Bulk LF Film: Cutting and Loading Aerial Roll Film

[Nick Zentena]

I described my paper cutting setup on the LF forum. For a cutter I used a smaller paper cutter. The thing is basically just the cutting part of the one you used and not much outside of that. I had intially planned to mount it to a wooden board with screws but when I got it home the molded plastic made it clear that trying to drill holes and mount screws would just have shattered it. So I mounted it to a wooden board with duct tape-). On one edge of the board I mounted a wooden guide. 1/2" high by 1/4" wide. More then big enough for the dark. At the time I only had 8" wide rolls of paper so I mounted the same sort of guide 8" across from the first guide. With the lights on I'll mount some sort of guide for length. All I do is clamp a third board at the right distance.

At the other end I made something similar to the things that hold butcher paper. Think a square U. At the tops I used a forstner bit to cut an open O. The paper rolls fits nicely onto an old broom handle. The whole combination is simple to put together in the dark. Big broom handle. Big holes for mounting it. I've found that what works with the lights on didn't work for me with the lights off. The second guide for example was added because I couldn't get straight cuts with the lights off. Seems with the lights on I would adjust the paper without even knowing it. So I've made the setup almost impossible to screw up.

I need to make a new one for 10" wide paper.

If the roll film can be mounted onto some thing round [dowel etc] then I think my setup would work okay for film.

[jimgalli]

Emile, I've dreamed of a 9.5X23" custom but dream is as far as I ever expext it to get.

[Emile de Leon]

Jim, that would be a hell of a camera!

[sanking]

Originally Posted by jimgalli

There's a seller on Ebay called mrfoto1 that sells it. Yes, you can cut 7X17 from the 9 1/2" wide rolls but you'd need a larger cutter than what I described. I plan on doing this and 8X20 as well but I'll have to get a cutter with a 24" cut area.

Does he sell color film? We (S&S) are currently making some custom 9.5X20" holders for a customer and I was toying with the idea of making a few extra for myself for color work via an adaptor back with the Canham 12X20. If anyone else is interested let me know as soon as possible and we might be able to include you on the production run.

Sandy King

[Emile de Leon]

Hi Sandy,
He is getting his aerial color film from Kodak but for some strange reason it is cheaper in the orient than direct from the source here in the US. It aint cheap.
Also...that is a great idea for the 9.5x20 back for a 12x20. I might be interested in some of those holders.
Best,
Emile

[roodpe]

Hi all!

Does anyone have experience with the Kodak XX aerial film?

Also, I thought these films (aerial) have a different sensitivity to red light. How does this affect using them?

[FilmIs4Ever]

I don't know about the color sensitivities of color aerial film, but I do know that black and white (and probably color as well) aerial film have exposure indices which correspond to high density negatives. Therefore, for pictorial use, a modification of these indices is in order. I believe you actually rate the film at a higher EI than is used in the air. I have been fascinated by the prospects of using aerial film, especially the 70mm modified for use in 35mm or 70mm still equipment, but being short of the necessary funds, I haven't been able to partake in such an endeavour. However, if someone gets around to cutting the stuff down to size, I'd love to buy some of the stuff to see what it's like. The aerial panatomic-x in particular sounds like fun. I've heard that it is very similar to the old still panatomic-x (was it asa 50?) if rated at the same speed as the still film.

Regards.
~Karl Borowski

[Jimmy Peguet]

I bought a roll of PlusX aerial for my 7x17" (about 80 sheets, low price), cut by the seller : not really a bad film in normal conditions, but a lot of diffusion in backlit shots. There's a big difference for example when photographing foliages with the sun behind them in comparison with a classical film like my current HP5.

In this size, this very thin film is more difficult to handle in trays than another one.

Unless I couldn't find more other films, I wouldn't buy PlusX aerial film more.