Bulk loader in comparison: Advantages and disadvantages of popular models

Manually loading 35mm film saves money in the long run and allows for custom roll lengths – provided you have the right bulk loader. From a 100-foot roll (30.5 meters), you can get about 18 to 19 rolls of 36 frames each. Important upfront: The very first loading of the 30.5-meter film roll into the loader must be done in complete darkness (e.g., in a changing bag). Only after that is it possible to load individual cartridges in daylight. We compare the technical features of the most common models and show which loader suits which needs.

Overview:

• 1. AP Bobinquick Junior
• 2. Legacypro Lloyd 35mm
• 3. Watson models (100/66)
• 4. Alden 74
• 5. LPL Dayroll Deluxe

Beginner tutorial

Once the basic principle of bulk loading is clear, let's take a detailed look at the hardware. Below, we introduce you to the 5 most common loaders on the market and compare their specific strengths and weaknesses so you can find the right model for your workflow.

1. AP Bobinquick Junior: plastic body with counter and remaining film indicator

 

Photo: Fotoimpex.de

Advantages:

• Precise counter for 1–36 frames per roll
• Remaining film indicator shows remaining meters on the bulk roll [6][27]
• Durable plastic construction with ASA/ISO marker [6][12]
• Minimal film waste thanks to short leader (only about 0.5 frames) [9][17]
• Foolproof automatic light lock that opens when inserting the crank and closes light-tight when removing it

Disadvantages:

• High price (approx. €85–100 vs. €50 for the Lloyd) [1][4]
• Tight working space when changing cartridges [9]

 

Buy at Fotoimpex.

2. Legacypro Lloyd 35mm: plastic housing with crank

 

Photo: Kamerastore.com

Advantages:

• Easiest operation without moving light traps [2][7]
• Most affordable bulk loader (from €50) [4][12]
• Compact design – fits in any camera bag [3][9]
• Minimal film waste thanks to short leader [17][22]

Disadvantages:

• No counter – estimate frame count by crank turns [7][16]
• Felt light shutter can catch dust and cause scratches [9][22]
• Plastic housing prone to breakage when dropped [3][9]

Buy at Kamerastore.

3. Watson models (100/66): Classic Bakelite/plastic loader with side crank

Photo: Lot's O Camera Stuff on eBay.com

Advantages:

• No felt – labyrinth-like light traps reduce scratch risk [9][26]
• Compatible with standard cassettes and special cassettes (e.g. Nikon-AM/Leica-FILCA). The latter have no scratch-prone felt lips and are mechanically opened and closed inside the loader [9][25]

Disadvantages:

• Risk of breakage when dropped: The extremely brittle Bakelite shatters easily if the loader falls
• Large housing (2× the size of Lloyd) [3][16]
• Long leader wastes 1–2 frames per roll [17][22]
• Hard to get – mostly only used [9][29]

Buy on eBay.

4. Alden 74: Rectangular design with yellow winding crank

Photo: Brian's Camera Shop: Foto Works Canada

Advantages:

• Automatic cassette closure for Leica/Nikon systems[8][25]
• 100-foot capacity (30.5 m) for standard bulk rolls[9][25]
• No felt light traps (uses a mechanical gate instead) – dust-resistant design[4][25]

Disadvantages:

• Modification required for older FILCA cassettes (internal filing needed), newer M-cassettes (IXMOO) fit well[25]
• Complex mechanics with 15 individual parts[8][25]
• Hard to find – production discontinued[4][8]

5. LPL Dayroll Deluxe: Round loader with integrated data disc

Photo: Kamerastore.com

Advantages:

• Automatic light shutter prevents scratches [26][31]
• Rotary dial logs film type/exposure counts [10]
• Classic design with robust gear mechanism [31][36]

Disadvantages:

• Only available used (not produced since the 1990s) [31][36]
• Heavy cleaning needed for dust in the gears [26]

Buy at Kamerastore.

