Easy Tips on How to Load Film onto a Reel Without Getting Frustrated

Рет қаралды 7,726

3 жыл бұрын

I break down what can be the hardest part for photographers when it comes to developing their own film - loading that film onto a reel in complete darkness.
Hopefully this break down will alleviate some of the concerns when you step into that darkroom for the first time to try and load film. While this demo is setup for 120 film, the tips here can be applied to 35 as well!
If you enjoy this content, please make sure to like and subscribe and if you have any questions, please drop them into the comments below. Thanks!
film camera of choice: Yashica MAT-124 G
film preference: Kodak Portra 400 tinyurl.com/tmxpdtb5
tank : Paterson Tank tinyurl.com/y2s633zp
music: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...

Пікірлер: 47

@KellanJudy 3 жыл бұрын

I remember frustrating days trying to load film blindly in a bag! Super informative & relatable

@christianpaul8889 Жыл бұрын

Just last night I had to stop, get my hands out of the bag, and walk away. Gave it a bit, deep breath and went back in. I find 120 much more difficult than 35 - 35 just flexes less. I'm coming back to film after several decades and don't remember it being that hard, but I never shot 120 back in the olden days.

@HamiltonWard Жыл бұрын

It's wild because there are times when I still hit on a roll of 120 that won't cooperate. I'd love to try a different reel, maybe the metal ones to see if that helps things along.

@mynewcolour Жыл бұрын

If you go stainless go for Hewes . They are stiff. You have not experienced frustration until you’ve tried getting film into slightly bent stainless spirals. Holy sheeet I almost cried.

@aquelle200 8 ай бұрын

That little nugget you mentioned about loading it just past the ball bearings turned out to be a lifesaver! I’d thought gotten the hang of loading 120, until my recent roll of Ektar came out partially blank. This helped out loads, thanks a lot!

@Nikos_prinio 2 жыл бұрын

Hi! Thanks for your videos, extremely well done! To load the film on the reel, I have two complementary tips: 1. fold the tape over the edge of the film to stiffen it 2. use an old folded photo, inserted in the second turn of the roll, at the insertion point. In the dark, it is very easy to insert the film into the spool by sliding it over the photo.

@HamiltonWard 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and the tip! I will have to give this a try because I have a burning hatred for these plastic reels :)

@Nikos_prinio 2 жыл бұрын

@@HamiltonWard haha ! Glad to know that I'm not alone.... in any case, hats off to you for the quality of your videos!

@TheSurfheart 9 ай бұрын

I dread loading 120 film, thanks for the tips!

@HamiltonWard 9 ай бұрын

Glad I am not the only one and that the video was helpful!

@anthonymiller8979 3 жыл бұрын

There is a similar reel with large tabs just below those ridges where the film first enters. So much easier to load. Night and day difference in getting the film in smoothly as the larger tabs are easier to locate and guide in the dark.

@HamiltonWard 3 жыл бұрын

I'll have to look into that one because the one that comes with the tank is not the best. It took me a few frustrated attempts until I was comfortable with it.

@randallstewart175 3 жыл бұрын

You are thinking of the reels made by AP for their tanks. They are also sold by B&H and Freestyle, rebranded as their "house brand" equipment. What he is showing here is a Paterson reel, which is crap, just like their tanks. The best advice he could give is to toss out any Paterson reels you have and buy AP, or just throw out the reels and tanks and buy all new stuff.

@anthonymiller8979 3 жыл бұрын

@@randallstewart175 I agree, just came from my darkroom and used my AP reels again. Super easy to load. I typically start my 35mm rolls in daylight and just get the leader end caught before going into the dark as typically starting the roll is the hardest part. But even 120 starts well on the AP rolls. 30 years ago I swore by metal reels but I don't have the dexterity I once had so now prefer the AP.

@randallstewart175 3 жыл бұрын

@@anthonymiller8979 I agree that steel reels require a dexterity that plastic reels do not. At 75, I can still load 35mm reels, but 120 is becoming difficult. A lot of that has to do with the reels. I bought up a bunch of Nikor reels from the 1950-60s, made in the US with thick wire parts - fairly easy to load. The more recent steel reels made in Japan have thin wire parts which require a much more precise technique to load.

@ThunderspearNZ Жыл бұрын

I dont understand why most of my 36exposure film doesnt go on the spool properly passed the 20ish frame it keeps jaming for some reason

@SteSeed 8 ай бұрын

Ha ha, you as well? I'm sick to death of stupid Patterson reels. I've tried every trick in the book, after reading advice online, still no joy. I've just given up and gone back to digital, can't be doing with the hassle.

@ThunderspearNZ 8 ай бұрын

@SteSeed I found a trick that so far seems to work. If you heat up the spool with an hairdryer for a good minute or so, the film goes on the spool very easily!

@SteSeed 8 ай бұрын

@@ThunderspearNZ Thank you so much for your reply, I appreciate it. But to be honest you really shouldn't have to faff on and fight to get a roll of film onto a spool with a hairdryer. There has to seriously be an easier way of dealing with this simple task. I'm pretty sure Saul Leiter didn't use a hairdryer to develop his own black and white film. I'm not having a go at you, I'm having a go at Patterson. Like I said, digital for me from now on, I truly give up with film, it's just too much like hard work.

