Splitting rolls of film?

TattyJJ · Jan 28, 2017

I was thinking, in my newness to film photograph and being on a budget, i'm often finding a roll of 36 or even 24 exposures is too many before i want to switch films. I'm kinda at the wanting to experiment lots stage of things....
Would it be ok to open the films in a darkroom and split them into 2 or 3 onto reusable rolls, or would this be a daft idea, especially as i would be doubling the amount of film lost on every roll when i load it in the camera?

Cheers

iakustov · Jan 28, 2017

Sometimes I change the films mid-roll - rewind the film and when loading next time, shoot the already exposed frames with cap on the lens (and with the fastest exposure available on the camera). Sometimes this could lead to frames overlapping though.
If you can load the cut film in the dark and shoot "00" frame - you wont be losing much but one-two frames space needed for the "film leader" for the taking spool.
Of course, it all depends if your camera allows you to do that.

bsdunek · Jan 28, 2017

I occasionally change film in mid-roll. Wind back but when you feel the leader slip off the take-up spool, stop. I have a Sharpi marker in my bag so I can mark how many exposures on the leader. If you always load your film to the same position, it will come out fine when you put it back in the camera. I do add one more frame just for good luck.

Bill Burk · Jan 28, 2017

Your best bet would be to get a bulk film loader, a roll of bulk film, and some empty reloadable cassettes. Then you can roll as many shots as you like...

When rolling full 36-exposures with bulk loader, the economy is not tremendous because you use up the bulk roll fast... and 36-exposure rolls are fairly priced.

But when you start rolling 12-exposure rolls, the bulk roll will seem to last forever... And there will be cost savings versus buying rolls longer than you need and wasting shots at the ends of rolls.

I wouldn't recommend rewinding, unloading and re-loading into camera to finish film... Even when I was careful to mark the leader with the number of shots taken... I often made a mistake and double-exposed the roll.

OptiKen · Jan 28, 2017

Two of the cameras I use have built in film cutters so that you can change film in the middle of the roll. I can use that when I want to push half of the film due to lighting conditions.
Photo Warehouse, one of APUG's sponsors, sells rolls of 35mm in 12 exposure lengths which are great for testing or just small projects where you don't want to waste film. The last time I looked they had some for $1 per 12 exposure roll

destroya · Jan 28, 2017

Bill Burk said:
Your best bet would be to get a bulk film loader, a roll of bulk film, and some empty reloadable cassettes. Then you can roll as many shots as you like...

When rolling full 36-exposures with bulk loader, the economy is not tremendous because you use up the bulk roll fast... and 36-exposure rolls are fairly priced.

But when you start rolling 12-exposure rolls, the bulk roll will seem to last forever... And there will be cost savings versus buying rolls longer than you need and wasting shots at the ends of rolls.

+1

TattyJJ · Jan 28, 2017

Alas no way i can afford a bulk roll of film right now, most of the film i'm using is expired as i cant splash out the cash on new, let alone miles of the stuff.

Plus it kinda defeats my purpose of wanting to experiment with different films, i'd have to buy all the ones i want to play with in bulk!
But... When i've had my fun playing and settle on what i want to mainly use bulk rolls will be on the cards.

BrianShaw · Jan 28, 2017

It might be just as good to buy another body.

LAG · Jan 28, 2017

TattyJJ said:
Would it be ok to open the films in a darkroom and split them into 2 or 3 onto reusable rolls, or would this be a daft idea, especially as i would be doubling the amount of film lost on every roll when i load it in the camera?

Yes, it would! However, how about opening the camera (in the darkroom/light-tight bag) with the exposures needed already taken? Then you can cut the film there, and save the piece exposed. You can grip again the rest of the film. Camera ready, and clips prepared to start the tests you need with them.

