Loading a standard SLR

cliveh · Sep 1, 2014

For many years I loaded a standard SLR by dropping the cassette into the film chamber, holding it there with my thumb and then pulling out enough film across the focal plane to thread the leader into the take up spool slit and then winding on a couple of times before shutting the back. However, some years ago I saw an American video where the guy held the cassette in the palm of his hand above the focal plane and then threaded the leader into the take up spool, before winding on and then moving the cassette to the left to drop the cassette in the film chamber. I tried this and it seems to be a much better way of loading. How do others do it?

benjiboy · Sep 1, 2014

I do it the first way.

pdeeh · Sep 1, 2014

cliveh said:
I tried this and it seems to be a much better way of loading.

better in what way?

cliveh · Sep 1, 2014

pdeeh said:
better in what way?

Difficult to explain, but try it and you may understand.

Sirius Glass · Sep 1, 2014

I do it the first way but this will start a Gulliver's Travelers big endians versus little endians religious debate.

Rick A · Sep 1, 2014

I insert the leader into the take-up, then wind once before inserting the cassette in the camera. I seem to waste less film with this method, and I'm sure the film will advance properly.

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 1, 2014

I hold and insert the leader first, wind a just a little to make sure it catches, then drop the cassette and lock it into place with the rewind lever. I then wind through the rest of that initial half wind, close back, tighten up film by turning the rewind lever, and then taking 2 shots.

Xmas · Sep 1, 2014

The critical thing is to pin a film perforation to a sprocket shaft tooth with thumb and

Then tighten the film with the rewind knob until you feel resistance increase.

With a Barnack you need a small pinky on the spool end instead of thumb...

cliveh · Sep 1, 2014

Xmas said:
The critical thing is to pin a film perforation to a sprocket shaft tooth with thumb and

Then tighten the film with the rewind knob until you feel resistance increase.

With a Barnack you need a small pinky on the spool end instead of thumb...

Lets leave the Oskar Barnack design out of this, as I am talking about a standard SLR.

Dr Croubie · Sep 1, 2014

I've always done the first way with my Bessas and spotmatic, with my EOS 3 I just pull the leader out and the auto-load does the rest
I haven't tried the second way with 35mm, maybe I'll give it a go next time.

In 120 I have found, however, that on my DaYi 617 back (and K60/P6) that it's easier to thread the film onto the takeup spool, then place the takeup in the back, then place the feed into the back, so that's closer to method 2 than method 1.

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 1, 2014

cliveh said:
Lets leave the Oskar Barnack design out of this, as I am talking about a standard SLR.

Just for your information, there's no such thing as standard SLR. Each manufacturer, each model is slightly or a lot different.

There are SLRs with the Barnack loading, i.e. bottom loaders.

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 1, 2014

I do the first way as that is the recommended way from many manufacturers.

It might seem the second way has its advantages, but I'll point out one disadvantage: if you hold the cassette above the shutter there might be danger that tiny debris from the film gate could be dropped into the shutter.
I'll be cautious of using it.

Of course there are SLRs where that doesn't apply, like most of the auto loaders AF SLR.

Kyle M. · Sep 1, 2014

I insert the leader in the take up spool, wind once, then place the cassette in it's chamber close the back and fire the shutter. I then make 2 blank exposures, the next time I wind the counter will be on one and I'll be good to go. Oh and I always make sure the rewind knob is turning, I made plenty of exposures on the pressure plate when I first started out by not checking.

cliveh · Sep 1, 2014

Ricardo Miranda said:
I do the first way as that is the recommended way from many manufacturers.

It might seem the second way has its advantages, but I'll point out one disadvantage: if you hold the cassette above the shutter there might be danger that tiny debris from the film gate could be dropped into the shutter.
I'll be cautious of using it.

Of course there are SLRs where that doesn't apply, like most of the auto loaders AF SLR.

Can you please elaborate on this, as I don't understand how the film gate debris (whatever this is) can be dropped into the shutter.

