How To: Bulk Load Film (35mm/135)

In this video, our host Tim Heubeck explains how to bulk load 35mm film and talks about every piece of gear you need to get yourself started with it. Bulk loading can save you a lot of money compared to buying the film already preconfigured, so make sure to learn how to do it properly and start loading your own film!
Here is all you need to get started with bulk loading film:
Germany:
Kaiser Film Lader: goo.gl/Y3QI3z
Film Patronen: goo.gl/o0hxvL
Rollei RPX400 Meterware (Beispiel): goo.gl/Z8vj4S
Wechselsack: goo.gl/jTJoR8
English:
Kaiser Bulk Film Loader: goo.gl/Ab59Vt
Film Cartridges: goo.gl/0F2d5F
Rollei RPX400 Bulk Film (for example): goo.gl/FpD7Qu
Changing Bag: goo.gl/HySFZ4
www.macodirect.de
/ macodirect
Videos produced by:
Tim Heubeck
www.wasteoffilm...
[e-mail]

[@WinSchutten]

I want to thank you for sacreficing a whole roll of bulk film for this video. This has explained it better than other videos which dont show that.

[@macodirectofficial]

Thank you for your feedback Win!

[@CertainExposures]

Thank you for this video. I recommend that you make a pinned comment about cutting the leader on the film the wrong way. I was following mindlessly since this is my first time and I immediately regretted it lol.

[@marioduvernay5840]

i am late to the ball game but wow just cut 18 rolls the wrong way!

[@timverheijen2622]

Some very useful information is missing in this video. To easily make the film go through the gate (aka light seal), simply make sure the film is up against the gate, insert the crank so the gate opens, and advance the film using the small advance knob. This is by far the easiest method and also avoids you damaging the light seal material by forcing the film against it.

[@FrankDavalos]

100% agree with this! That’s a huge piece of the process and you could end up stuck in your dark bag for a long time without that small piece of information

[@jasperjarwood2854]

I tried getting the film into the loader last night and struggled so much because I didn't know this. Had to give up after 10 minutes as that long in the dark and I was getting dizzy. I've just used some dud negative film I have to practise this exact method from @timverheijen2622 comment and it was so easy it amazed me. @@FrankDavalos

[@buyaport]

The last part is done wrong, i.e. the cutting of the film for the camera is upside down! It won't work this way, you have to leave the straight part where the knob is.

[@klausrickert3607]

Thanks for the well done tutorial! There is just one thing to correct. You actually cut the redymade film the wrong way (reverse left to right). so the camera won't take it. Regards Klaus Rickert

[@Garacha222]

this is such a well done video, that I really don't understand why the erroneous teaching of cutting the leader on the wrong half of the film is still not removed from the video. At the very least, edit it with a written message during the video of the error! This is the only video I've watched on this channel, and I hesitate to watch more. The mentioned error is significant, yet 2 years later is treated as arbitrary. Photography is about attention to detail, and also endless learning from previous mistakes.

[@CertainExposures]

Garacha222 haha I cut it his way and immediately regretted it. Wish I had read your comment first. I’ll remake the video and credit them. It’s not a popular subject, they don’t have time, and KZbin doesn’t allow annotations anymore.

[@mofi3641]

danke fürs video. halb soviele worte hätten allerdings auch gereicht ;) going to go ahead...der ganze teil könnte immer weggelassen werden. first, fix the film with tape onto the spool, ensure, that the right long side is pointing toward the crank....

[@gabinrichter3330]

but don't forget to go ahead!

[@danaheiford9745]

Nice tutorial. Also, a good tip about cutting the film before trying to load the bulk roll in. I was having trouble before I cut the end off. Thanks.

[@artemorbid]

This is fantastic, very well explained and stated. Glad to see this, thank you for the demonstration.

[@JPKVan17]

Videos of the the developers would also be appreciated. Especially clarification which are 1 shot(single use) and other related information.

[@macodirectofficial]

Thank you for your suggestions John!

[@MeumGaudiumRivegauche]

Thank you for the video man!

[@michaelhartharthart]

Brilliant, thank you.

[@DespiertaConciencias]

Great explanation, thank you

[@christophbastertphotograph3585]

Sehr gute Anleitung! Super!

[@danielcoburn7696]

Thank you Sir

[@TheChinatownkid]

Would be great if someone could jerry-rig a Bulk Loader to a Lomokino.

[@hzubovi1]

What's the difference between this and the AP version of the loader?

[@ValentinoLuggen]

hi you are "showing off" some color bulk roll if I see right...I went to your website but did not see any color film available, is it?

[@B3D5X]

Valentino Photography wondering the same!

[@LumiLimm]

Wrong side cutting the film leader!!!

[@baladino]

Thank you for this brilliant video. May I know where I can buy those reusable film canisters ? Do you sell them ?

[@WesB1972]

Ebay.

[@migueloliveira7062]

The cut you do on the film in the end of the video is on the wrong side. When doing a tutorial be precise!

[@macodirectofficial]

Hey! Sorry about that mistake, but in the end it you wouldn't even need to cut it, nor is it needed to be done on a specific side.

[@migueloliveira7062]

Yes. Thats true. Why cut it? I never do it. Just saying because if someone cuts it like that it wont do. Great work!

