Reloadable Cassette Metal or Plastic which is better?

[wizard717]

I'm trying to get back into photography after about 25 years. Being retired I'm on a tight budget and I thought I save a little cash by loading and developing my own film. I only shoot B&W.
I've purchases a bulk loader and a 100' roll of Legacy Pro 100.
However, I'm little confused about which type of cassette to use,
metal or plastic.
Is there any benefit of one vs the other.

[Roger Hicks]

What sort of camera have you?

See also: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subsc...0cassetes.html

Cheers,

R.

[jmcd]

I prefer metal, but have used both metal and plastic successfully.

[Ronald M]

I can`t get the plastic ones from B&H to go past 12 frames in any Leica Screw, M or R. I threw away 4 of them.

I recommend Leica brass cassettes if you can find the ones that work in your camera.

If not, I have a shoe box size box of Kalt ones from Calumet for $60. I think there are 100 in there. They are new and clean unlike the the partial box of dusties from the local store.

If you can get past the issues with Leicas, they are the absolute best. If not the Kalt ones.

[wizard717]

[What sort of camera have you?]

I have three vintage 35MM cameras. Two rangefinders and a SLR.
The Rangefinders are: a FED-3 with industar 61L/D lens I picked up in Paris a few years ago and an Electro 35 I got off ebay. The Electro 35 is unique it's a pre G model with the circuits of a GSN ( just had it CLA'd)
The SLR is a Praktica I've had since the 70's.
All three take excellent photos.

[drewbarb]

My local mini lab still processes enough 35mm that most of the time they have plenty of empty cassettes they are happy to give away. The tabs of film sticking out of the spent cans make it easy to load and shoot with them. The felt traps have only been used once, so they are generally clean- I've never had a problem with them. Anyway, I use them once and recycle them.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by wizard717

[What sort of camera have you?]

I have three vintage 35MM cameras. Two rangefinders and a SLR.
The Rangefinders are: a FED-3 with industar 61L/D lens I picked up in Paris a few years ago and an Electro 35 I got off ebay. The Electro 35 is unique it's a pre G model with the circuits of a GSN ( just had it CLA'd)
The SLR is a Praktica I've had since the 70's.
All three take excellent photos.

The Electro 35 and the Praktica should both accept Shirley Wellards, so look out for those, and the Fed-3 had (I think) its own Leica-type cassettes. Purpose-made labyrinthine reloadables are MUCH better than thin metal or plastic.

Cheers,

R.

[Dave Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

The Electro 35 and the Praktica should both accept Shirley Wellards, so look out for those, and the Fed-3 had (I think) its own Leica-type cassettes. Purpose-made labyrinthine reloadables are MUCH better than thin metal or plastic.

Cheers,

R.

Shirley Wellard?....I'm sure I knew her mother!