Regards

TattyJJ · Jan 28, 2017

I'm not sure having another body is the easiest option, i do love my A1, as much as i'd like to double my camera collection

My main reasoning is for things like going away next month, i'm spending 4 days in Budapest. Lots of sight seeing, lots of switching between indoors at museums and outside exploring, and i'm figuring plenty of opportunities to try different films in different places. Not really into the idea of fumbling about in a change bag in the middle of the street....

Ok, i know i'm probably getting a little carried away with myself here and it's a bit unnecessary, but like I said, it's all new to me and i'm wanting to try different things.

mynewcolour · Jan 28, 2017

What I do (and others up-thread also):

Just wind the film back (leave the leader out) and marker pen a piece of tape, noting which frame you've got too. Add one frame to safely avoid overlap after reloading.

chrisaisenbrey · Jan 28, 2017

You can simply open the camera in the dark. Cut the film and spool the exposed part directly in your development spool.

removed account4 · Jan 28, 2017

look for empty 35mm cassettes
maybe i am mis-remembering
but i think ilford ones are re-usable
( you can open them without a canopener )
so if you shoot a handful of ilford film just re-purpose the cassettes

TattyJJ · Jan 28, 2017

I've bought some reusable film canisters, not the cheapest things but i figure being reusable are an investment
For now at least i want to split my rolls of expired Velvia so i can take some test shots and see what condition it's in without having to potentially waste a whole roll.

480sparky · Jan 28, 2017

chrisaisenbrey said:
You can simply open the camera in the dark. Cut the film and spool the exposed part directly in your development spool.

This!

calebarchie · Jan 28, 2017

If developing yourself, a rondinax tank allows you to cut the film at 24 and 12 and I've managed to get down to 8 and 4 frame intervals by measuring rotations of the handle to film length. Then just cut the film where you have shot and dev it there then. Roll with the remainder of the film is now ready to go however you will lose a few frames in the process with the leader of course. This whole process is without a darkroom too.

Wallendo · Jan 28, 2017

I have split reels before, although I prefer to bulk load. One things to consider is how your camera loads film. Several of my more modern cameras are designed so that when a new roll is inserted, the camera automatically advances past exposures 0 and 00. I still get 36 exposures from a 36 exposure roll, but there is wasted film up front. If you split a roll and load the remnant in this type of camera, there will be a lot of wasted film.

I have also reloaded partially exposed rolls, in fact I did that twice yesterday. This can work well if you develop your own film, but can result in disaster if your film is processed by an automated commercial lab.

As for your upcoming trip, I am quite hesitant to take important photographs using untested equipment, films, or technics. Your plan of frequently changing films may distract you from actually thinking about your photographs. One thing you could do for your trip if you wish to proceed this way is to save up the leftovers from rolls you have split and take them on your trip with the intent of shooting up each roll, completely rewinding, and then changing rolls.

MattKing · Jan 28, 2017

chrisaisenbrey said:
You can simply open the camera in the dark. Cut the film and spool the exposed part directly in your development spool.

If you are going to do this, be careful.
Total darkness, unfamiliarity with working in the dark and inside a camera, sharp scissors and a cloth focal plane shutter aren't a great combination.
Film is cheaper than repairing or replacing a shutter.
In fact, even with a student's budget, film is the cheapest factor of all.
If you bulk load, custom film length makes sense. Otherwise, I don't really think so.

Johnkpap · Jan 28, 2017

mynewcolour said:
What I do (and others up-thread also):

Just wind the film back (leave the leader out) and marker pen a piece of tape, noting which frame you've got too. Add one frame to safely avoid overlap after reloading.

I do this as well, my Pentax LX actualy has a film counter that counts backwards, as long as you load all your films the same you can reload a film to exactly the same spot, just don't forget to mark the film with a Sharpie pen so you know,,,,,,,the Pentax LX is the only one I have that does this.

Johnkpap

480sparky · Jan 28, 2017

MattKing said:
If you are going to do this, be careful.
Total darkness, unfamiliarity with working in the dark and inside a camera, sharp scissors and a cloth focal plane shutter aren't a great combination.
...............

