Thank You

 

[AgX]

Problem is there are/were different models each, and different branding does not make things easier.

 

[Jim Jones]

Although the screw-on caps seem logical, I prefer some, but not all, snap-on caps. Beware of interchanging snap-on caps and bodies from different makers. They sometimes won't fit. The expensive all-metal caps that Nikon, Leica, and others made for their specific cameras work well and last forever.

 

[bill h]

Could not find anything but plastic when I shopped a month ago. First time I used them, I'm a little uncomfortable.

 

[CMoore]

I was looking at these.......
http://www.ultrafineonline.com/25re35mecawi.html

 

[MattKing]

Like many other things, it is a question of execution.

High quality versions have been made in both flavours. As have really crummy versions.

One of the things I've been considering for my metal versions is epoxing one of the end caps in place. If the Ultrafine versions you linked to are too flexible, that might help with them.

If you have a time machine, factory load cassettes used in the 1970s by Ilford were really good for re-use.

 

[darinwc]

I have not tried the expensive name brand ones. I have only used the Kodak snap caps, and they have been fine.
I understand that the felt light seals can get dirt trapped in them, which can end up scratching the film. So I carefully blow them before use.

 

[TheRook]

Could not find anything but plastic when I shopped a month ago. First time I used them, I'm a little uncomfortable.

Why would plastic cassettes make you feel uncomfortable? The film certainly doesn't care what its housing is made of, as long as it properly shields it from light.

 

[darinwc]

hmm now that i think about it.. with plastic cassetes, i could put them in my pocket go through the airport metal detector. Unless they have a body scanner... hmm...

 

[canvassy]

FreeStyle has Arista brand reloadable cassettes, in both metal and plastic. I've been eyeing them myself, has anyone used them before?

 

[iandvaag]

After trying both metal (Arista metal reloadable) and plastic versions (Kalt casstte for bulk film), I prefer the plastic as they are easier to use and seem less prone to leak light as there are fewer seems and it is easier to tell if the lid is seated properly. Also, the central spool of the Arista metal version is not a solid column, it has slots in it. Does anyone know if there is a particular way to attach the film to these spools? I've just been taping it, but it's certainly doesn't hold as strong as the Kalt plastic spool I've used which has no slots. To date, I have had no problem with either kind. I'm sure what others have suggested is true -- that either metal/plastic can be good or unusable depending on the quality the particular model.

I have never tried it, but if you get ahold of some empty regular 35mm cassettes, some folks just tape their bulk film onto the little remnant of film from the original roll. Some would say that you risk getting a piece of junk in the light trap and scratching your film, others say it's a cheap source of reels if you're on a budget. YMMV. One potential benefit is the possibility of using DX coded carts for cameras requiring them.

 

[guangong]

The best reloadable cassetts are those made for Leica rf cameras and Contax rf cameras because film never touches cassett opening while winding camera. Other than these The only other reloading from bulf film that I do is for Minox and Minolta 16 cassetts. Dust and grit are always a hazard when home loading compared with the clean rooms used by film manufacturers.

 

[Agulliver]

I am not a very heavy user of reloadable cassettes, but when I was taught at school in the mid 80s, they used plastic cassettes. When I finally bought myself my first bulk loader in the 90s it was second hand and came with 20 plastic cassettes which are unbranded but look to be of three different designs. They all work fine, never had any issues with light leaking into them or with the felt exit causing scratches. Perhaps I have been lucky?

 

[Neal]

Dear CMoore,

Years ago I bought some cheap metal ones from ultrafineonline and they looked horrible next to the nice ones I had been using. They are harder to pop the ends on and off and occasionally I have to bend kinks out of the body where the caps snap on. Having said that, I have never had a problem and each one has had multiple rolls of film through it. Some have had over a dozen loads.

Now for the real answer. Buy these. I have used this type for years and they are really dependable and easy to use.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

 

[Wallendo]

After trying both metal (Arista metal reloadable) and plastic versions (Kalt casstte for bulk film), I prefer the plastic as they are easier to use and seem less prone to leak light as there are fewer seems and it is easier to tell if the lid is seated properly. Also, the central spool of the Arista metal version is not a solid column, it has slots in it. Does anyone know if there is a particular way to attach the film to these spools? ...

