Bulk film question

[Orio]

I ask those who know (it seems better than asking those who don't know )
How many 36 pose rolls can you make from 30,5 meters of film (which seems to be the standard measure)?

[iangreenhalgh1]

A 36exp roll is 1.4m long so divide 30.5 by 1.4 = 21.78.

Call it 21.

[Orio]

Thanks, this way I can figure out how much is the bargain from premade rolls.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Keep your eye on ebay for cheap bulk rolls, I've bought several lately very cheap so I have enough film to last me a couple of years, I'm also hunting film types that are no longer available, just found a 30m roll of Kodak Vericolor, it was discontinued in 2003, I only paid 10ukp.

[std]

The good thing is that you do not need to spool 36 exposures every time- sometimes I'm putting 12 or 24 only.

The bad thing is that you need to be careful not to apply to much tension - sometimes the film gets scratched. Another annoying thing is that once you load your bulk loader you have only this type of film until it finishes . After 1 year I still have Rollei Retro 80S in my loader and it may take a while until the roll gets empty.

[Orio]

Thanks everyone for the infos!
I don't think the occupied loader can be a problem. An empty cartridge for format 135 costs 90 eurocents. Easy enough to buy 20 of them and load them all together.

[berraneck]

[iangreenhalgh1]

I never use my bulk loader, I just roll it by hand in the dark, never had a problem, just loaded 25 rolls today, a bit tedious but so is using a bulk loader. I just use normal electrical tape to secure it to the spool.

[Attila]

I suggest 24 frames , shorter rolls more handy in dark when you load it into spiral.

[iangreenhalgh1]

That's very true, 24exp rolls are much easier to load onto a spiral.

[ludoo]

Unless you use steel tanks and spirals...

[mdarnton]

A 36 exp roll isn't 1.4meters. That's just the 36 frames, not including the leaders needed. By the time you figure in the leaders, it comes to about 19 full rolls.

[Orio]

I never have any problem loading 36 poses film into my AP spirals.
I only may -occasionally- have problem if I forget to cut round the corners of the film at the side it enters the spiral. But since I don't forget... I don't have problems

But shorter rolls have an advantage when it comes to making tests. 36 poses can be eternally long when you simply want to make a test that requires 12 photos at the most.

[hoanpham]

[mdarnton]

My wingspan with one wrist cocked in is about 36 exp. If you don't use a loader, you don't lose at least two shots at the tail end, and I find it quicker just working in the dark and getting it over with.

It's important to use long enough tape so that you have tape on both the front and back of the film--otherwise you just pull the film off the roll at the end. I wouldn't even think to mention this, except that I've known people to not do it.

[europanorama]