COSMIC/SMENA 8M FILM LOADING PROBLEM

BADGER.BRAD · May 3, 2017

Hello all,
I have just had a look at my Cosmic 35m before actually loading my first film into it but have discovered the wheel you would use to wind the film on has no slot or teeth on it ,it is totally smooth the manual says there should be a slot and a YouTube video I watched said that his had small teeth on the wheel to grip the film has anyone come across this before ? The only way Could see of doing this would be to wind the film around the wheel first then pull the film canister back into it's place. I'm worried the film will just slip off the winding wheel.

Thanks all

Ko.Fe. · May 3, 2017

I think it is called "take in spool". Original is missing. Spool from regular film cassette is in instead. Make straight cut at the film end and use masking tape to secure it on the spool you have.
Some brave people are cutting slot in the spool like this by knife or dremel.

AgX · May 3, 2017

With all type 135 (35mm film) cameras that got no autoloading feature you have to turn the take-up spool by hand at its flange (whether serrated or not) to bring its slot into position.

AgX · May 4, 2017

What K.O. is referring to is this:
The Smena 8M (as some german cameras) got the feature to substitute the original take-up spool by a complete type 135 cassette, though with the cassette's spool mounted upside down. Thus having the film run from cassette to cassette.
This enables the user to either change films (eg colour to b&w) at half roll or take out just a short length of exposed film, both in daylight.

K.O. idea is that due to that exchangability of the original take-up spool by a cassette it could be that someone exchanged the original spool against one that got a plain stem without any slot, to stick the film to by tape.

BADGER.BRAD · May 4, 2017

Thanks Ko.Fe
I'll will use a little tape for my first film as you suggested I must admit it was the only way I could see of doing it myself, at least I now know what's been done with the camera. If I can find another spare spool from a cassette then I will have a go at putting a slot in it.
Thanks again to both of you for all the help you have given me with my cameras so far.

Brad

AgX · May 4, 2017

As a side note, the Smena 8M successor model, the Smena Symbol lost that exchangability feature.

BADGER.BRAD · May 4, 2017

Hello again,
I've just took an old film cassette apart in order to try and put a slot in it only to find it already has one in. I loaded the film with the new take up spool without any problems. I'm going away with my caravan this weekend into Wales so should get some good photo opportunities. Just a quick question as I'm keen to try the Cosmic in as many ways as I can what setting would I use when using a flash ?

Thanks again.

Brad

AgX · May 4, 2017

If you use a manual exposure electronic flash, you'll find a settings table (film speed, distance, aperture) at it. Set the appropriate aperture on the Smena.
With an automatic exposure flash set the film speed and then the range you like and set the resulting aperture on the Smena or vice versa.

As shutter-speed you can chose any you like. The longer the shutter speed the more effect (if any) the ambient light will have on exposure.

Look out for book shops in Wales...
(That spool thing though was really tricky, most Apuggers would have wondered too.)

MattKing · May 4, 2017

Just a heads up to Brad:
I'm not sure why, but internet etiquette has it that the way one indicates that something is being shouted is to express it in all capital letters.
So both your Apug user name and this thread title are shouting from the screen .
The user name isn't a problem (although the site owner could change it for you) but you may want to avoid all capitals for future thread titles.
And thanks for signing on to APUG (which as an acronym, is allowed to be all caps) .

Ko.Fe. · May 4, 2017

Camera has sync contact for flash cable. If it is regular electronic flash it will works with all shutter speeds. Old, bulb ones are with 1/15 and B.

COSMIC/SMENA 8M FILM LOADING PROBLEM

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