How to Load 100ft Bulk Roll Film into Empty Cannisters
By WALKENS House of Film | Published: 2026-10-22
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to bulk load 35mm film from a 100ft roll into empty cannisters. Step-by-step guide for DIY film loading at home with the RPX 400 bulk roll.
Quick answer
To load a 100ft bulk roll into empty cannisters, you need a bulk loader, a dark bag or darkroom, and empty 35mm cannisters. The process takes about 10 minutes per roll and saves money compared to buying pre-rolled film.
Why bulk load your own film?
Bulk loading 100ft rolls like the RPX 400 gives you control over how many exposures you get per roll. You can roll 18 standard 36-exposure rolls from a single 100ft bulk roll. It also reduces waste because you can customize the length for different cameras or projects.
The main trade-off is the upfront cost of a bulk loader and the need for a dark space. But once you have the equipment, each roll costs significantly less than buying factory-loaded film.
What you need before starting
You will need a bulk film loader (such as a Lloyd or Watson style), a 100ft bulk roll, empty 35mm cannisters, scissors, and a dark bag or darkroom. The empty cannisters can be recycled from your lab, like the Empty 35mm Bulk Roll Cannister Pack from WALKENS which includes 25 recycled cannisters.
Make sure your bulk loader is clean and free of dust. A small piece of tape is helpful to secure the film leader to the spool inside the cannister.
Step-by-step bulk loading process
- Prepare your dark space: Set up your bulk loader and empty cannisters inside a dark bag or a completely dark room. Make sure no light leaks in. Load the bulk roll onto the loader's spindle according to the loader's instructions. Common mistake: forgetting to check for light leaks in your dark bag or room. Test by closing yourself inside and waiting 30 seconds to see if any light enters.
- Advance the film into the cannister: With the dark space sealed, feed the film leader from the bulk loader into the empty cannister. Close the cannister's light trap (the felt slit) and advance the desired length using the loader's counter. For a 36-exposure roll, advance about 1.6 meters (5.2 feet). Common mistake: advancing too much film. Use the loader's counter and stop at the correct number. Over-advancing wastes film and can cause jams.
- Cut and seal the roll: Once the correct length is advanced, cut the film with scissors inside the dark space. Remove the cannister from the loader. Seal the film end with a piece of tape to prevent it from retracting into the cannister. Label the cannister with the film type and ISO. Common mistake: not taping the film end. If you don't tape it, the film can slip back inside the cannister when you try to load it into a camera, ruining the roll.
Products to help you bulk load
- RPX 400 35mm -100ft Bulk Roll: This 100ft bulk roll yields approximately 18 x 36exp rolls. That means you get about 18 rolls of film from one bulk roll, making it a cost-effective choice for regular shooters.
RPX 400 35mm -100ft Bulk Roll - Empty 35mm Bulk Roll Cannister Pack: These are recycled 35mm cannisters from our lab, sold in packs of 25. They are a convenient and eco-friendly way to get the empty cannisters you need for bulk loading, and you can request a preferred ISO for DX code compatibility.
Empty 35mm Bulk Roll Cannister Pack
