I am considering using a bulk loader. Many years ago I used the Watson, the gray plastic one and I liked it. The other one I am aware of is the Lloyd.

Other than advising against bulk loading in general, does anyone have any opinions or preference for either brand? For what its worth both sell for $27.95 on the Calumet Photo

Thanks in advance.

-- jeff voorhees (debontekou@yahoo.com), December 12, 2001

Answers

The Lloyd drags every inch of film through a felt light trap, but you can put a shorter exposed leader on the spool end of the film, which means if you like to wind until you can't wind anymore, trying to get the last shot, you'll lose fewer exposures at the end than the watson, which exposes quite a length of leader next to the spool.

I've used both, and never had any trouble with scratches from the Lloyd's felt (which I pulled masking tape through every time I replaced the bulk film). Now I have a Watson--no fear of scratches, but lost exposures. So the last time I used the Watson, I taped the leader in the dark, turned on the light after closing up the loader, wound, and then went back to the dark to cut off the film and start the next: perfection.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), December 12, 2001.

I have an Alden. I bought it back in the early 1970's, don't know if it is still made, but I use it regularly and have never had any gripes with it.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), December 12, 2001.

I've loaded thousands of rolls with Lloyds loaders (seriously) and have never had a problem with scratches tracable to the loader.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), December 12, 2001.

I use the Alden loader and it works. However, this is no glowing endorcement. They are kind of a pain, so are the reloadable cassettes, and I'm starting to think its better to just buy 20-roll packs of film.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), December 12, 2001.

Jeff:

When my time is factored in, as well as the cost of a new empty cassette each time- I will not use old ones as they can snap open and leak and accumulate dust in the felt trap- I have given up on bulk loading.

Buying film in lots of ten or 50 rolls is worth the differnce.

I can see if one is a student and can needs some less than 100% film to practice mechanics with, but for serious work: saving a buck is not worth it. As I get older, my remaining time is more and more valuable.

I have seen some very good buys on e Bay for bulk film deals.

Cheers

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), December 12, 2001.

Bulk loaders are the devil. In my opinion, anyone who cares about their images won't bother with them. There are too many things that can and will go wrong. Which will alwyas ruin the one image you really wanted on that particular roll.

Buying from b&h is a better idea and not all that much more expensive.

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), December 13, 2001.

It's all perspective. Rolling film from bulk was fine and safe when that was all there was or if you're unfortunate enough to be poor, but now that you have the fun of throwing away almost as much packaging as the film within it with every purchased roll, bulk is the devil's tool, and impossible to do without problems. Go figure.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001.

I use an Alden that I bought in the 70's. Never a problem. In the last few years I have been just buying 50 roll pro-packs from B&H.

I bought up a lot of AgfaPan 25 in 50' rolls as it's beem discontinued so I guess I'll have to start loading again.

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@lsqgroup.com), December 13, 2001.

I use a couple of Watson bulk loaders (I think the last on was $18 at Adorama about a year ago). I also reuse cassettes (though not indefinitely). If you're capable of getting good, consistent results developing your own film, then getting good, consistent results loading your own film shouldn't be a problem.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), December 13, 2001.

Last time I counted I had seven of them. I have had them for decades. I have never had any problem with them. They work fine. There are some films that I can only buy in long rolls. Scientific stuff.

Art

-- Art (AKarr90975@aol.com), December 13, 2001.

I have a watson loader that I use all the time. Never had a problem with it. I reuse my cassettes 4 times only (put a tick mark on the cassette each time it is used), so as not to run the risk of scratches from the reused felt light trap on the cassette. I see some people think these loaders are the devil, but they work great for me.

-- Bob Kramer (bobkramer@coopercarry.com), December 13, 2001.

I use two bulk loaders, an Alden for 50' Ilford Pan F+, and a Watson for 150' Kodak Technical Pan, both work fine; Alden seems better quality than Watson.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), December 13, 2001.

hi. how many rolls do you get from 100' of bulk film and how many times can you reuse a cassette? should i buy the snap on cassettes or the screw on cassettes?

-- jen tarver (Cataundra@hotmail.com), May 15, 2002.