I much prefer loading the SS reels myself. Maybe it’s just what I’m used to. Being able to load wet is a nice bonus though. A few times I have dropped a wet roll while hanging it up and gotten it dusty/linty. I just loaded it back up on the reel and gave it a rinse—no after effects.
I used stainless steel tank and Hewes reels until I starting using a Jobo processor. I found that the home brand stainless steel tanks from FreeStyle did not leak.
The Hewes reels are such an obvious improvement in design. For 35mm it just makes no sense to order anything else. The 120 are smarter too. I can load any stainless reel without trouble, but the Hewes just makes it so much simpler. I don't want to think about the "catch" for the film loading when I'm in the dark or in the bag, I just want it done and the Hewes stuff makes it so.
I've messed with the nikkor reels for 120 and appreciate the ease they have too, but still would pick the Hewes for anyone starting out with stainless.
As others have mentioned, easy to clean, easier on chemistry.
I see that my question has created quite a lively discussion that is still ongoing after a month. On my side, however, I decided to drop this project. I am not paying those insane Ebay prices for what seems like a vintage equipment. If you had one for ages and like it, fine. But it is not my piece of cake. With some difficulty, I located an affordable source ($10) for a small tank, (plastic cap, fits well, but I got to do it with special order, three weeks waiting time). When the shop wanted to sell me an off-brand reel for three times as much, I refused. This thread informed me that a reel can be quite different in quality and design, and that Hewes British-made reels are among the best and I am grateful for the advice. Now am I going to hunt for an affordable reel? I think I'll pass. These metal tanks and reels are often offered at prices as if they were gold plated. When the offer exceeds the demand, the prices should get lower, but this does to seem to work anymore.
Pixophrenic. The good news/bad news of film photography right now is extremely high prices on new gear/ridiculously low prices on used gear. Be patient, hit up a Craigslist/ kijiji listings with the search tool. I located something just the other day from 1967 that I'd been looking for and could not find. I've had complete darkrooms donated to myself and my students. Timers/trays/tanks and the like.
A little patience and I'm sure you'll find a tank pop up locally to you that you'll enjoy.
One benefit of stainless tanks is for processing color film, when you set the tank into a temperature-controlled bath during processing, it holds temperature exactly AT the recommended temp, not higher or lower depending upon ambient air temp!
SS tanks come to temp equilibrium faster in a water jacket or tray, but also lose temp faster outside of a water bath. I use them only for chemicals per se, then dump
the chem into plastic Jobo hand-inversion drums which I find easier to spool, at least with 120 film.
Pixophrenic. The good news/bad news of film photography right now is extremely high prices on new gear/ridiculously low prices on used gear. Be patient, hit up a Craigslist/ kijiji listings with the search tool. I located something just the other day from 1967 that I'd been looking for and could not find. I've had complete darkrooms donated to myself and my students. Timers/trays/tanks and the like.
A little patience and I'm sure you'll find a tank pop up locally to you that you'll enjoy.
Thank you for the suggestion. This is certainly an option. Right now there is such an offer at the local Kijiji, but the reels are not Hewes's. I may need to ask my friends in the UK.
Pick up the tanks/reels if they're a good deal. The Hewes are better, but with just a little practice and a dead roll of film you can teach yourself easy how to do it with the "other" brands. Heck make them a dumb offer... many people just want to get rid of the stuff. The Stainless tanks are universal, so no worry on matching.
SS tanks won't mate with my Jobo ATL-2. So I'm using Jobo plastic tanks and reels.
Loading 120 film can be a bit fiddly at times, until it enters the reel tracks correctly.
35mm film is most of the time no problem. Typically, after it has entered the reel tracks I just shove it forward. Sometimes it gets stuck, then I do like shown on the 35mm plastic loading video posted above to overcome the hurdle. Then I just continue shoving again.
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