One you have mastered the method, loading either 120, 220 or 35 mm is a simple task. The secret is in the preparation of the film. The end that goes into the clip on the core of the reel needs to be trimmed correctly. Since I load 35 mm directly from the cassette I can trim the end in the light. I cut the film straight across and trim each corner round carefully. This makes it very easy to set it in the clip in the dark. This can even be done _with_ the light on if you have doubts about getting it in straight. If anyone wants to see what a suitably trimmed film end looks like I can scan and post images.
Trimming a roll film end is a little more difficult since it has to be done in the dark. I simply cut the corners (2 mm or so) at 45 degrees. Finger prints can be avoided if this is done when only the end of the film is protruding from the paper wrapping. Unroll the paper until you get to the film. Cut or tear off the excess and you should be able to work on the end of the film without getting fingers all over your valuable exposures. I've had two kinds of trouble loading reels: one is caused by bad preparation of the end of the film, causing it not to lie evenly in the spiral, the other by film from a camera that winds the film in the opposite direction to that in the cassette: ME Super and some others with which I have no experience. A _partly_ exposed film that has been in an ME Super, or one of the others that do this, for more than a week or two has a reverse bend somewhere that can make it very difficult to load into a reel. I still don't know why some of the Pentax cameras wind the film backwards. I'd like to know. Don Dr E D F Williams http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery Updated: March 30, 2002 ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Brooks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 11:28 PM Subject: Re: RE: OT: Last class > Dave. > I'll find out if that's true in 2 hours<g> > > Dave > > ---- Begin Original Message ---- > > From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 12:56:55 -0500 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: OT: Last class > > > Dave, > > The 120 film is actually a lot easier and less cumbersome to load > than the > 35mm. I know this sounds weird but it's true - I much rather load 120 > from > the Blad onto a real than 35mm - the 120 is shorter, wider and just > plain > old easier to handle IMHO. YMMV. > > Cheers, > Dave > > Original Message: > ----------------- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 12:48:10 US/Eastern > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: OT: Last class > > Only 1 roll to develop,a roll of Tmax 100 6x6 format.First time > loading one > of these puppies into the tank.Should provide a laugh or two from the > crowd:) > > Dave > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web - Check your email from the web at > http://mail2web.com/ . > > > > > ---- End Original Message ---- > > > > > Pentax User > Stouffville Ontario Canada > http://home.ca.inter.net/brooksdj/ > http://brooks1952.tripod.com/myhorses > Sign up today for your Free E-mail at: http://www.canoe.ca/CanoeMail >
