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Reusable film cassette recommendations

_T_

Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Messages
452
Location
EP
Format
4x5 Format
When I was shopping at a thrift store recently I found two bulk film loaders filled with black and white film from the eighties. I'm interested in experimenting with it just to see what comes out, but I'm having trouble finding reusable film cassettes in which to load the film.

I've seen a variety of plastic cassettes available, but most of them seem to have quality control issues. That and the fact that I've read a number of negative reviews of plastic cassettes in general have me thinking that they're not what I'm interested in.

Many years ago I worked with Kodak snap-caps and I was very happy with those, but the only way to get those now is as new old stock and they're kind of expensive.

The only other option I can find are the Ultrafine brand metal snap-caps which seem to be of a similar design, but much less expensive. There seem to be two varieties, Heavy Duty or the normal ones.
http://www.ultrafineonline.com/ulmesndxcopa.html
http://www.ultrafineonline.com/ulhedumesndx.html
These look interesting, but I can't find any reviews of either of these two products.

I was wondering if anyone here had any insight into which of these options I should choose. Are the Ultrafine cassettes any good, and if so is it worth the extra $4 to go with the Heavy Duty ones? Or is my best bet to go with my tried and true, but more expensive Kodak snap-caps.

Additionally, any alternate suggestions would be welcome.
 
I have to agree about plastic cassettes. Plastic can set up static electricity which will tend to attract dust, plus they are not as sturdy as metal. I have used plastic in the distant past and have had the screw on ends come loose and spoile the entire film when I went to remove it from the camera.
Metal cassettes with clip on end caps are far better.
 
-) We must know what cassettes we are talking about, so far merely any report stated what cassette was talked about.

-) I have not yet heard of quality control issues. (Or rather I do not remember...)

-) I assume there only is one manufacturer of reloadable plastic cassettes now, two at its best.
 
Last edited:
BMbikerider said:
I have used plastic in the distant past and have had the screw on ends come loose and spoile the entire film when I went to remove it from the camera.
Click to expand...

If one fears the screw/bayonet mounted lid of a plastic cassette to come lose, one easily can secure the prong of the cap with a small strip of adhesive tape.
 
I'm primarily interested in metal cassettes, as I'm familiar with them and am fond of the snap-cap design, which has always worked well for me.

I'm always a little wary of trying something new, something with which I have no personal experience, which is why I made this thread. Of the cassettes with a decent number of reviews, I see mainly positive reviews for some of the various brands of plastic cassettes which are available through the popular photo supply websites such as b&h, and others but there is usually either a paucity of reviews, or I see the same problems being mentioned over and over even though the reviews are mostly positive. Mainly problems with unreliable caps, poorly adhered felt (quality control), difficulty in loading 36 frames worth of film, and problems with the shape and size of the cassette causing it to turn inside the camera leading to scratched film.

If you have a particular brand of plastic cassette that you prefer and know to be reliable, I would greatly appreciate your recommendation. I just haven't been able to find one myself that I feel comfortable purchasing based on the reviews or lack of reviews.
 
I use cassette from Fotokemika Efke films as reusable: the are metal cassette, can be opened easily with the hand, and reuse them at will. Efke films can be found on the big auction site, expired 2015 but 100% good (one user from Croatia sells them). You get 10 beautiful Efke KB100 films, and 10 reusable cassettes for only 55$.

Disclaimer: I have no personal gain from that seller on ebay, I can only say that I have made purchase more than once from him - 100% recommend.
 
T . said:
I see mainly positive reviews for some of the various brands of plastic cassettes which are available through the popular photo supply websites...
Click to expand...

Problem with "brands" is, most of them do not manufacture things and even may exchange products.
 
darkosaric said:
I use cassette from Fotokemika Efke films as reusable: the are metal cassette, can be opened easily with the hand, and reuse them at will...
Click to expand...

I have some Rollei Retro 100 cassettes that are fairly easy to open. Hitting the spool lightly with the handle of a screwdriver is enough to pop the bottom off and it seems to clip back securely. I haven't used them yet for that purpose, but I'd say they're ok for some loading cycles. I don't know who Maco used to pack this film, but the cassettes are not as tightly crimped as Kodak's for example. The latter would be destroyed if you tried to pop them open.
 
Anon Ymous said:
Hitting the spool lightly with the handle of a screwdriver is enough to pop the bottom off ...
Click to expand...

Thus the same would happen if the cassette would fall to ground with the spindle first, or maybe even in another manner.
 
AgX said:
Thus the same would happen if the cassette would fall to ground with the spindle first, or maybe even in another manner.
Click to expand...

Not exactly, it takes some light hits with the screwdriver's handle to pop it off. I'd say they would survive a 1,5m drop. And as you said, if in doubt, secure them with some tape.
 
