You should secure the sprocket holes of the film over the teeth when inserting the film into the takeup spool.
Many contemporary models of 35 mm film cameras automatically load film and advance it to the first frame for you. However, if you have an old 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) film camera, you may be uncertain properly load the film yourself. Rest assured that most film photographers encountered problems with this task as beginners. There are some important steps you should take to make sure you have properly inserted the leader of the film into the slot of your camera's takeup spool.
Instructions
1. Open the door to your camera's film compartment. Place the roll of film on the left compartment of the camera. You may have to pull the rewind knob above this compartment all the way up so the film canister fits in. Once in, push down on the rewind knob to lock the film canister into place.
2. Pull the film out of the canister by its leader, which is the tapered smaller portion of the film. The leader is small enough to fit into the slot of the takeup spool. Pull out just enough to get to the right side of the camera where the takeup spool sits.
3. Push the film leader into one of the available slots on the takeup spool. There may be just one slot, or perhaps more depending on your specific camera. Push the leader into the slot as far as it will go.
4. Press the shutter release button and push the film advance lever completely forward to wind the film into the spool. You should see the film securely wrapping around the core of the takeup spool. Advance until you can see the entire width of the film, not just the leader, has begun to wind around the takeup spool.
5. Check at this time to make sure both the top and bottom sprocket holes fit over the small teeth to the left of the takeup spool. This helps secure the film into place. Physically push the film into place over the teeth if not, and try winding a little more film to straighten it out over the teeth.
6. Turn the film rewind knob to flatten the film across the back of the camera, if necessary. The film leader may break loose of the takeup spool if there is too much slack and the film does not lie flat. At the same time, do not apply any pressure by turning the film rewind knob too tightly.
7. Close the back door of the camera. Press the shutter release button and film advance lever repeatedly until the number "1" appears in the window of the film exposure counter. You are now ready to take your photos with the film properly loaded.
Tags: takeup spool, film into, rewind knob, film advance, film canister