Need a good 35mm film picker

[nbagno]

I have a Matin picker, it laster about 20 rolls. I’m in search of someting better and looking for suggestions? They all seem pretty much the same.

Thanks

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I have a Matin picker, it laster about 20 rolls. I’m in search of someting better and looking for suggestions? They all seem pretty much the same.

Thanks

one trick, I heard about but never tried because my camera stops rewinding just short of pulling the film into the can was to take a short strip of unexposed film, lick one side of the emulsion side, and feed it into the canister. The moistened emulsion will stick to the film tab inside and one can pull out the film. Again, I've never tried it and don't know how healthy that emulsion lick is over time, but it may work in a pinch.

 

[mshchem]

I have one of these I picked up when my friend Roger Christian closed his shop.

Film Puller Unit (Bero Magic Style) - CROWN | Australian Photo Supplies

australianphotosupplies.com.au

 

[mshchem]

I use a cassette opening tool in the darkroom.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I was going to suggest one of the little metal ones but I guess they don't make them anymore. They were ubiquitous back in the day since they only cost a buck or two and almost always worked. Surprised frankly that there is almost no choice anymore. I still have one of the little metal ones and an Ilford branded one that is similar to the one you have which I use if the little metal one fails.

If your Matin retriever keeps breaking you might be too rough on it. Try one of the Kaiser ones. I kind of wish I hadn't given away a few of mine over the years. I had a Kodak one as well that was the same as the Ilford. Maybe keep your eye open for an Ilford or Kodak branded one on ebay.

 

[Bill Burk]

Look on eBay for this: "AP Film Cassette Opener - Bench / Wall mounted film cassette opener"
It'll make quick work of the most stubborn cassettes. You'll feel like a butcher because it's so merciless.

 

[ntenny]

one trick, I heard about but never tried because my camera stops rewinding just short of pulling the film into the can was to take a short strip of unexposed film, lick one side of the emulsion side, and feed it into the canister. The moistened emulsion will stick to the film tab inside and one can pull out the film. Again, I've never tried it and don't know how healthy that emulsion lick is over time, but it may work in a pinch.

I’ve done this successfully a few times, but I’ve also stood around in the darkroom licking my film over and over trying and failing. It’s worth a try, but I wouldn’t rely on it too much. I usually just pry the end of the canister off with a bottle opener in the dark.

-NT

 

[Sirius Glass]

I pull the cassette apart to get the film in the darkroom and load the tank.

 

[blee1996]

I have been using my Matin film leader retriever for many rolls over last 2 years, and it is still working fine. I never force anything, and do it gently. Occasionally a roll is really difficult, then I use the Ilford beer opener.

I also have the old style metal clip one, but never really liked that design. Matin works better for me.

 

[Taylor Nankervis]

Fancy tools and trinkets?

No, not at all.

Grab a paper clip, the biggies are better, and unwind one of the legs; at the end, use a pair of pliers to make a hook — just a very small one. Insert into cassette and a couple of wiggles and you've got the leader.

If you have a 'reasonably modern' SLR — the electronic wunderkinds that dominated photography in the 1990s and are still highly sought after, for many of these big guns the leader can be programmed to be left out of the cassette upon rewinding (as does my vintage EOS1N). That's the fun part. But it is critical to immediately mark or bend the leader once out of the camera so you can be sure it is an exposed roll! Spoken from early teary lessons!!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Fancy tools and trinkets?

No, not at all.

Grab a paper clip, the biggies are better, and unwind one of the legs; at the end, use a pair of pliers to make a hook — just a very small one. Insert into cassette and a couple of wiggles and you've got the leader.

I prefer making sure the leader is not being pulled into the canister.

 

[koraks]

one trick, I heard about but never tried because my camera stops rewinding just short of pulling the film into the can was to take a short strip of unexposed film, lick one side of the emulsion side, and feed it into the canister.

I can't count how many times I've tried that trick. I never, ever succeeded, not even once.

