Hard to load cameras and tips

WetMogwai · Sep 6, 2010

I've always had trouble loading Nikon cameras. It often took 30-50 tries. I would only get it loaded by luck. I've never had this much trouble with any other camera. Here is a video that helped me figure out how to do it. By using the fold over trick shown in the video, I got it to work on the first try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqmTmtbpClQ

What cameras do you find hard to load? What tips can you provide to help others to not have the same trouble you had? Don't just limit this to 35mm still cameras. If you have a tip about another format or a cine camera, go ahead and post it. I only posted this in the 35mm forum because I started it with a 35mm camera. Mods, please move it if there is a better place for it.

bblhed · Sep 6, 2010

I have trouble with my Nikon FM, and my Nikonos V, in fact I have lost a roll of film in my Nikonos V to this.

Here is something I have learned. On the FM once I think I have it loaded I rewind the film until I have some tension in it so that when I wind the camera I can see the rewind knob turn when I advance the film that way I know the film is advancing.

On the Nikonos V it is a little tricker and requires a little bit of faith. Most Nikonos owners know this, but I can not stress enough that the camera must be dry when loading film, yes, there are people that have loaded Nikonos cameras underwater. When loading the Nikonos I leave the rewind knob up and tension the film like I do on the FM, then when I see the rewind knob is turning as it should I advance to frame 0 then push the knob down. On the Nikonos there are two things to remember, one is that the rewind knob does not turn when it is down, two is that on the Nikonos if the knob is up the camera is not watertight. Never put a Nikonos V in the water with the rewind knob up, you will flood it.

On my Pentax 6X7 I have trouble aligning the spools right, I have learned to not remove the paper band until I have the spool in place and locked in. Doing this makes my life a lot easier.

darkosaric · Sep 6, 2010

I never had problem with loading Nikon cameras. Leica M6 is little harder, but once when you get familiar - also no problem. But 30-50 tries -- I would give up and got a F90 or F100

Mackinaw · Sep 6, 2010

Loading a Nikon F is a royal pain in the butt. Still love using this camera though.

Jim B.

mablo · Sep 6, 2010

No problems ever with any of my Nikons. My Zorki-1 is v e r y tricky to load and unload. I never shoot more than one roll with it. Reloading is just too dam**d hard to do.

paulfish4570 · Sep 6, 2010

My FED2 is tricky to load.
Easiest to load by far is any Canon with QL ...

eddym · Sep 6, 2010

Is this the joke thread? I mean, you guys are kidding, right? A Nikon is hard to load? The early Nikons (pre-F100 and its autoloading ilk) are no harder to load than any 35mm camera. bblhed has a good suggestion about the rewind lever; I have always done that, and it does give a visual proof that the film is properly loaded.

But the best tip I ever heard was from a Pentax rep. Basically, he said to reverse the loading instructions: first, holding the open camera in your right hand and the film casette in your left, insert the leader into the takeup spool (yes, BEFORE you put the film cassette into the camera); then turn the spool with your thumb, wrapping the film around it securely; THEN pull the cassette back over to the left side of the camera and drop it into its place. Take the slack out with the rewind lever, close the back, and fire off a couple of frames... and you're done. Once you get the hang of this "backwards" technique, it is very fast and secure.

In spite of the Leicas' reputation for difficult loading, the M4 and later are really quite simple, especially if you use a wrist strap screwed into the base plate. Hold the camera in your right hand and remove the base plate, which will safely dangle from the strap on your wrist. Invert the camera, flip open the back window, insert the film cassette, and pull the leader across to the takeup spool, inserting it between any two of the three "fingers". Put the base plate back on, fire off two shots, and start shooting. The earlier M's are more difficult because you have to remove the takeup spool. But the wrist strap on the baseplate still helps.

bobwysiwyg · Sep 6, 2010

Hm, this thread surprises me. I've probably uncovered every photography related problem known to man, but they have always manifested themselves after loading the camera.

Rol_Lei Nut · Sep 6, 2010

I actually find "classic" Nikons quite easy to load.
(Even the notorious F, just like later Leica Ms).

35mm Rolleiflex and Leica SLRs need the "reverse loading" a previous post described (insert film end in take-up reel first...). Only the Rolleiflex 3003 (and its brothers) can be something of a pain to load... Luckily several magazines can be pre-loaded beforehand and the counter doesn't advance unless the film does.

I also find the Pentax 6x7 pretty akward: I'll certainly try the trick of not removing the tape until the spool is in place.

Les Sarile · Sep 6, 2010

bblhed has a good suggestion about the rewind lever; I have always done that, and it does give a visual proof that the film is properly loaded.

