Fomapan plastic cartridges

[Peter B]

I popped a fresh roll of Fomapan 100 into the Nikon F80 today to see if a problem was still present with the camera. Having got to the low 20s, the camera suddenly rewound the film which came as a surprise and made me wonder if I'd got a 24 exp film by mistake. Checking the box confirmed it was a 36 exp, but it also said "plastic cartridge" on it. The F80 unfortunately winds all the way back, so my Hama film retriever is always required. Except that only about the first inch would go in through the light trap, so no way to retrieve the leader. The cartridge appears to be similar/the same as the Lomography one the guy talks about in the youtube here, and he explains it quicker and better than me, so worth a watch.

It's also discussed on Flickr, Photrio, Rangefinderforum and other sites, but the problem seems to be that the film is wound too tightly into the cartridge such that the film retriever cannot physically get in. This tightness is presumably also why the F80 couldn't pull all of the film out of the cartidge, so I've lost about 1/3 of the film. This film is dated 04/2027, whereas the 01/2027 rolls don't say Plastic Cartridge on them. Fomapan apparently sell a tool specifically for opening these cartidges, but obviously this has to be done in the dark and you'll then need to trim the end of the film missing the holes so that it goes on the reel properly.

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

I bought a load of these (50) for bulk loading instead of re-using cartridges. I haven't used them yet though. I also saw the "opening tool" but it wasn't cheap. With a little practice I managed to open these plastic cartridges in daylight with a flat small screwdriver to lift the tabs.

Seeing this thread I thought I'd try something that possibly could be done in a dark bag.



If you you go from what I think of as the bottom of the cartridge then simultaneously lift the edge of both tabs with your finger and or thumb nails over the catches then the cartridge will come apart without having to touch the 2 tabs at the top of the cartridge. (If you start with the top 2 tabs you also then have to do the bottom 2 tabs as well).

I've practiced this method with my eyes closed so it should be able to be done in a dark bag. Doing so in a darkroom should be easier.

My Flic Chrome 100 came in one these cartridges and that got all 36 exposures on it without issue. Suppose I best bulk loads these plastic canisters with my 100ft of Kentmere 100 and Delta 100 to see if I experience any of these tightness issues.

Edit: Thanks to Mrs amc for the phone pic (and her eternal patience with my film photography ).

 

[Peter B]

Taken from a Flickr group discussing the issue


Update. I have received a very heplful update from Jiří Chrtek ( Export Manager) at Foma.cz. He acknowledges that there were early production problems with these 35mm plastic cannisters and the over-tight winding of the film in them. This should now be resolved.

The opening of the cannisters is much aided by using Flic's Quic Pic

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ3hyYrnsQ8

Which should save your precious film and fingernails from damage.
If only all companies were this quick to respond to the consumer.

Thank you Foma!

https://www.flickr.com/groups/86738082@N00/discuss/72157721920752181/

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

Taken from a Flickr group discussing the issue


Update. I have received a very heplful update from Jiří Chrtek ( Export Manager) at Foma.cz. He acknowledges that there were early production problems with these 35mm plastic cannisters and the over-tight winding of the film in them. This should now be resolved.

The opening of the cannisters is much aided by using Flic's Quic Pic

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ3hyYrnsQ8

Which should save your precious film and fingernails from damage.
If only all companies were this quick to respond to the consumer.

Thank you Foma!

https://www.flickr.com/groups/86738082@N00/discuss/72157721920752181/

The steel version opener I saw was £70ish. The Flic Quic 3d printed tool looks a lot simpler and easier. I'll have to see about getting one.

EDIT: 1st UK search result

Flic Film Quic Pic - Bristol Cameras

Flic Film Quic Pic - Bristol Cameras - Established Independent Bristol Based Camera Store - Analogue Photography Specialists

www.bristolcameras.co.uk

 

[Nod]

Too late for this film but IIRC, the F80 can be set to leave the leader out rather than fully rewind.

 

[FishyFish]

Too late for this film but IIRC, the F80 can be set to leave the leader out rather than fully rewind.

Unfortunately, I don't think the F80 does this. I've looked at it on mine and couldn't find anything that allows it in the custom settings.

 

[Peter B]

Too late for this film but IIRC, the F80 can be set to leave the leader out rather than fully rewind.

I'm with Nige on this one unfortunately, since it's my only real niggle with the camera.

 

[Harlequin565]

Thanks to Mrs amc for the phone pic

I have nothing useful to add other than Mrs amc takes a pretty good picture considering the lighting, the nuances of phone cameras and the small subject.

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

I have nothing useful to add other than Mrs amc takes a pretty good picture considering the lighting, the nuances of phone cameras and the small subject.

Mrs amc says thank you!

 

[Nod]

Unfortunately, I don't think the F80 does this. I've looked at it on mine and couldn't find anything that allows it in the custom settings.

I'm with Nige on this one unfortunately, since it's my only real niggle with the camera.

Bu99er! Sorry for the wrong info. I know at least one of my cameras could be set to leave some leader out and I was sure it was the F80. Peeking at a couple of threads on other fora/ums, pressing the shutter release as soon as you hear the leader click off the take-up spool stops the rewind. Bear in mind that that's just hearsay though!

 

[Peter B]

Bu99er! Sorry for the wrong info. I know at least one of my cameras could be set to leave some leader out and I was sure it was the F80. Peeking at a couple of threads on other fora/ums, pressing the shutter release as soon as you hear the leader click off the take-up spool stops the rewind. Bear in mind that that's just hearsay though!

I haven't checked how many rolls I've got, but they are mainly for checking manual wind cameras, so I'll just avoid the F80. I'll be more annoyed if I find the film is too tight to wind on and I lose about 10 frames like that one. Also don't want to force the winding mech and possibly rip the sprocket holes.

 

[RumpFace]

does pushing the top of the bobbin push the bottom disc off?