You have beaten me with my own argument.
 
Dear T.,

I have used the items you linked to for many years without real issue. The felt has held up very nicely and I've reused them multiple times. The other nice thing that mine do not have is the DX coding.

The only issue I have with that design is that I occasionally have to clean up the edge of the cassette as it gets bent a bit when you open them. It is not difficult to do as I use the edge of the spool and roll the metal edge between the spool flange and a table top. If you don't need the DX coding, these have a nicer cap design. Of course, mine were purchased quite a while back, the new ones might not have that problem.

Thank you for the link. I think I might buy a few as I have a nice little point and shoot that requires DX coded cartridges.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra
 
Lots of folks like the metal ones made by Brandess/Kalt. I believe you can order from their website.

Or you can ask your olocal mini-lab (if you still have one) to save the cassettes for you. Use masking tape to secure (both sides) film onto the end that sticks out of the cassette.
 
New Kodak Snap Caps are still available and reusable (I have about 100 NIB). I don't mind paying extra for cartridges I can trust. I also have a few dozen old Ilford reusable cartridges and a mix of Agfa, Konica, etc. private label C-41 cartridges (also reusable just be sure to keep all the pieces together since the parts are not swappable). The plastic screw top units are a knock off of an old Agfa design (I think). I have a plastic one in front of me that the felt fell out of the first time I used it and I have used the Freestyle units as well and can attest to the shoddy construction. New, old stock, cartridges seem to be made to higher standards than the new empty cartridges but the ones supplied to the film makers seem better than the consumer grade ones.
 
I have a pile of 35mm reusable cartridges, more than I need. Some KALT ones new in box, and others as-new (various brands/types). All metal, all reliable. I'd part with some if anyone needs them. Have a few spare Bulk Loaders too.
 
I have had good success with the Ultrafine metal cassettes (they sell cassettes marked for 100 and 400 ISO if your camera requires that) as well as the no-name metal cassettes sold by Freestyle photo (the cassettes appear identical to those from Ultrafine except for no speed markings on the cassettes).
 
I bulk load only for my Leica and Contax cameras because these are the only truly dust and grit free cassettes that I am familiar with. Locking the camera closed opens the cassette so that film never comes into contact with it. I still have a box or two of Kodak's.
If you insist on reusing cassettes, I suggest passing a sticky note paper through used cassette lip to remove foreign objects that could scratch film.
Good luck!
 
I have used 25 of the metal Ultrafine cassettes for the last 4 years and have loaded each one 4-5 times so far with no problems. I use a Rocket-Air blower on the felt before loading, blowing from inside the cassette body, and have never had any scratched film. At first, I was a little leery as the caps didn't seem to be on very tightly (you can rotate them after snapping them on), but I have never had light intrusion or a cap come off.

I have also used plastic cassettes, brand unknown, a box of 100 for $40. The screw-on cap does not feel like it will stay on tightly but a tiny piece of Scotch tape on the edge of the cap and body keeps the cap on securely. So I've had no problems using these either.
 

Cheers for sharing this. It seems like a great way to get some good cassettes.
 
I second all the preference for, and tips for, using metal cassettes.

Where possible (not all cameras are compatible) I've been using Shirley-Wellard cassettes. It's got no felt light trap to hold dirt, but rather spins to open and close a physical light trap. They haven't been made in a very long time but they do show up on ebay from time to time. They are metal and cleverly engineered and weigh a ton!

Duncan
 
Seems the difference between the two types of cassette in the original post is simply the DX codes: One is ISO 100, the other is ISO 400. Other than that they look identical in design.
 
I just got a rather persnickety note from a lab about taping new film to the end of the leader of a used canister. Apparently they used a dip and dunk machine, and cut the film off flush with the core. The developer loosened the tape below and my film was ruined in the tank. First time that's ever happened. Emailed the business that bulk loaded it, he says that's the first time he's ever heard a complaint. I guess I'll make sure to mention it next time when dropping off. Insult to injury they listed it as my error and charged me anyway.
 
Well...
I don't know of any lab that is going to be happy receiving from a customer two pieces of taped together film, with the expectation that it be handled without incident.
 

Good grief Charley Brown; it's B&W: process it yourself. I could understand this if it were color, but black and white???
 
MattKing said:
Well...
I don't know of any lab that is going to be happy receiving from a customer two pieces of taped together film, with the expectation that it be handled without incident.
Click to expand...

Moreover this case shows that even with hanger processing such may cause failure.
That the bulk loading retailer had no complaints so far may be due to his customers are self-processing and thus knowingly cutting the new film off at the right place.

(A dealer employing used cassettes is questionable anyway. Though some may praise him for sustainability.)
 
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