I don't find the Nikons hard to load properly but when you have a flash mounted on the F3HP, there is no visual confirmation as the rewind is covered up. Applies to the F and F2 as well. So folding the leader probably makes it more foolproof. OTOH, you cannot fold the leader when using the Pentax LX, ME & ME Super (other M Series too?) due to the film take up spool design. I had concerns about this design initially but have not had any issues loading these properly.

bsdunek · Sep 6, 2010

darkosaric said:
I never had problem with loading Nikon cameras. Leica M6 is little harder, but once when you get familiar - also no problem. But 30-50 tries -- I would give up and got a F90 or F100

I think he's a candidate for digital!

hugopoon · Sep 6, 2010

I find my Zorki 4 requires a bit of attention while loading. It's not "hard", but I need to make sure the film leader goes into the takeup spool "straight", else the film just creases on itself. I guess the clip's just a bit loose.

winger · Sep 6, 2010

My Leica IIIf is kinda tough, but I've only loaded it a couple of times.

lxdude · Sep 6, 2010

The one time I tried to load an old Leica, it looked like I was the one that was loaded.:confused:

flatulent1 · Sep 6, 2010

The only ones I've ever had difficulty loading were the old Minoltas with the white breakable tabs on the take-up spool, such as the SR-T series, XE-7, and XD-11.
Um, which way does it go again?

Brian Legge · Sep 6, 2010

I blew loading more times when I was just starting out with film photography with a Canon A-1 than any time since. Then again, I've also gotten very use to watching for confirmation that the film is advancing.

I actually don't mind loading bottom loaders at all. It takes slightly longer for me just because I have to get the takeup reel out but beyond that the process is relatively smooth. Maybe the fact that I'm pre-cutting the film with a template helps more than I realized.

Perry Way · Sep 6, 2010

The biggest problem I've had loading film has got to be this little bugger right here: Go ahead, you're curious, check it out.

It is not virtually impossible to load some Ilford and all Adox rolls, it is next to impossible to load modern Kodak film as well.

Had to get rid of that dagblasted contraption. Traded it and the Speed Graphic it fit on (3.25 x 4.25, NOT a 4x5, no way, would not do that) for a Bronica ETRS. That's how I worked that problem gone...

Francis in VT · Sep 6, 2010

eddym said:
But the best tip I ever heard was from a Pentax rep. Basically, he said to reverse the loading instructions:

This must have come from Pentax engineers as I heard it from a Pentax Rep in the store I was working in in New Hampshire. I passed it on to all my customers and used it myself.
Another tip from the same Pentax salesman was regarding coiled cords which always seemed to break the connection at the ends. Their idea was to start in the center and reverse the direction of the coil so that when the cord was stretched the cord would twist from the center and not at the ends putting less strain on the connections.
This will work on any coiled cord.

Francis in VT

John_Nikon_F · Sep 6, 2010

The only time I had trouble loading a Nikon was the first time I did it on my father's old Nikomat FTn. That was 23 years ago. I usually do it the way that the Pentax engineers suggest doing it. Just simpler and quicker. Even my F is easy to load this way.

-J

fotch · Sep 6, 2010

If your having trouble loading film you need to take a course at the local college on "How to get loaded".

The only thing that is generally hard to load is a film reel and even that is easy if you think about what your doing and practice a little with a scrap roll.

MattKing · Sep 6, 2010

Not 35mm, but ....

Trying to find the start mark on a Koni-Omega back. Now that is hard!

winger · Sep 6, 2010

The one time I tried to load an old Leica, it looked like I was the one that was loaded.

I think I would have had better luck loaded. One roll was fine. The second has some really cool double exposures for the first almost 10 frames or so. I think I'd probably loaded it ok, but I thought I didn't, so I unloaded it and started over.

lxdude · Sep 6, 2010

winger said:
I think I would have had better luck loaded. One roll was fine. The second has some really cool double exposures for the first almost 10 frames or so. I think I'd probably loaded it ok, but I thought I didn't, so I unloaded it and started over.

NormanV · Sep 6, 2010

It's amusing to read this thread. I had a Pentax K1000 for around twenty years and never found it easy to load. Recently I bought a Nikon F and found that the film almost fell into place. If you want difficult try loading a Fuji GW690 whilst you are standing up. But then someone will tell you it is the easiest camera ever to load.

wblynch · Sep 6, 2010

I've been doing it this way for over 35 years. Dang! All this time I thought I invented the technique!

eddym said:
...But the best tip I ever heard was from a Pentax rep.

Basically, he said to reverse the loading instructions:

first, holding the open camera in your right hand and the film casette in your left, insert the leader into the takeup spool (yes, BEFORE you put the film cassette into the camera); then turn the spool with your thumb, wrapping the film around it securely;

THEN pull the cassette back over to the left side of the camera and drop it into its place.

Take the slack out with the rewind lever, close the back, and fire off a couple of frames... and you're done.

Once you get the hang of this "backwards" technique, it is very fast and secure.

Hard to load cameras and tips

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