Film Leader Retrievers

[photophorous]

Anyone used one of these gadgets?

One of the things that always annoys me about shooting film is that I never seem to have the right film in the camera at the right time. I was wondering how practical it would be to rewind the film mid-roll and then use the leader retriever to pull out the leader and put the same roll back in the camera later. You'd have to know what frame you where on and then add one or two to make sure you don't double expose, but it seems like it might work.

Paul

[another view]

I have used the type that is two thin pieces of metal about 1" wide and 2" long. No matter what I do, I just can't get it to work. I think I tossed it in frustration after having the guy at the camera shop show me how to do it a couple of times and practicing a lot.

Two options - either finish the roll or get a second camera body. A lot of people use them for getting film out of the cartridge for developing, too. I just used a butter knife to pry them open and pull the film out (disposable cartridges, not reloadable of course). Not classy, but it works. (Disclaimer - use a dull butter knife. This way you can't scratch anything or stab yourself hunting around for it in the changing bag. )

[mtbbrian]

They aren't "too hard" to use.
If you are talking about doing this with your Bessa, I am not sure why you'd need a Film Leader Retriever though, you can just stop winding when the leader is off.
Brian

[mjs1973]

stop winding when the leader is off.
Brian

That's what I was thinking too. It's easy to do with a manual rewind camea. My EOS film camera has a custom function you can set to leave the leader out also.

[mtbbrian]

That's what I was thinking too. It's easy to do with a manual rewind camea. My EOS film camera has a custom function you can set to leave the leader out also.

Nikon makes, or made rather an optional back for the F3 that would stop when the leader came across a sensor or something. The motor drive had a power rewind and man was it fast!
Brian

[photophorous]

If you are talking about doing this with your Bessa, I am not sure why you'd need a Film Leader Retriever though, you can just stop winding when the leader is off.
Brian

I knew I should have asked this a long time ago. I kinda feel like an idiot now. :blush2:

Yes, I'm talking about my Bessa and also my Minolta X-370. So, you just stop rewinding when you feel it pull loose? That would probably be much easier than using the leader retriever. I'll give that a try next time the issue arises. [note to self: add tape and marker to camera bag]

For developing, I just use a bottle opener to pop the bottom off the film canister, just like a tasty beer. I don't think I'll start bulk loading until I'm forced to fill my freezer with 100ft rolls to stave off the impending extinction of my favorite emulsions. But, I'll be about 80 before that happens. (fingers crossed)

Thanks, guys!

Paul

[mjs1973]

Yup, just rewind it until you feel it let loose and you're all set. When I put that roll of film back in the camea, I set the shutter speed to the fastest it will go, close the aperture to the smallest it will go (1/2000 @ f/32 for example), leave the lens cap on, and run a frame past where I left off.

As far as bulk loading goes, I stopped doing that when I figured out it wasn't any cheaper to buy a 100' roll of Velvia than it was to by a brick of it from B&H.

[mtbbrian]

No Worries Paul!
Yeah, You'll know when the leader pops off of the spool, just stop winding then.
That's a good note to yourself, especially if you are going to be switching wid roll.
Good Luck!
:thumbsup:
Brian

[photophorous]

Cool. :thumbsup:

Michael, your procedure is exactly what I was thinking of doing. The reason I feel like an idiot is because I remember now that I actually thought of doing that a while ago, but then I forgot and started thinking about the leader retriever. Doh!

[another view]

[note to self: add tape and marker to camera bag]

Avery self-adhesive blank return address labels for computer printing, and a Sharpie. I also hide a regular ballpoint pen in the bag too because the Sharpies tend to disappear.

For some reason I've also had a hard time with a bottle opener on a film canister - this stuff's child proof I guess! I don't have any plans for bulk loading; it really doesn't save much unless you shoot a ton of film. Then there's the time to do it, and cost of buying a bulk loader (but they're cheap on ebay) and a bunch of cartridges...

