Am I the only one who chose bulk loading over buying pre-rolled canisters?

I was spending about $12 a roll for Portra 400 and decided to invest $150 in a bulk loader and a 100-foot reel of Fomapan 100. It cut my cost per roll to under $4, but the first few tries I got light leaks from not sealing the canisters right. Has anyone else made this switch and found a foolproof way to get the canisters light-tight every time?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowanj212mo ago

How many rolls did you ruin before you got the hang of it? I felt like a raccoon trying to open a jar the first few times. The black electrical tape method is ugly but it hasn't failed me yet.

beth_stone2mo ago

Oh man, the raccoon feeling is so real. Pretty sure I wasted half a roll before it clicked. That tape method is a lifesaver for sure.

reese_fox10d ago

Ha! Oh man, the raccoon feeling is way too accurate. I think I lost three rolls to light leaks before I figured out I was just being too gentle with the tape. My trick now is to use a strip of electrical tape that's about twice as long as the canister's opening and wrap it around twice, really pressing it down along the seams. It looks like a messy bandage on a thumb but it works every time. Your mileage may vary but it beats buying those fancy pre-cut seal stickers.