Panon AIII question - advancing film

[Probert]

Hi all,
Pleased to be here. This is my first post. A question...
I just bought a Panon Aiii. One of the coolest mechanical appliances I've ever seen. But it is all but impossible to see the numbers printed on the back of the film through the tiny window in the back of the camera. At least, on the back of the Ilford FP4 that I put in, which has very narrow gray print on gray paper.
I'm probably not the first to face this issue. Has anyone ever counted the number of turns you need to do of the advance knob to go from one frame to the next?
Thanks for your help!
Paul

 

[MattKing]

Welcome to Photrio.
With many cameras, the number of turns will change through the length of the roll, as the diameter of the layers of film on the take-up spool increases.
For those camera and film combinations where the numbers are hard to read, I use a pocket LED flashlight shone through the window/hole to better illuminate what I need to see. The secret is to use directional light, rather than diffused illumination.

 

[Probert]

Good point. Thank you. I'll pack a pocket LED with the camera.

 

[P C Headland]

I had a similar problem yesterday with a new-to-me (non panoramic) Braun Gloria 6x6 camera. The first roll I shot was some expired Kodak and I had real trouble seeing the very faint numbers - in fact, I wasted a frame not seeing the number.

The second roll I shot was some Fomapan 100 - that has very clear "warning arrows" and very clear, contrasty frame numbers.

As Matt suggested, a light like that on your mobile can help.

 

[Probert]

Unfortunately, once I got it right, it turned out that the Panon camera I had just bought had other issues, like uneven exposure. It would suddenly speed up. I sent it back.
My hope now is aimed at a Noblex that I expect to receive soon. I had one before that showed a similar issue. So, fingers crossed...