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 1, 2014

It's easy: if you hold the camera like most people do with the lens pointing down and going to thread the end first and then pull the cassette over the shutter, then any film debris or fibres from a cassette felt can be dropped into the shutter.

removed account4 · Sep 1, 2014

i do it both ways, it is kind of 6 of one 1/2 a dozen of the other for me.
neither is easier ...

Bill Burk · Sep 1, 2014

I'm also not consistent one way versus the other. Sometimes I'll palm the cassette and ensure the film is caught by the takeup spool then drop the cassette in its chamber...

Other times, I'll set the cassette in the chamber, pull enough film to reach the takeup spool, feed in the leader and wind.

Sometimes I'm worried I'll drop something. Other times I'm more concerned about bright sunlight hitting the film (load in subdued light, right?).

Always, I try to get done with the change as fast as possible.

Poisson Du Jour · Sep 1, 2014

Don't change your method!

summicron1 · Sep 1, 2014

cliveh said:
For many years I loaded a standard SLR by dropping the cassette into the film chamber, holding it there with my thumb and then pulling out enough film across the focal plane to thread the leader into the take up spool slit and then winding on a couple of times before shutting the back. However, some years ago I saw an American video where the guy held the cassette in the palm of his hand above the focal plane and then threaded the leader into the take up spool, before winding on and then moving the cassette to the left to drop the cassette in the film chamber. I tried this and it seems to be a much better way of loading. How do others do it?

second way, and these days i don't even wind it once to make sure it's caught. I noticed the back of my camera (leica slr) has a little thingy stickout out that pushes the film perfs around the sprocket wheel when I close the back, so I figured that makes sure it's advancing, I can see it's inserted into the takeup spool enough, close and wind.

so I do. Insert tongue, drop can, close and wind and away I go.

plus the first way you describe feels fidgity to me -- too hard to load the can, then pull the film across and try to jam it into the takeup spool. But if it works for you, go for it.

johnha · Sep 1, 2014

I mostly use Pentax bodies with 'magic needle' take-up spools. I usually chamber the cassette first and pull the leader across to the take-up spool, thread it between the needles, advance, take up the slack, close the back then take two shots (and often one more for luck). I've tried the second way but felt I was likely to drop the cassette in the process, or put my fingers through the shutter.

summicron1 · Sep 1, 2014

cliveh said:
Can you please elaborate on this, as I don't understand how the film gate debris (whatever this is) can be dropped into the shutter.

if he's got debris he is worried will fall into the shutter mechanism, he doesn't need to load the camera, he needs to clean the camera out first. Maybe run it through the car wash or something

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 1, 2014

summicron1 said:
if he's got debris he is worried will fall into the shutter mechanism, he doesn't need to load the camera, he needs to clean the camera out first. Maybe run it through the car wash or something

Not every one has a car!
And I was talking about a clean camera!

Alan W · Sep 1, 2014

Clive's got too much time on his hands again!

Nuff · Sep 1, 2014

johnha said:
I mostly use Pentax bodies with 'magic needle' take-up spools. I usually chamber the cassette first and pull the leader across to the take-up spool, thread it between the needles, advance, take up the slack, close the back then take two shots (and often one more for luck). I've tried the second way but felt I was likely to drop the cassette in the process, or put my fingers through the shutter.

I use the same magic needles and I find the 2nd way much easier. I don't pull out the leader, I hold the cassette with my right hand and not above the shutter. There's a sprocket wheel that I hold with my left thumb so the magic needles don't move around. Then I thread it. Once threaded, I move the canister across and pop it into chamber. Close the back, fire off one shot and I'm ready to go.

Nige · Sep 1, 2014

using the second method, is there any chance of misaligning the film in the take-up spool and once the cassette is dropped into the camera the film will be pulled across the film gate if not unevenly due to the film guide rails at least with some undesirable lateral force, also rolling onto the take-up spool unevenly?

Loading a standard SLR

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