[@hksht]

macodirect on some cameras it is necessary to have a leader cut on the opposite side of what you did on the video. So in the end it is better always have a leader on the same side as the protruding spool part. Only on some auto loading cameras is when a leader is not needed. Very good instructions on this bulk film loader otherwise. Thank you.

[@harrystevens3885]

I have cameras that need the bottom leader and on a my Canon auto loaders if you don't have the leader it winds on much more film if you just have the straight leader ........Can't say I like the way you have to have a massive tail to load the bulk film into the loader.

[@MAJGeels]

Migue

[@ikergoienetxezubiri]

I struggle a lot with a similar one. I have a Von Der Gonna really similar to this one. The worst part by far is passing the film through the "interior' to the outside apperture (where you prepare the film roll). I wasn't able to do it and eventually taped a part I passed from the outside to the interior one. Very stressful

[@randallstewart175]

Right! Maybe that's what you pay $100 US for this brand of loader. Other loaders I have used have less space between the bulk roll and the film chamber wall, making it a real difficulty to just get the roll in the loader with the film inserted properly through to the cartridge area. After years of hassling with this issue, my solution now is to thread the film and then just force the roll into the loader, destroying the first 12 inches or so of film.

[@richardhaw9757]

this is probably one of the more complicated ones that i have seen...

[@macodirectofficial]

+Richard Haw Hi Richard, why? Where are you struggling?

[@richardhaw9757]

The one where you have to put the leader into the tiny door. I have seen film loaders that do away with that. I must admit that the counter on the Kaizer is a premium feature. Nice channel by the way. I enjoyed most of the few videos that you have.

[@macodirectofficial]

+Richard Haw Thank you! Yes we are working on putting out more content.

[@richardhaw9757]

keep it up!

[@josevegas6876]

Nice explanation..! How many effective 36 exposures roll you would get out the 30m bulk film...?

[@omnesilere]

About 18

[@josevegas6876]

@@omnesilere great, thanks..!

[@babatunda1849]

I can't find this anywhere

[@secretsquirrel2]

Will you be doing demos of the different types of film you carry?

[@macodirectofficial]

+Joseph Hennessy Yes, we are definitely planning on doing videos where we explain and show the characteristics of our different film stocks.

[@Filmphotographybloglive]

Hi! I've been using this bulk loader for time and I too prefer metal reloading cassette or metal cartridges, it seems you're selling only the plastic ones, can you recommend me a place where I can buy some? they hard to find outside US and China.... Thanks Oh! just a note do you have enough exoperience with this loader to tell me whether then end of your roll is fogged? I mean the piece that is stuck in the light trap jaws (with some felt), it seems my flet light trap is not light tight enough, any experience on that ? Great that you guys are doing videos, it's a nice vehicule to communicate, Cheers!

[@macodirectofficial]

Hi! Thanks for your comment. I will be calling macodirect next week concerning the metal cartridges and how you can get them. Thanks for your patience. To be honest, I don't have too much experience with this. But usually there shouldn't be any fogging, I've never encountered this issue. Thanks again, hope you enjoy them!

[@Filmphotographybloglive]

Hi Tim, any news on that front? - not a tentative to put pressure on you just a reminder in case you forgot ;) -

[@macodirectofficial]

Hi! No I haven't. Sorry, but the guy responsible for this is out of the office until tomorrow. I will call him tomorrow and ask him about it! Sorry for the inconvenience.

[@macodirectofficial]

Hi, sorry for the long wait! But he has been out of office and I will immediately call him at the beginning of next week and let you know the details.

[@Filmphotographybloglive]

macodirect ok no prob, thanks!

[@mrN3w7]

And you can go ahead.... and then we go ahead... and then we can go ahead,,, we gonna go ahead... here you can see... and then we can go ahead.... and then we can go ahead... as you can see... we go ahead... and then we can go ahead...

[@alanreid2695]

What make of film did that spool come from?

[@macodirectofficial]

From a former film from Maco Photo Products, who are now producing film under the name of "Rollei". The films are available here: www.macodirect.de/en Unfortunately I don't know if the now produced bulk rolls still come with this type of reel.

[@alanreid208]

Many thanks for the feedback.

[@alanreid2695]

where did you get the empty spool from?

[@macodirectofficial]

Hi Alan, you are referring to the film canisters?

[@alanreid2695]

No, the large spool with the film on it. Did the film come on that spool? I buy 400ft of Kodak Vision cinema film and cut it down to 100ft lengths and these would be great to use in the dark as you can feel the sides of the spool when you have enough film loaded. I also buy100ft rolls of Ilford B&W film, but they come loaded on a plastic core.

[@macodirectofficial]

Yes, the film was already on this spool. Oh I see, what a pity that the other bulk rolls don't come on one.

[@TheRobertSt]

But here in Sweden it doesn't pay off. And the fewer instances the film rub against anything, the better. So it is better to buy your film in preloaded canisters.

[@macodirectofficial]

You can also order all your film from us, we ship worldwide and Sweden is even easier naturally. I don't think there is real difference in terms of scratches on the film surface, the film in the factory also needs to get spooled.

[@sergeiborisov4072]

Improper cut the film. The tail should look down.

[@carlosfelicio4863]

You're right!

[@classicalemotion]

But with a filmloader we don't need a vídeo. Interesting would be a vídeo from the same process without any machine, with the hands in the darkroom as did the photographers 50 years ago