[Greg McCary]

I don't have any luck with a bottle opener either. I use needle nose pliers. It works well.

[mjs1973]

The one thing that really turned me off of bulk loading is that my EOS film camera will only allow you to shoot 36 frames per roll. So if I were to wind 40 frames onto a roll, I would be out 4 frames. Not a problem with manual cameras though.

[photophorous]

Avery self-adhesive blank return address labels for computer printing, and a Sharpie. I also hide a regular ballpoint pen in the bag too because the Sharpies tend to disappear.

For some reason I've also had a hard time with a bottle opener on a film canister - this stuff's child proof I guess! I don't have any plans for bulk loading; it really doesn't save much unless you shoot a ton of film. Then there's the time to do it, and cost of buying a bulk loader (but they're cheap on ebay) and a bunch of cartridges...

Good idea with the labels. I already carry a ballpoint pen and a notepad, but I rarely use them.

The bottle opener has worked fine for me, although sometimes I have to pry in a couple of spots before it comes off. The lip on the bottom cap of the film cartridge is pretty small, so the bottle opener needs a sharp edge to grab it.

I agree about the hassle of bulk loading. Not worth it financially, but if I need to stockpile and freezer space becomes an issue...well, let's just hope it never comes to that.

[photophorous]

The one thing that really turned me off of bulk loading is that my EOS film camera will only allow you to shoot 36 frames per roll. So if I were to wind 40 frames onto a roll, I would be out 4 frames. Not a problem with manual cameras though.

My Nikon N75 is that way too. Add that to the list of reasons why I prefer manual cameras. I get 38 and half frames on a regular basis. One day I plan to load my film into the camera in the dark, to see if I can get 40.

[Asylum Steve]

Paul, a film retriever is some of the best money I ever spent on a camera gadget. Considering how cheap they are, mine paid for themselves MANY times over. One roll of film saved, and that's it.

BTW, I don't care what kind of rewinder system your camera uses, everyone rewinds a film leader back into the canister accidentally once in a while... :cryin:

Now, at some point I was using Ilford bulk b&w film (and for the longest time most of Ilford's canisters were reusable) so it was easy to retrieve that film by popping a cap (no, not the gangsta term!) in a changing bag.

But my retriever came in real handy with Kodak film...

Oh, and Steve, I know what you mean about it being an acquired skill. To me, figuring out what seemed like such a simple little gadget was sort of like learning to use chopsticks... :mad2:

[photophorous]

To me, figuring out what seemed like such a simple little gadget was sort of like learning to use chopsticks... :mad2:

So, you're saying I should go eat some sushi tonight for practice?

[Squidward]

Back in the day, when I was a poor high school student swapping color film for when I was taking photos of friends and family to black and white film for photo class I would pull a roll mid-way. Yes, I would forget and rewind it all the way back into the can. Instead of using a leader retriever I would stick a leader or unused film into the slot, turn the film until I hear the leader go past the slot then reverse the direction that I'm turning the spool to try to drive it out of the slot. Worked most of the time and didn't cost anything.

The only thing I didn't like about swapping the roll mid-way through was processing my color film at a lab. "Process only - do NOT cut film!!!" was something I had to write on every roll of film I had processed at the lab. When you put a roll back into the camera you will never index it the same the second time around and the gap between the first series and the second series can be off by as much as a half inch which means that letting a lab cut your negatives will result in frames getting cut in half potentially.

[Skyman]

i love my leader retriever, i did have lots of practice though. back when i worked in the lab we had an automated retriever but every now and then it would break down and i would have to revert to the manual one. I could still pull then ends off about 100 rolls in a couple of minutes. you can also make one out of unwanted film (developed or not) by cutting it into two different length pieces rounding the corners on the longer bottom one and cutting a thinner bit for the top piece. it takes a bit more practice but if you don't have your film puller with you and you don't want to waste that roll then it can save you.