Response to Bulk Loading Economics & Film Selection

Another tip for anyone interested in bulk-loading: if you use a camera from the "Golden Days" of mechanical cameras (Leica M, Alpa SLR, Canon RF, etc.), these manufacturers all made bulk-loading cassettes that have no felt trap to scratch film. They are designed to open inside the camera and to give the film a free path. You can sometimes find these cassettes at flea markets or in the junk drawer at older camera shops. Unfortunately, they usually don't work with newer camera models. I have a dozen of the Leica N-cassettes that work well with all Leica M models to about mid-way through the production of the M6's, when they eliminated the internal key that opens the cassette in the camera when you close the base. That tells you how rare bulk-loading has become these days. The cassettes were all well-used when I got them, from a NY area newspaper photo department, but there's really nothing to wear out. They are made from black-painted brass, so they will probably last forever.

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