Loading film into a 35mm camera

Properly-loaded film gets you off to a good start

READ YOUR CAMERA’S MANUAL

The following information applies to most 35 mm cameras. Your camera may be designed so that it requires a different loading technique. We recommend you review the section of your camera’s manual pertaining to loading and unloading film. It is a good idea to do this even if you feel the instructions below apply to your camera, since it may contain important advice or time-saving features specific to your camera.

BEFORE OPENING YOUR CAMERA

Be sure there is not a roll of film already in the camera. You don’t want to open the camera’s back and expose it to light.

If your camera is fitted with a small film confirmation window at the back, look into it to see if there is a film cartridge in the camera. (Some film cartridges may be dark, such as some of those used by people who bulk-load their own film. If you use such a cartridge, it may be difficult to see it through the window.)

Your camera may have an LCD panel that displays the frame number. You may have to turn on the camera to illuminate the panel, or it may display information even when the camera is off. Check to be sure that it shows “0" or “Empty,” or simply “E” for empty.

In older cameras, check the film frame counter. If it shows a number other than “0,” there may be a film in the camera. If it displays an “S” for “start” or is simply at the first mark, the camera may be empty.

If your camera is manually-operated, another way to check for film is to gently turn the film rewind crank as if you were about to rewind the film, but do so without depressing the rewind button or rewind lock release. You will feel resistance if your camera is loaded with film. Don’t turn the crank any further to avoid tearing the film.

If you are still not sure whether there is film in the camera, you can always turn on the camera and take a picture. If your film advances automatically, hold the camera away from you when you depress the shutter release, and watch the film rewind knob. If it turns, that means there is film in the camera. Some automatic cameras have a film-running indicator on top of the camera. If your camera must be manually-advanced, first turn the rewind crank to take up any film slack, then trip the shutter. Watch the film rewind knob as you advance to the next frame. If it turns, your camera has film in it.

As a final safeguard, you can simply assume there is film in the camera, and rewind it. You may lose a few unexposed frames, but you will save any pictures that were taken.

LOAD IN SUBDUED LIGHT

Most film manufacturers recommend that you make it a habit to always load and unload your camera in subdued light, especially with high-speed film, to avoid bright light entering through the slot in the film cartridge. The risk is that it could cause fogging or a streak to appear on the first or second frame. If you are in bright sunlight and there is no convenient shady area to step into, turn your back to the sun and load the camera in the shadow cast by your body.

OPEN THE CAMERA’S BACK

Open the camera’s back to load a new film. This is usually accomplished by pulling up the rewind knob or pressing a switch on the side of the camera. With some cameras, especially ones you are not familiar with, opening the back can be puzzling, Check the camera’s manual first. If you don’t have it handy, you may have to experiment, pulling likely-looking knobs or pressing buttons until the back pops open. Check the bottom of the camera to see if there is a camera back locking device, perhaps one that lifts and turns. Look for markings like “O” for “open” and “C” for close, or just look for the words “Open,” “Lock” or an arrow that points in the direction that a switch must be slid. There may be a button on the front that does the trick, or two buttons or switches that must both be held in at once. When you have tried everything and still can’t get the back open, bring the camera into a reliable photo shop and ask to be shown how to open it.

LOAD THE FILM CARTRIDGE RIGHT SIDE UP

With some cameras, it is possible to put the film cartridge in the wrong way. The cartridge’s slot must face in the direction of the camera’s take-up spool, which is usually on the right side with the camera pointed away from you. The emulsion side of the film, which is lighter toned, has to face towards the inside of the camera.

LOADING A MANUAL CAMERA

If yours is a manual-load camera, drop a film cartridge into place in the film chamber, push the rewind knob down (if you had to pull it up to open the back.) That will hold the cartridge in place. Pull the film’s leader gently across the back of the camera just enough so that you can insert the end of the leader into a slot in the camera’s take-up spool. Stroke the film-advance lever slowly to make sure that the film perforations on both sides of the film mesh with the sprockets, and that the edges of the film run parallel to the film guide rails. Close the camera’s back and lock it if equipped with a locking device.

If there is any resistance and the back doesn’t close easily, don’t force it. The film cartridge may be improperly seated, or may need to be turned so that its slit faces in the direction of the take-up spool.

Advance the film and make two blank exposures to dispose of the first few inches of film that were exposed to light during loading. As you do this, watch the rewind knob to make sure it rotates while the film is being advanced, indicating proper loading onto the take-up spool. Gently turn the rewind crank until you feel slight resistance. This tightens the film, taking up any slack in the film cartridge, and ensures that the film is flat against the pressure plate.

Finally check the frame counter in the window. It should be at “0”. Advance the film one more frame, set your camera’s exposure meter for the speed of the film you are using, and you are ready to take the first picture with your newly-loaded film.

If your camera is equipped with a memo holder on the back, you can insert the end flap of the film package into it as a reminder of the type of film you have loaded.

AUTO-LOADING CAMERAS

With the film cartridge in place in the film chamber, gently pull the leader out until the end of the leader lines up with an index mark or line (often a red line), usually located on the bottom rail. (You may find it helpful to hold the camera so that the thumb on your left hand keeps the film cartridge in place.)

Check that the film advance sprockets engage the film’s perforations and that the film is lying flat. If not and you have pulled out too much leader, you may have to manually rewind some film back into the cartridge by lifting the cartridge out and twisting the end of the spool. Be careful not to rewind it all the way into the cartridge.

Close the back and press the shutter release button. The camera will automatically advance the film to its first frame.

Confirm that the frame counter shows "1" on the LCD panel or frame counter. Some cameras will indicate with an "ERR" readout (for "error") or some similar display that the film is incorrectly-positioned. Open the camera back and reload the film properly when this signal appears after loading a film.

If you must manually set the camera’s exposure meter, do so now, and you will be ready to take the first picture on the new roll of film.