Grab a paper clip, the biggies are better, and unwind one of the legs; at the end, use a pair of pliers to make a hook — just a very small one. Insert into cassette and a couple of wiggles and you've got the leader.

That should work OK provided you don't want to reuse the cassette. If you do, this approach will damage the felt that makes the light trap.

My preferred approach is to just open the cassette with a beer bottle opener. This works especially well on the older/original FUJIFILM cassettes, which can then be re-assembled and reused many times. On Foma cassettes, it also works, but these cannot be reassembled as nicely as the Fujis. Kodak cassettes require a good bit of force to come apart and sadly are one use only. I hang on to my Fuji cassettes for this reason; fortunately, I've got a whole big bag full of them.

 

[logan2z]

I can't count how many times I've tried that trick. I never, ever succeeded, not even once.

I’ve done it successfully with two-sided tape instead of saliva. It sometimes takes a few attempts but it does work eventually.

Like @RalphLambrecht I prefer to stop short of fully rewinding the leader into the cassette. None of the cameras I own do that automatically, but it’s pretty easy to do by sound/feel.

Maybe I’m clumsy, but every time I use a cassette opener inside a dark bag on a roll of Ilford film I manage to pinch myself and draw blood. Those cassettes do not open easily.

 

[Taylor Nankervis]

I can't count how many times I've tried that trick. I never, ever succeeded, not even once.


That should work OK provided you don't want to reuse the cassette. If you do, this approach will damage the felt that makes the light trap.

My preferred approach is to just open the cassette with a beer bottle opener. This works especially well on the older/original FUJIFILM cassettes, which can then be re-assembled and reused many times. On Foma cassettes, it also works, but these cannot be reassembled as nicely as the Fujis. Kodak cassettes require a good bit of force to come apart and sadly are one use only. I hang on to my Fuji cassettes for this reason; fortunately, I've got a whole big bag full of them.

Yes, works most of the time, but as I posted after the thread, it is much easier to 'program' the camera to leave the leader out; I realise this isn't possible for many cameras, as evidenced by me continually missing the leader on rewind in my little Olympus XA! I pinch the felt trap to prevent like piping (not reuseable cassettes). Hama made an excellent leader-extractor many years ago (among other very useful trinkets); uncommonly seen now except perhaps at gear swap-meets.

 

[BobUK]

Would the moist offcut of film trick work better if it was inserted. Then left to dry in situ for 15 minutes. Hopefully gluing itself to the leader?

 

[foc]

I have a Matin picker, it laster about 20 rolls. I’m in search of someting better and looking for suggestions? They all seem pretty much the same.

Thanks

The film picker should last more than 20 rolls.

When I had my minilab, we used the AP brand of film picker and one picker would last 4-6 months (that was a minimum of 2.5k to 3k films). Yes, the plastic guide for the film cassette would break off but you could still use the picker, no problem.

I think this is a good video showing how to use the picker.



BTW, I have tried all the MacGyver methods and found they did more harm/damage than good.

 

[Chan Tran]

Back in the early 80's when I managed a 1 hour photo finish lab this is what I used.

Noritsu SB-3U Film Extractor Leader Retriever | eBay

Mistakes may happen and might go above and beyond to resolve any issues. We always reply within a few hours. We will respond and resolve any issue very shortly. What you see in the photos is what exactly you receive.

www.ebay.com

It works better than 99% of the time. I rarely ever had to do it twice.

 

[koraks]

it is much easier to 'program' the camera to leave the leader out

Yes, I do this whenever possible as well. Works great on modern EOS bodies as well as manual transport cameras.

 

[Chan Tran]

Yes, I do this whenever possible as well. Works great on modern EOS bodies as well as manual transport cameras.

Since I don't have Canon EOS none of my cameras can do this. The Nikon F5 could do it with factory mod but mine doesn't have that. I could rewind by hand and not let the leader goes into the cassette.

 

[pentaxuser]

Or try this idea:

https://people.rit.edu/andpph/text-retriever.html

I have no idea if it works but it sounds as if it should and the author who appears to have a degree of photography credence gives the success rate as being high

pentaxuser