8mm Forum: Super 8 cartridge reloading & home developing?

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Topic: Super 8 cartridge reloading & home developing?

Jaime Barbosa
Junior
Posts: 4
From: Brownsville, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2016

posted August 26, 2016 10:47 AM

I am totally new to super 8. In the past, I used to buy reels of bulk 35mm film and load them onto empty reloadable 35mm cartridges. I would then develop the film at home. I would save money and get the satisfaction of developing my own film. Can this be done with super 8 film? If so, where can I get more information as far as supplies is concerned? I would prefer color film, but b&w is ok too. I do not have a dark room or anything like that. I used a changing bag for my 35mm film. Thanks.

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Tom Spielman
Master Film Handler

Posts: 339
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Apr 2016

posted August 26, 2016 12:50 PM

Are you talking about 35mm stills?

Anyway, I've not done what you're thinking about (yet) but have done a little research. One challenge with developing super 8 is getting a suitable tank that will allow the chemicals to interact with every frame of a 50 foot roll film uniformly. Lomo tanks from Russia or the Ukraine are sold on Ebay are one option. There are DIY solutions but you have to be willing to accept that the process will introduce some artifacts. The film will stick to itself in places, get scratched, etc. Some people like that.

The chemicals used and the process aren't much different from developing negatives or slides.

As far as getting bulk film or re-loading cartridges, I think that will be tougher. I'm sure it's possible to reload cartridges but the results may be uneven. A super 8 cartridge contains a plastic pressure plate that's integral to the operation of the camera. If it or the spring are worn, results will suffer. Getting super 8 film in bulk would also be difficult I imagine.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted August 26, 2016 03:04 PM

I believe that Super 8 film cartridges were not intended to be re-usable. But here's a video that shows how a gifted person has achieved such use.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXKRJ0Qj7xE

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Maurice

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Maurizio Di Cintio
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 977
From: Ortona, Italy
Registered: Jan 2004

posted August 27, 2016 03:08 AM

Hi!

I used cartridges that I had reloaded sevral times: these are regular carts I asked Kodak Swiss to send me back during the days when they developed K40. THey came back still sealed since the film to develop was pulled back from the aperture; then I opened it with a cutter (used on the seams) and it was possible to reload them. Never had any issues of jitter or jam which I can't say for regularly packaged cartridges. I think there are plenty of tutorials to learn from and bulk film (on core) can be purchased from Wittner in Germany, in 60 m lengths. Good luck!

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Maurizio

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Brian Fretwell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1785
From: London, UK
Registered: Jun 2014

posted August 27, 2016 03:23 AM

I have a feeling I read about a Russian version of the Super8 cartridge that could be opened and refiled, but it was in a magazine I read decades ago, so it may be a false memory.

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Jaime Barbosa
Junior
Posts: 4
From: Brownsville, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2016

posted August 27, 2016 10:19 AM

Thanks everyone. Btw, I was referring to 35mm photo film I used to reload. I will try fleabay for cartridges.

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