@SteSeed 8 ай бұрын

@@ThunderspearNZJoking aside, I tried your tip, and my god it worked like a charm. Your a genius, thank you 🙂

@dalehammond1704 Жыл бұрын

I hate Patterson reels. They're tolerable with 35mm, but 127 and 120 are that hot place. I've tried all the suggested guides and all that. The film jumps out of track, buckles, and pops out. I had an old 127 roll of film and worked to load it on the Patterson reel for over 4 hours. I put the film in the Patterson container and came back to the changing bag for another couple hours of misery. Even in the daylight using dead film it's extremely difficult to load 120. I've watch some videos on the steel reels and I plan to order one and try it. For me, Pattersons suck.

@HamiltonWard Жыл бұрын

Total agreement. 35 works so well but for 120 it's a shot in the dark. I'll either it on right away or struggle for half an hour. So wild.

@dalehammond1749 Жыл бұрын

I have never been successful at loading 120 into the Paterson ratchet reels in the dark. 35mm is a piece of cake. I know people do it but it's not for me. When it's time for 120, I either send it out or use the steel reel.

@HamiltonWard Жыл бұрын

I really need to upgrade to a steel reel because the plastic ones are still so frustrating. It either goes on right away or it's a fight.

@dalehammond1749 Жыл бұрын

@@HamiltonWard true

@dalehammond1749 Жыл бұрын

@@HamiltonWard You'll be shocked at how easy even the cheap steel reels are to load in the dark. Just practice in the light with a dead roll and you're first try in the bag will be successful. My best time loading 120 in a Paterson was about 30 minutes. On my first try with a steel reel I did it in less than 3 minutes. There's a reason schools start students with steel reels.

@sarahcook7292 Жыл бұрын

Hey Hamilton, I'm currently on a frustration break. What would you recommend I try for film that keeps pitching up? Once in a blue moon I'll load a roll of 120 first go but more often than not it'll pitch up over and over. I'm using a plastic Patterson reel.

@HamiltonWard Жыл бұрын

I would try a metal reel. The plastic ones seem like they always cause issues for 120.

@sarahcook7292 Жыл бұрын

Yeah I think I'm at that point. I got it on eventually but I ripped the film and damaged it a little bit, lucky I wasn't over the moon about any of the photos

@NortheasternATV 2 жыл бұрын

What can you do if the film is already crinkled and refuses to go on the spool?

@HamiltonWard 2 жыл бұрын

If I ran into that issue I would just take it as slow as possible. Really try to guide the film little by little. It's going to be tough if the film is already crinkled but it's just a matter of patience and helping it along more than you would with regular film. If that doesn't work I would do something wacky by taping one end of the film to a wall to help the crinkles and roll it on that way. Hope that helps!

@39exposures 8 ай бұрын

with my AP tank loading film is a breeze

@abohosamabohosam4178 Жыл бұрын

Hello, HoW many rolls of 35 mm film can one roll of patreson tank fit in.. In other words, how many meters of 35 mm film can be stuffed into one roll at once. Can it be more than three meters at one time.. Wait fora response Thank you..

@HamiltonWard Жыл бұрын

There are varying sizes of tanks that you can use. I have a tank that can do 2 rolls of film at once but there are others that can do more. I would be wary about doing a lot at once though because if something were to go wrong, it would mess up multiple batches instead of just the one.

@abohosamabohosam4178 Жыл бұрын

@@HamiltonWard Thank you for your interest and reply. Greetings.

@kyledarrenhanson Жыл бұрын

I’m fairly good with eyes closed doing this but in changing bag the film gets sticky and won’t go on reel. Any tips?

@HamiltonWard Жыл бұрын

I've never heard of the film getting sticky. Make sure to be in a cool and dry place when you're using the bag. I would actually recommend a closet if you have one. I've rolled many a film in the back of a dark closet at night.

@kyledarrenhanson Жыл бұрын

@@HamiltonWard will do, appreciated

@milkismurder Жыл бұрын

It does get sticky, the gelatin in the emulsion side absorbs atmospheric moisture from your arms being in the dark bag. I use and love steel reels because they don’t have this issue.

@dmphotography.prints 2 жыл бұрын

Hamilton: My Main tip...Don't Get Frustrated Me: Too Late Bro! 😁 Thx for the advice... wish i saw this video about 1 hour ago #wastedframes

@HamiltonWard 2 жыл бұрын

ugh we have all been there. Hopefully it goes better next time. Maybe pour out a little fix to appease the film rolling gods.

@mrca2004 Жыл бұрын

My reel doesn't have a name on it but here's an example of it. Sooo much easier and eliminates frustration. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/e7KihqaVuLylpn0.html. It is so easy to get the film started. Yesterday, I tried pre starting a roll of 35 mm on the small tab reels got it started fine. As soon as I tried to get it wound on, it jammed. Struggled, got it re started same thing. Was it the film? No, I put the roll in the tank and sealed, put in the big tab reel and the same rolls started and cranked fine.

@HamiltonWard Жыл бұрын

King! "My reels came from Adorama, I believe. It's their "house brand". I've never used anything else, but I find them easy enough to use that I have not felt the need to change."

@shawnlennon1947 4 ай бұрын

Couldn’t you have used a old already developed film? Sorry I’m new.

@mrca2004 Жыл бұрын

Get rid if this piece of crap reel with tiny loading ears. I have a reel with about half inch square landing area and that is easy to find and guides the film onto the spool.

@HamiltonWard Жыл бұрын

What is this chosen one reel? I must see!