Um..... you can easily remove the canister from the camera, and cut the film well away from it.

MattKing · Jan 28, 2017

480sparky said:
Um..... you can easily remove the canister from the camera, and cut the film well away from it.

Which would be one of the ways of being careful .

LAG · Jan 29, 2017

TattyJJ said:
...i'm spending 4 days in Budapest. Lots of sight seeing, lots of switching between indoors at museums and outside exploring, and i'm figuring plenty of opportunities to try different films in different places. Not really into the idea of fumbling about in a change bag in the middle of the street...

TattyJJ said:
I've bought some reusable film canisters ...
For now at least i want to split my rolls of expired Velvia so i can take some test shots and see what condition it's in without having to potentially waste a whole roll

If your intention (mentioned in the OP) is to switch films easily, but on the other hand the changing bag is not an option because you do not want to take it with you on the trip (not mentioned in the OP), things change a little bit.

Cutting the film (the way I told you before) won't help much (though it'd help to switch films, perhaps you could end up with lots of clips if you do not have the appropriate experience, and a methodical way to handle the situation). However, your idea of splitting 36 film in 2 (18) or 3 (12) ... could end up in the same situation: What would you do if you need to switch films in the middle of your "splitted" films?

Taking into account that it'll take you no more than 24 seconds to wind (carefully) a whole 36/roll, I am with those who suggested that.

So, take a simple film leader retriever with you, and Enjoy Budapest!

Best of luck!

p.s. By the way, a changing bag is a great "partner" at any time, does not take up room and it is lightweight. You do not have to use/fumble in the middle of the street with it ...

p.s. by the way, a second body, does not necessarily mean that you have to use the same camera ...

TattyJJ · Jan 29, 2017

Ok, so it does seem just winding the film back and making a note of what frame i got too is the popular option.
All i need to do is be carful i don't wind the leader in, or take a retriever, or both! My A1 does count backwards as you wind the film back so i'll know when i'm close at least.

I'm not against taking my changing bag, more what do i do with these bits i cut off while away?
But anyway, winding the film back doesn't seem half as scary as i thought it would be.

I wouldn't mind a second body at all, but i cant justify it when i've only had they one i've got 2 months. Though i have been promised 2 from colleagues that haven't seen use for years for free, but we'll see...

railwayman3 · Jan 29, 2017

Wallendo said:
I have also reloaded partially exposed rolls, in fact I did that twice yesterday. This can work well if you develop your own film, but can result in disaster if your film is processed by an automated commercial lab.

As for your upcoming trip, I am quite hesitant to take important photographs using untested equipment, films, or technics. Your plan of frequently changing films may distract you from actually thinking about your photographs. One thing you could do for your trip if you wish to proceed this way is to save up the leftovers from rolls you have split and take them on your trip with the intent of shooting up each roll, completely rewinding, and then changing rolls.

I'd go with that suggestion/warning. I've been short of cash for film back in my student days, so can sympathise when funds are tight, but film is the cheapest part of any important trip or photo-session compared with time, travel, and disappointment if things go wrong. And I'd suggest that, once you've found a couple of types of film which you like, stick to those at least for a while, and get to know their characteristics and querks.....in my experience, you'll produce better and more consistent results than continuing to experiment for the holy grail of magic film and ideal developing fluid ! (I confess that I still enjoy experimenting, but I keep this totally separate from my "serious" photograhy, almost like a different hobby!)

LAG · Jan 29, 2017

TattyJJ said:
...what do i do with these bits i cut off while away?...

Splitting rolls of film?

TattyJJ

iakustov

bsdunek

Bill Burk

OptiKen

destroya

TattyJJ

BrianShaw

LAG

TattyJJ

mynewcolour

chrisaisenbrey

removed account4

TattyJJ

480sparky

calebarchie

Wallendo

MattKing

Moderator

Johnkpap

480sparky

MattKing

Moderator

LAG

TattyJJ

railwayman3

LAG

Splitting rolls of film?

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency