Succumbed to the bulk loader thread

madNbad

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Despite my best efforts, after reading through the bulk loader thread and throughly convincing myself I didn't need one, suddenly I'm clicking Buy it now on a Alden 74 still in the box with free shipping. Next I wandered over to Photo Warehouse for a passel of reloadable cassettes, went with plastic. Now the question to the crowd, what to put in it? Kodak 5222, Kentmere 400, HP5+ or any of the many other choices for black and white films out there? Not in any particular hurry but it would be good to hear what users like and why.
 
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Donald Qualls

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If I had one that wasn't already full, I'd be very tempted to fill it with Double-X, which I'm told PhotoWarehouse has in 100 foot rolls (usually only found in 400 foot lengths that won't fit a standard loader). So, yeah, 5222. Versatile and reasonably priced.
 

faberryman

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I would put whatever film you like to shoot best in it. If you don’t know what film you like to shoot best, I would buy a few rolls of a variety of films to find out. Then buy a 100' roll of that and put it in your loader. I would not buy a 100' roll of a film I didn't know whether I liked it or not on the off chance I might like it.
 
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Tel

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+1 on the 5222. Might go on my Xmas list....
Unrelated, but there have been issues lately with the plastic reloadables--apparently some of them have velvet light seals that disintegrate. Be sure to check yours before you load them.
 

Tel

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Just heard back from Santa; his credit is good at PhotoWarehouse.
 
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madNbad

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Kodak 5222 is toward the top of the list. I've used it before exposed it at ISO 125 with a yellow filter and developed it in HC-110 Dilution B. Interested in the bargain brands, too.

 

Sirius Glass

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Enjoy
 

Moose22

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madNbad said:
HP5+ or any of the many other choices for black and white films out there?
Click to expand...

If you decide to go with the Ilofrd, Film Photography Project has them for $84.99 right now (HP5 and FP4) which I think is the cheapest I found.

As for the oddballs, I like the look of 2238. Just can't see myself using 18 full rolls of it any time soon being so low speed. The 5222 can be used as a normal, medium speed film.

I ended up going Ilford and ordered some FP4. I also got an Alden and have a couple dozen of those Russian made cassettes on the way. Sorry I suckered you into spending more money, but I ended up staring at a lot of flicker samples of these oddball bulk films, too. It happens.
 
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madNbad

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That's quite the deal on Ilford films. I've been looking at Alden loaders for the last three years, this was just the time. As for spending money on equipment, stay away from Leica Users Forum, too much good stuff.
 

abruzzi

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Right now I have 4 loaders, three of them with film in it—Fomapan 100, Tri-X, and Pan-F+. All three rolls are at least 80% full,, but I’m not shooting much 35mm these days, so I don’t bother getting film for the 4th loader. If I did, maybe double X, maybe Fomapan 200.
 

dourbalistar

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madNbad said:
Kodak 5222 is toward the top of the list. I've used it before exposed it at ISO 125 with a yellow filter and developed it in HC-110 Dilution B. Interested in the bargain brands, too.
Click to expand...
In 2021, I've been shooting bulk Kentmere Pan 400. With the (likely) demise of Ultrafine eXtreme 400, it's my new bargain B&W film. At the time of this post, it's $62.50 at B&H. Very decent film for the price, IMHO.
 

MattKing

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I tend to decide first on the films I like best, and then decide to buy 30 meters of it.
Which means I currently have T-Max 400 in one loader, and Plus-X in another, with a third awaiting and empty.
When that last bulk roll of Plus-X is gone , T-Max 100 will go in there, leaving only a T-Max 400 30 meter roll in cold storage.
I don't do it to save money, but rather to add flexibility and save on storage space.
Right now the two loaders with film are the Watson and Alden types, with a Lloyds type empty.
 

eli griggs

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I have loaded five or six bulk loaders, all types of Watsons, Alden, Lloyds, and a single 70mm.

