Mixing your own ecn2 dev is very easy. Nothing fancy in there, except Kodaks AF2000 antifoggant. I have it, but I don't think it makes much of a difference if you don't.
Any neutral fixer will work. The ecn fixer is a simple recipe, too. And ecn2 film can handle ferricyanide bleach. Easy to make, it's the original bleach for cine film. Supposedly it gives the 'real look'(tm). But you really have to properly stop with acid after development. I happen to use sulphuric acid as described in the process, but others seem happy with acetic acid. I had a long ecn2 break and really should start using these films again... I'd love to print onto print film, hybrid alone is not that satisfying.
V3 was the first film, which I bulk loaded. I calculated the circumference of the roll and estimated how many loops I'd have to take off for a couple of rolls. I didn't want 100ft in my loader.
It was convenient to place the roll in the lid of the can. That way it is accessible and it won't unfurl onto the floor in the worst case. Then I took off loops and formed a loose roll in my hands, which I transferred into the loader. Probably around 5x36, which was more than enough to get me going.
They say film is more relatable than digital, because its physical. But you have to hold a bulk roll in the dark to really 'feel' film. I love that. And the convenience to load as you please. I do full 36 exp rolls most of the time, but sometimes it's great to deviate. Also I can load my Zeiss Ikon canisters for my Contax2. Less need to torture it with 135 type rolls.
It makes it worth it and enjoyable for me to buy Ilford 100ft rolls. It's not just the (smallish) savings over individual rolls.
