Can You Use Bulk Film On An Auto Wind Camera ?

ianbarber

ianbarber

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I have a Nikon 35mm N85 camea which I use for general walk about. This camera is just about auto everything, it auto winds the film to the first frame after inserting a new roll, it auto rewinds after the last frame has been used. It also auto detects the ISO of the loaded film.

Is it still possible to use bulk loaded film with this type of camera ?
 
It should be ok with auto-wind, I've used bulk loaded films in auto cameras without issue. You may have a problem with the ISO though. I've had a quick google and can't find a manual for your camera so don't know if that's available.

The N65 manual I found (link) doesn't say anything about setting it yourself but it defaults to ISO 100 if you don't have a DX-coded film loaded, so if you're bulk loading that, you'll be metering ok.

Another option which I've used in the past is to keep the DX-coded canister from a film of the correct speed and cut the film off when you're loading the spool to leave a 'tail' on the roll, then attach the new film to that and wind it back into the canister. It worked ok for a roll of HP5+ in a Tri-X canister in my Olympus mju, though it's really only an option if you're developing them yourself or your developer is amenable. I wouldn't want to do it too many times though, in case the felt compacted or picked up some grit that scratched the film.
 
As Dean says, the iso could prove to be the issue.

If there's exposure compensation on the camera should you load it with say 400 speed film and the camera automatically defaults to 100 iso, simply adjust the comp by 2 stops.
 
You can also buy DX coding stickers to put onto blank canisters.
 
In addition to what the guys already told you here, you can also re-use original metallic canisters to get the proper DX code, I've mentioned this in the other thread where you asked about using bulk film, no need to buy new blank canisters.

You have two options with used canisters:

- If the original film was pulled off completely, then you will have to open the canister very carefully to not damage it (you can find canister openers on the net), then attach the new bulk film to the spool, like you do with a plastic blank canister.

- This is what I do to re-use an metallic canister, when pulling out the already exposed original film to develop, I cut it leaving a few centimeters behind, out of the canister like some king of a tongue, and then use that tongue to attach the bulk film with tape, that way I avoid to open the canister and so keep it light tight. Like this guy here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eqnuilNnAM
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eqnuilNnAM


If the auto-rewind of your camera pulls all the film in the canister, again you have two options to retrieve and pull it out if you do not wish to open the canister:

- Buy a film retriever.

- Do it manually, there are a few methods out there, one involves the use of water but I do not like it, the one that works for me every time is as follow:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc00ULY7cYU


Hope this helps :)
 
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