What I generally do is to cut a small tab in the end of the film to slip into the slot (It will only go one way) and then tape it in place.

Sometimes I am just lazy and tape it in place and it seems to work just as well.

 

[rpavich]

Any of the type mentioned will work.

I happen to like kalt plastic screw ones.

 

[darkroommike]

Where I teach we use bulk film and every year buy 50 new Arista reloadable cartridges from Freestyle. The quality is not great but the cartridges seem good enough to get the job done, after a few uses the cartridges come back to me bent or the ends no longer stay on so I have to pitch them. For my own work I have boxes of Kodak Snap Caps and the old Ilford reloadables that everyone raves about (and yes they are that good). Agfa also made a fine reloadable cartridge at one time and a lot of the drug store C-41 film in the 80's was also packaged in reloadable cartridges. I have a bunch of those, too. And a box of plastic reusable cartridges. The Leica, Nikon, Canon cassettes that get such high praise are a different beast from the cartridges. Well made but only fitting a specific brand or series or cameras, and you're fighting collectors that just want one for their shelf.

 

[CMoore]

Yes, i need to buy a few kinds and see what is what.......

 

[pbromaghin]

I recently read (can't remember where) that the cassettes should be used only 3 times and then discarded. Does anybody do this?

 

[darkroommike]

I recently read (can't remember where) that the cassettes should be used only 3 times and then discarded. Does anybody do this?

I've also read 5 times but I don't worry about it, my work area is dust free and film is store in plastic cans before use and "recanned" after I shoot it. The film itself can be pretty dirty, too.

 

[EdSawyer]

The vintage ilford ones are great, agreed!

 

[blockend]

I recently read (can't remember where) that the cassettes should be used only 3 times and then discarded. Does anybody do this?

I reuse normal manufacturers cassettes four times then dispose of them. The only time I've scratched film is when using re-loadable plastic cassettes, back in the 1990s and again fairly recently with a new batch. No matter how carefully I cleaned the felt light traps and inside, I'd inevitably get tramlines on the negatives.

Cutting a 1 cm leader and attaching the bulk load film to it, I've yet to have any problems with scratching. It requires a supply of manufacturers cassettes to avoid the temptation of reusing them more than a few times, and it helps if your camera has manual rewind so you can pull the film back through the light trap in the darkroom/bag. A retrieval tool works for auto rewind cameras, but you risk introducing more dirt. The film makes four journeys through the felt - bulk loading, advancing in the camera, rewinding in camera, and loading on to the spiral - but restricting their use doesn't seem to incur the problems "re-usable" cassettes have.

 

[Xmas]

Some people get a mini lab to keep a sack of cassettes for them. Mini labs use an extractor and leave 1/4 inch of film sticking out.

Butt the bulk film and pressure sensitive tape both sides...

Free!

The Russians made concentric all metal ones that open and close in the camera for the Kiev which will also fit any Contax II and IIa and as well a different model to fit most of their LTM rangefinders.

Leica made two types.

Nikon made several types for their rangefinders, F and F2.

Etc.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

The very best metal cassettes were sold by Kodak and have their name on them. Each one came in its own box. The metal gauge is quite heavy and I have never had one fail. Not true of thinner metal ones. Had the most failures with screw type plastic ones where the cassette starts to come unscrew as it is loaded into the camera. Stick with metal! Make sure that the velvet light trap is kept clean as it can sometimes pick up grit. When it does the film is scratched throughout its length. The small interdental brushes made by several companies are good for cleaning the velvet. When not being used keep the cassettes in a plastic tub with a lid not just tossed in a drawer were they can get dirty.

 

[AgX]

Had the most failures with screw type plastic ones where the cassette starts to come unscrew as it is loaded into the camera.

The "tongue" of the cap can be secured in position after loading by tape.