Counter tips?

[cosmonaut]

I can't seem to get my counter lined up at the start of a roll so it starts out at 1. It counts fine. Any tips on setting it. Basically I load the film turn the release and rotate the counter to zero and the set the release back. But it always starts out back on 30 something after the first shot.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I am a little puzzled by what you mean when you say you are moving the release before setting the film counter. I have never moved anything prior to setting the film counter, it is just a mechanical counter. This may help explain it http://yandr.50megs.com/leica/3f/page17.htm .

Bob

 

[payasam]

Similarly mystified.

 

[cosmonaut]

Thanks, I will try and explain again. Once I have the film loaded the counter is not on zero. So I switch the release and set the dial to zero and then switch the engage the release again. But when I advance the film for the first shot the counter is off again. I will play with it. I am sure with time I will get it.

 

[John Shriver]

No, don't touch the A/R lever until you are ready to shoot.

Load the camera. Put on the bottom. Wind and shoot two times. Wind again. Use the bumps on the exposure counter dial to turn it clockwise until 1 lines up with the pointer. It should slip relative to the wind knob.

 

[OldNick]

No, don't touch the A/R lever until you are ready to shoot.

Load the camera. Put on the bottom. Wind and shoot two times. Wind again. Use the bumps on the exposure counter dial to turn it clockwise until 1 lines up with the pointer. It should slip relative to the wind knob.

John is describing what I have done for 50 years. After winding off two shots to clear the leader, wind once more to cock the shutter, then use the bumps to rotate the counter dial to "1". It should go fine from there.

It is also wise to snug up the slack in the film canister after the first two frames have been wound off, and then watch to see that the rewind knob moves as the final wind is done, to be sure that the film is actually advancing.

Jim N.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I can't seem to get my counter lined up at the start of a roll so it starts out at 1. It counts fine. Any tips on setting it. Basically I load the film turn the release and rotate the counter to zero and the set the release back. But it always starts out back on 30 something after the first shot.

The link I supplied was a page from the owners manual for a IIIf and tells how to set the frame counter. It is exactly as John and Old Nick advise. There is absolutely no need to use the A-R lever when setting the frame counter. So far as I know the A-R lever is only used to allow you to rewind the film.

Bob

 

[cosmonaut]

No, don't touch the A/R lever until you are ready to shoot.

Load the camera. Put on the bottom. Wind and shoot two times. Wind again. Use the bumps on the exposure counter dial to turn it clockwise until 1 lines up with the pointer. It should slip relative to the wind knob.

Thanks. That's what I needed....