Film cassettes for bulk loading - any recommendations?

This is what I have in current circulation:

 

Left to right:

 

FSU cartridge: Bought from an Ukraine eBay seller. Very sturdy, semi easy to open. Smells bad. Works with most cameras, but tolerances are not too precise, therefore it can be a tight fit in some cameras. The velvet doesn't look great but works fine (so far).

Price paid <€2/each

 

No-name metal: - NOS bought from my local camera shop two years ago - very easy to open and good quality velvet - will probably open easily if dropped. Works in all cameras.

Price paid <1€/each

 

Commercial cartridge: The most convenient solution, IMO. Just tape the bulk film to the lip that sticks out. Won't open when dropped. Scratching from re-use is overly exaggerated IMO. Works in all 35mm film cameras and easy to get.

Price paid 0€/each

 

Ilford reloadable: Great quality but not super easy to open (and therefore less likely to open if dropped - which is good). Compatible with all cameras.

Price paid 2€/each

 

Leica IXMOO: Requires bulk loader that can open the film gate of the cartridge (or darkroom loading). Works only with Leica M (up to mid-production M6) and Barnack Leicas. Crazy good quality of solid brass. Likely to be mistaken for high caliber gun cartridges in airport security. Not super easy to unload.

Price paid <20€/each (but often sells up to 50€!)

 

Leica FILCA: Like above, but only compatible with Barnack Leica.

Price paid <15€/each

 

Nikon F: Requires bulk loader that can open the cassette (or darkroom loading). Works only with Nikon F (and maybe some of the Nikon rangefinders?). Great quality. Not super easy to unload.

Price paid <20€/each

 

Nikon F2 (AM-1): Like above, but only compatible with Nikon F2.

Price paid <8€/each (but very difficult to find at any price)

 

My preferred method of reloading is the commercial cartridge where I just tape the bulk film to the end of the old film lip sticking out of the used cartridge. It is easy, cheap and fast - and the cassette will work in any camera.

I have been using Leitz and Zeiss cassettes for years without any kind of specialized bulk loader. Simply spool film on to spindle and stick into cassette and close cassette. All these years, didn't even know the existence of a specialized bulk loader. Only need to know the number of winds for a length of 36 exposures..

I have been using Leitz and Zeiss cassettes for years without any kind of specialized bulk loader. Simply spool film on to spindle and stick into cassette and close cassette.

Do you mind sharing how you do that in more detail?

If you don't use a loader that can close the cassette, how do you do that - unless you load in a darkroom as I note?

If you don't use a loader that can close the cassette, how do you do that

Those cassettes have protruding pins that need to be depressed to unlock the rotating labyrinth, and to allow the cassette to come completely apart for access to the spool. It's dead easy to depress the pin, or pins by hand and rotate the cassette to take it apart.

Closure of the cassette usually needs no depression of the pins. They're spring-loaded and simply pop up when the cassette halves are mated and rotated to the closed position.

A loader designed for such cassettes has a small cam surrounding the winding spindle that depresses the pin and rotates the cassette labyrinth. These mechanisms are sometimes a bit 'iffy' and don't work reliably with all types of cassette. But you can usually feel or hear when closure of the cassette has been successful.

Those cassettes have protruding pins that need to be depressed to unlock the rotating labyrinth, and to allow the cassette to come completely apart for access to the spool. It's dead easy to depress the pin, or pins by hand and rotate the cassette to take it apart.

 

Closure of the cassette usually needs no depression of the pins. They're spring-loaded and simply pop up when the cassette halves are mated and rotated to the closed position.

 

A loader designed for such cassettes has a small cam surrounding the winding spindle that depresses the pin and rotates the cassette labyrinth. These mechanisms are sometimes a bit 'iffy' and don't work reliably with all types of cassette. But you can usually feel or hear when closure of the cassette has been successful.

I understand, Joe.

My question was directed at @robert_ante.

I don't understand if he is just describing darkroom loading or if he is referencing to loading in a daylight-loader without provisions to close the cassette.

In the latter case I would have liked to know how he close the cassette, as just opening the loader would expose the film through the still open gate.