Comparison table

Model	Price (new)	Counter	Film trimming	Compatibility
AP Bobinquick	85–100 €	Yes	0.5 frame	Standard cartridges
Legacypro Lloyd	50 €	No	1 frame	Standard cartridges
Watson 100	€70 (used)	Yes	2 frames	Standard & special cartridges
Alden 74	€120 (used)	Yes	1 frame	Leica/Nikon
LPL Dayroll	€60 (used)	Yes	0.5 frame	Standard cartridges

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Conclusion

The AP Bobinquick Junior remains the gold standard for perfectionists [1][6], while the Legacypro Lloyd is the budget alternative for occasional users [2][7]. Owners of vintage cameras should look out for Alden 74 or Watson loaders [25][9]. All models require care when loading – accidentally opening the lid ruins the entire bulk roll [3][16]. Otherwise, there are some rarer bulk loaders on the used market not listed in this article. Those who want to search themselves can look for devices from Computrol, Ducati, Kodak Day-Load, RF Hunter "Wasp", Kaiser, Ansco & more.

Tip: Clean the felt light sliders regularly. Use a soft brush, gently dab with tape, or blow out with compressed air (no alcohol, as it dissolves the adhesive). Check used loaders for cracks in the housing [9][14]. Also note: Point-and-shoot cameras often expose the film incorrectly due to lack of DX code (scanner barcode) on reusable cartridges unless special DX code stickers are used.

And finally, a bit of self-promotion:

After cutting, the film naturally needs a tab for threading. Especially old screw-mount Leicas (LTM) require a specifically cut film leader (e.g., using an Ablon template) to prevent the film from tearing during transport. We offer two templates for this:

Sources:

1. Worth it itself the expensive AP Bulk Loader? (Reddit)
2. AP Bobinquick Junior Review (YouTube)
3. Lloyd Bulk Loader Review (YouTube)
4. Best Bulk Loader? (Reddit)
5. Bulk Loading – Saves it really money? (35mmc)
6. AP 35mm Film Loader – Bobinquick Junior (Macodirect)
7. LegacyPro Lloyds Bulk Loader + Free Film cartridge (Nijmegenpasfotofilm)
8. Bulk Film Loading Tutorial (YouTube)
9. Bulk Loader Showdown (Rangefinderforum)
10. Bulk Film Loading for Bargain hunters (Darkroomuser)
11. AP Bobinquick Junior – Product page (Retrocamera)
12. LegacyPro Lloyd 35mm Bulk Loader (Freestylephoto)
13. Bulk Film Loading Tutorial (YouTube)
14. Worth it itself a Bulk Loader for Film? (Photrio)
15. Discussion about Bulk Loader (Film and Darkroom User)
16. Alden 74 Film Loader Review (YouTube)
17. Best Bulk Loader? (Photrio)
18. Discussion: Which Bulk Loader is the best? (Dpreview)
19. Best Bulk Loader Brand? (Rangefinderforum)
20. Bulk Film Loading against rising Film prices (Beyond The Aperture)
21. LegacyPro Lloyd Bulk Loader Discussion (Photrio)
22. Comparison by Bulk Film Loaders (Photo.net)
23. money save with Bulk Film Loading (DIYPhotography)
24. Bulk Film Loading Instructions (Shoot It With Film)
25. Alden 74 Modification for Bulk Loading (Merefilmphoto)
26. LPL Dayroll Film Loader Manual (Photo.net)
27. AP Bobinquick Junior Bulk Loader (Fotoimpex)
28. LegacyPro 35mm Film Daylight Bulk Loader (Splendid)
29. Bulk Loader on eBay (eBay DE)
30. Best Film Loader? (Photo.net)
31. Bulk Film Loader Photo (Flickr)
32. Bulk Film Loader Accessories (Macodirect)
33. LegacyPro Bulk Loader Product page (Digitaltruth)
34. Aging by Watson Film Loader (Photo.net)
35. Alden 74 Bulk Loading Tips (Merefilmphoto)
36. Bulk Film Loader Inside view (Flickr)
37. Bulk Film Loading for Beginner (YouTube)