The Lloyd's 35mm Daylight Bulk Film Loader by Legacy Pro and how I load it, use it and maintain it.

[@randallstewart1224]

I started bulk loading film around 1960. This Lloyd's loader was around then. (I still have the one I bought round 1962.) I think this is the only loader which does not use a switching light trap, instead just pulling the film out through a felt light trap. My concern for the Lloyd's loader is that if it picks up dirt in the light trap, it can scratch the film as it is withdrawn into the film cartridge. It has not happened to me, but I rarely use mine either. Since you could find a used Lloyd's up to 60 years old. I think it is better to just avoid them now. Although new, the AP unit costs around $120, which is pretty hard to recover unless you shoot a lot of film. The AP is certainly the best designed loader today. Used, the best is the Alden. It is designed much like a Watson, but is built to a far higher quality. They used to be quite expensive, new or used, but I noticed several on eBay today which are offered at a price much lower than the Lloyd's or Watson. That is probably a name-recognition situation.

[@goldenhourkodak]

Just bought a brand new Lloyds from B&H for $50. Not sure where you're getting $120 from.

[@randallstewart1224]

@@goldenhourkodak It's the AP that is $120. If you compare the Lloyds and the AP, it's obvious why the AP is that much more expensive.

[@goldenhourkodak]

@@randallstewart1224 The Lloyd was a massive mistake. What a piece of junk.

[@camerafusion]

Great information! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@fasphoto]

Thank you, I appreciate the comment.

[@AnalogFramecraft]

I had this one and gap between doors and case was too big and was leaking light. Another problem with this type of loader is that you have exposed ending of the film so you never know if last shots will be captured or not.

[@randallstewart1224]

Your first complaint is inherent in a fixed felt trap design, as with much use, the felt can wear out. A used Lloyd;s loader can be more than 60 years old. Your second complaint, that the loader leaves a short length of film exposed after loading the prior roll, applies to every bulk loader ever made, so learn to live with it by being careful.

[@AnalogFramecraft]

@@randallstewart1224 I had brand new Lloyd clone and it was leaking light hence I have returned it. Light leak was not in felt trap. Maybe original made in US loaders were good but clones currently made in China are of very low quality so I prefer loading with changing bag. Changing bag is cheaper and I am 100% sure that my film is not exposed and also film ending is not exposed.

[@SurrealExposure12]

Excellent video. Thank you so much ! have a great weekend.

[@fasphoto]

Thank you so much. I greatly appreciate it.

[@jabulanhi]

Спасибо брат

[@amdfanatyk]

I had it, was leaking light where cassette chamber meets loader case and I returned this crap.

[@andylezzo6928]

Where do you get these film cassettes?

[@fasphoto]

I purchased mine at Frestyle Photo and Photo Warehouse, but the metal ones are getting tougher to find. They still carry plastic ones though. I now save factory cassettes form new single rolls of film and reuse them.

[@randallstewart1224]

@@fasphoto Unlike the very old, metal, snap-cap cartridges, which were designed to be reloaded, modern retail 35mm film is sold in cartridges which are not designed to be reused, so the light trap material is not as robust. Keep track of their reuse and toss them after several reuse cycles. The snap-cap metal cartridges require a certain mount of force to open and close, and they can get physically distorted as a result. (Makes the end caps tend to not snap on tight, leak light, etc.) I have several dozen metal snap-cap cartridges I reuse, some going back 60 years, but I find the new, plastic cartridges to be easier to use and work just as well.

[@fasphoto]

@@randallstewart1224 Point well taken. I keep track of how many time each cassette is used as shown at the end of the video as I label the zip lock bags they are stored in. Not sure how many times I can get away with yet. The plastic ones that I have used so far, the felt is very poor quality and disintegrates very easily. I see Flic Film has a new type of plastic cassette I might look in to those down the road. Thanks for the comment.