Currently, I've got various amounts of Ekfe 25, Pan F, HP5+, Tri-x 400, and a couple of others, I forget at the moment.

It may be Arista 100 or 400, IDK.

The 70mm is Tri-x 400, I believe but I need an A70 back to shoot that, since I've refrained from triming it Down, as needed for smaller formats.

I try to find loaded bulk loaders locally, that students have decided on digital only and have put aside perfectly good rolls of films for naught.

I've loaded my own cassettes for about forty-three years, buying pre-rolled for convenience and I suggest it to anyone that does no have serious function issues with their hands.

By-the-way, I've never heard of a 16mm loader nor a 64mm loader, so, does anyone here know if such things even exist?

Godspeed to All!
 

Wallendo

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My two main loaders are loaded with TX400 and TMax100. I also have a loaders loaded with Ultrafine Finesse 400 and Fomapan 100.

If you are just starting out with a loader, load it with your favorite film.
 

Moose22

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MattKing said:
I tend to decide first on the films I like best, and then decide to buy 30 meters of it.
Click to expand...

That was my logic on the FP4. I have been loving the Delta 100, but went back and looked at previous B&W I took and I got some very nice results with FP4. I got OK results with HP5, too, and want to experiment with it more in the future, but have only used a little of it. FP4 i know works for what I like, the price seemed good, and I'm going to start there.

That said, I think I'm going to go grab a roll of HP5, too. I noticed the price I paid for Delta and Tri-X and a couple of other rolls in my fridge right now sure is less than what it costs now. I doubt I'll get an $85 roll of HP5 if I wait until the summer.

I don't do it to save money, but rather to add flexibility and save on storage space.
Click to expand...

Again, same. Mostly to do short rolls, 12 or 24 shots. Now that I'm developing and scanning at home I have the flexibility to do that, I'm going to take advantage.
 
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madNbad

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TMax 400 has been my choice for many years and I was moving to make it my one and only. Over the past few years I started trying different emulsions, Delta 400, 5222 have been my favorites. dourbalistar's posting with the Kentmere 400 have been intriguing and I like the look and the price reminds me of what bulk film is about, low cost. Mostly I'm looking for a film that will dry flat and is easy to scan. The Negative Supply Carrier MK 1 keeps the film flat and makes scanning easy. I agree with the flexibility of being able to customize film length. It would be nice to spool a 12 or 16 exposure roll for the Retina IIa before heading out for a walk. I have about 16 rolls of TMax 400 to work through, then I'll decide what to do. I appreciate the feedback, it's been both helpful and informative.
 

dourbalistar

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There are probably some personal workflow variables, but I've found that Kentmere 400 dries pretty flat.
 
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madNbad

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Found a box of nine unused Kodak snap caps for $30 usd with free shipping. Figure that's better than waiting for them to come from the Ukraine.
 
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madNbad

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The Alden 74 arrived today loaded with a mystery film. It looks like color stock. Also it's missing the centering spool, so if anyone has an extra, let me know. Just heard back from the seller, they're refunding my payment and told me to keep the loader!
 

Donald Qualls

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That center piece is probably broken off, and the lid won't screw down tight without it...
 
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madNbad

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Donald Qualls said:
That center piece is probably broken off, and the lid won't screw down tight without it...
Click to expand...

The center shaft is there and the cover is secure, the only thing missing is the piece that is fitted to the center of the bulk roll of film, then slips over the shaft to keep the film from wandering around the chamber.

 

Donald Qualls

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Okay, that comes with (some) commercially sold bulk rolls, but likely isn't present if the film you got was rolled down from cine stock. The loader will work about the same with or without it, though there's slightly more risk of scratching without it (from the outer surface of a new roll riding on the inside of the chamber). You could drill a length of 1" dowel to fit if you get film that doesn't have the core, or drill through an 828 film can if you've got one you don't care about (35mm cans are too big).
 
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madNbad

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With the seller refunding my payment, I ordered another one with all of the parts. Since he told me to keep this one, I'll try using a piece of dowel. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
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