film leader retriever?

[goo0h]

I notice that B&H has a film leader retriever for not very much. Then on freestyle (where I usually get my film) I notice that they've got a couple, some pretty expensive. Which one do folks recommend?

What happened was this: I shot a few frames of a roll of 36, but then had to change rolls. I meant to leave the leader out, something I've done thousands of times before. However, this time I forgot, and reround the entire roll into the canister. It would be a shame to waste so much of that roll, so I thought I'd get a leader retriever, something I probably should have gotten a long time ago.

[paapoopa]

i have done that a few times too...
but seriously dont think you will need a film retriever...

what i did is, i cut a piece of film from my old developed roll... stick a scotch tape to the tip, and do the same as what you would usually do with a film retriever....

[Chuck Albertson]

I carry a length of Dymo labelmaker tape in my bag for the occasional film retrieval. It's a stiff plastic tape about 3/8" inch wide. You peel off some of the plastic that covers the adhesive and feed the tape into the film cartridge, sticky side down. If you re-wind the film spool some, the tape sticks to the film and you can pull the whole shebang back out the felt lip.

[tagheuer]

If you need to do this once in a while, then this video should help.

Successful every time I tried it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRT_9OQy6VA

[hans voralberg]

Yeah check out that Utube vid, a bit unhygienic but I do that every times.

[tmfabian]

Originally Posted by paapoopa

i have done that a few times too...
but seriously dont think you will need a film retriever...

what i did is, i cut a piece of film from my old developed roll... stick a scotch tape to the tip, and do the same as what you would usually do with a film retriever....

was just going to mention this method...in a pinch you can even lick the end of the scrap film and proceed as normal.

[Telemarker]

I've never seen or heard of such a device before!
Since it's not really a common occurrence that the leader gets lost, I find carefully opening the canister in a darkroom or dark cupboard and feeding it back through is easy enough.

[Vics]

Originally Posted by tagheuer

If you need to do this once in a while, then this video should help.

Successful every time I tried it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRT_9OQy6VA

Wow. Wow.wow.Is that long enough?

[n5jrn]

I have a cheap leader retriever (doubt I paid more than $5 for it). It's worked just fine every time I've used it. Don't see the point of paying more for a fancier one.

[CNNY]

I have a fancy leader retriever made by Hama. I've had it for years and I have not once gotten it to work. Spending money won't necessarily solve your problem in my opinion.

[nikon_sam]

I have a Samigon Film Retriever...paid $11.51 for it in 1989...I've used it enough times to pay for itself but not too much where I have to reread the instructions every time I do use it...
I bought it at Ewert's Photo in Santa Clara, CA if anyone remembers that place...

They are worth having...

[Mudman]

I have one, got it for $1 at a camera show. Thing's frigging awesome

[Bill58]

I've got a plastic one too that works, but I also have to re-read the instructions to use it. It takes at least 2 or 3 times to get it to work, but finally success!
When you need it, it's handy.

[dmr]

Here's my report on such a gizmo, some time ago:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=13202

[sepiareverb]

This is the best of the lot I've found. Cheap, reliable, fast and even fits in a Kodak film can when you want to carry it with you. I've tried several kinds of these over the years and the little metal one works on the first try 99% of the time.

Oh, and the device is so simple instructions are only needed the first time.

[flip]

I lost my retriever. Licking works so long as it is B&W. Color not so well. ... Meh, B&W tastes better anyhow.

[tlitody]

Originally Posted by flip

I lost my retriever. Licking works so long as it is B&W. Color not so well. ... Meh, B&W tastes better anyhow.

Its all the marrow bone gelly. Cats and dogs love it. Just don't get hungry when you're out shooting.

[tlitody]

just one thing, don't use any of those cheap clear plastic leader retrievers. They act like a fibre optic cable when you put them into canister and will fog the first frames of your film. The very dark coloured ones are the ones to go for.

[John Robertson]

I have two of these, one like the Kaiser one shown with plastic blades, have never got it to work!1 The other is a Hama with very thin metal blades, works every time.

[lewis44]

If you need to do this once in a while, then this video should help.

Successful every time I tried it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRT_9OQy6VA

Just tried this. Worked Great. Thanks

[goo0h]

Originally Posted by sepiareverb

This is the best of the lot I've found. Cheap, reliable, fast and even fits in a Kodak film can when you want to carry it with you. I've tried several kinds of these over the years and the little metal one works on the first try 99% of the time.

Oh, and the device is so simple instructions are only needed the first time.

Thanks. I was making an order from B&H anyway, so threw that one into the cart. Not really in the mood to lick film.

[lewis44]

Thanks. I was making an order from B&H anyway, so threw that one into the cart. Not really in the mood to lick film.

Licking film is Mighty Tasty. The Color Chromes taste like KFC Chicken.

[Chris101]

Originally Posted by lewis44

Licking film is Mighty Tasty. The Color Chromes taste like KFC Chicken.

Depends on the major colors doesn't it? Chicken maybe if it's mostly golden brown, but blues and reds are kinda fruity.

[bukaj]

Originally Posted by flip

I lost my retriever. Licking works so long as it is B&W. Color not so well. ... Meh, B&W tastes better anyhow.

I'm not sure if this is true. I've gotten it to work with c41 b&w film (kodak 400cn). maybe it was a roll of 400cn to get the lead out of a roll of tri-x. but at least one of the rolls was color process.

if you don't want to lick the film, you can always wash your hands, get some saliva on your fingers, then get it on the film.

-jakub

[rbsinto]

Originally Posted by Chuck Albertson

I carry a length of Dymo labelmaker tape in my bag for the occasional film retrieval. It's a stiff plastic tape about 3/8" inch wide. You peel off some of the plastic that covers the adhesive and feed the tape into the film cartridge, sticky side down. If you re-wind the film spool some, the tape sticks to the film and you can pull the whole shebang back out the felt lip.

Same method I've used for many, many years.
Cheap, cheerful and works like a champ.