I just checked my Fujica ST801, and its take up spool counter-rolls the film (emulsion side out). So do all but one of my Russian and Soviet cameras, my Vivitar V3800N, and I think my Chinon CE-4s (it's got film loaded at the moment, so I can't check it). My 35mm cameras that roll the film emulsion side in on the take-up spool are, with one exception, all cameras with built-in motor drives -- my Ricoh XR-X 3PF, Zenit KM, Canon SureShot, and Minolta Explorer. The one non-motorized camera I've got that loads this way is my Pentax P30t.
So in summary, this is extremely common, particularly on older cameras without motor drives. I wouldn't worry about it, with one caveat: If you leave the film in the camera for a long time, it'll acquire a counter-curl. I'm not positive, but I suspect this may be a factor in loading difficulties when using plastic developing tank spools; with the film trying to curl out, the film tip tries to gouge into the outer track of its spool as it's pushed further into the reel. This is just a hypothesis, though, and even if it's correct, it would only affect loading film onto plastic reels. Leaving the film rewound in its cartridge for a day or two would probably reduce or even reverse the counter-curl, but I've not done any experimentation to find out. (I mostly use SS reels, and the counter-curl isn't an issue when loading them.)
Thanks for your reply. I'm sure I have used other traditional SLRs that load this way, but the only other ones I remember are the Spotmatic, a Nikon, and I think one of the old Minoltas. Most if not all the rest have loaded with emulsion side facing out on the spool. Like you, all the modern auto SLRs I've used have loaded with emulsion side in on the spool, as have all of the compacts including some old uncoupled RFs, etc, and medium format TLRs and SLRs too.
You mention counter-curl, and to me it seemed odd and potentially not a good idea that between the cartridge and the reel the film gets curled two ways. I just can't see much benefit to loading it this way. I probably wouldn't have thought it odd, as it's not unique to this camera, except that on the Fujica it somehow seems... just wrong... As though the spool is actually designed to take film the other way (it's much easier to actually get the film onto the reel with the emulsion facing in). Just didn't feel right somehow... I guess it's just me
The old Exakta's wound film right to left but with the emusion side in. Has a nifty built in knife for going from one cassette to another for exposing less than a whole roll.And there are cameras like the 35mm Rolleis that take up the film emulsion side out and load right-to-left (frame numbers upside-down).
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