What is Bulk Film and How is it Used?

Bulk film is often purchased by photographers who shoot many pictures.

Some photographers prefer to buy film in bulk rolls, which usually come in lengths of 100 feet. Bulk film is sold by most major film manufacturers and the reasons for buying film in such large quantities sometimes go beyond the economical.

Econmic Savings

Bulk film can come in black and white or color and is considerably cheaper than the prepackaged rolls, which are usually calibrated for 24 or 36 exposures. Along with the large roll of film, a photographer must also purchase some empty film canisters and a bulk film loader. The film is transferred to the film canister and then cut to length. Once the bulk film has been transferred to the bulk loader, total darkness is not necessary to prepare a length of film.

Benefits

The biggest benefit of bulk film is that the photographer can choose how many exposures are available on each roll of film. For example, a sports photographer might want to load up each roll with as many shots as possible, while a black-and-white nature photographer could opt for a very small number of exposures on each segment, so he can use different rolls for the changing lighting that occur during the course of a day.

Quality

The manufacturing quality of the film does not change, but the purchaser should always check the date of the film. The fresher the film, the more sensitive it will be to light. Once the bulk film is purchased, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator to help maintain freshness.

References

• Goshen College: Bulk Loading Film
• Roger and Frances Photo School: How do I (and why should I) load 35mm bulk film?