Secret of loading film fast?

Sirius Glass said:

Minor details.

1. The inserts will not match the backs.
2. Once the insert has been used, the photographer will have to crank to the end of the roll before removing the back.
3. Once another insert is inserted, the photographer will have to crank the film to the starting position

So aside from fact that switching inserts will take longer than switching backs and that the insert will not match the backs, there is no reason to switch inserts instead of switching film backs.

Steve

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Not really. For starters, the OP is using a Contax 645. As far as I know this automatically winds the film to the first frame and spools it completely once finished. So in this case, you really do only need to change the insert and everything else is done by the camera.

The insert/back sequence changes from system to system, but with my 501CM and the PM90 on it is much easier to quickly wind (1-2 sec), swap insert, wind again and shoot than put the darkslide in, swap the back and then take the dark slide out and put back in the holder/bag. Swapping the insert vs the back may or may not be faster on the Contax, depends how the back attaches and what steps need to be taken, the OP needs to try it (and really should have more than one back anyway).

As for matching inserts, that's a Hasselblad thing (true or not is irrelevant), I haven't found such "matching insert" talk for any other system, certainly not for Contax which promoted their vacuum cleaner back (another gimmick?).

lxdude said:

Contax 645. Post #4.

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I too missed that - sorry.

The last wedding I did (a few years ago), I had all my film pre loaded onto additional film magazines, held tight in camera bag compartments. Never lost a single shot, and didn't have to splurge on another back just for this one favor done for a friend. Of course now, I have backs for b&w, and color. So no more having to chose beforehand.

I just did a wedding and I only shot a 500cm. I had 2 backs but the second was loaded just incase. If i could reload the main back i always did. I had the resort to the second back a few times when there was not enough time to reload. The system worked out very well.

Learn about timing.
I never shoot wedding even with digital, but if i have to use film then i have to learn how to load film faster, i know getting more backs or inserts will help, but i try not to do weddings where i can't do things quickly and properly, i can load film in less than 1 minute [could be 30-50sec], i think 1 minute loading/unloading the film will not kill weddings photoshoot, even with digital i may miss the moments, so what a big deal if you miss something during 1 minute of replacing the film? I will use my Mamiya 7II because it can do 120/220 easily without replacing the back[it doesn't have changeable back except for 35mm pano].

Learn how to load your camera in the dark with your eyes closed by feel, and do it over and over until you can do it correctly every time, practice makes perfect.

benjiboy said:

Learn how to load your camera in the dark with your eyes closed by feel, and do it over and over until you can do it correctly every time, practice makes perfect.

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And how would I line up the arrow on the paper with the arrow on the insert??

Braille?

Braille! What a great idea!

When is this film coming out?