film loading

[Kat]

Are there any special "tricks" or tips for loading the GS? I just bought film for my first RF to try it out, and silly as it may sound, I had a heck of a time trying to load it. I did read the instruction manual, but my problem was that the holes in the film didn't correspond to the spokes (or whatever they're called) for the spool under the advance lever. It was really tough getting the film around it and even harder getting it to stay that way esp since it was packed to curl the other way around. I also ended pulling out a lot of film. Is that normal, or am I just a clumsy idiot?

Also, this is not related to the topic, but dare I ask what that little leather pocket in the back of the camera body is for?

 

[pendevour]

Hi Kat, No special tricks. I just loaded a film into my GS with no problem. 1. Drop film into camera. 2. Pull out enough film to reach take up spool. 3. Push film tongue firmly into a slot in the take-up spool and ensure sprocket holes engage with winder sprockets. 4. Wind film on once and press shutter. (Check engagement of film with sprockets). 5. Gently rewind any slack in film to make sure it lies flat. 6. Close camera back. 7. Wind on film making sure that the rewind handle is turning (this shows that film is being drawn out).
Hope this helps.

 

[parks5920]

Tear off the end of your film box and slide it into the little pocket, then you'll always know what film type, asa etc. is in the camera.

 

[Kin Lau]

Also, this is not related to the topic, but dare I ask what that little leather pocket in the back of the camera body is for?

I've never had any problems with loading my GS either.

That pocket is just big enough for the end tab of the box that your film came it (assuming there's a box anymore) to remind you what kind of film is in the camera. They simply put a window in newer cameras now as a reminder.

 

[Kat]

Ahh...I see. That's thoughtful of them to put in that little pocket.🙂

Thanks, folks. I suppose I just need to get used to it, I've been with P&S all my life where I just drop film in and lay film flat, close the door, and the camera does the rest. It's the take-up spool I have a little trouble with getting the film to wrap around. I talked to my sister about it, she did say old cameras tend to have that loading system, I just wasn't around or using cameras then, LOL 🙂

 

[parks5920]

I talked to my sister about it, she did say old cameras tend to have that loading system, I just wasn't around or using cameras then, LOL 🙂

Oh man, that hurts! 😀

 

[Kat]

Oh man, that hurts! 😀

Think of it this way--in photography, age means experience. 😀

I do have a lot of respect for cameras older than I am, including the GS, hehe.

 

[Pherdinand]

so how old are you Kat?
I was also not born when my two GSN's were already recording the world.

 

[Kin Lau]

Thanks, folks. I suppose I just need to get used to it, I've been with P&S all my life where I just drop film in and lay film flat, close the door, and the camera does the rest. It's the take-up spool I have a little trouble with getting the film to wrap around. I talked to my sister about it, she did say old cameras tend to have that loading system, I just wasn't around or using cameras then, LOL 🙂

Now that I read this... you do know that the takeup spool has _slots_ in it, and that's where you insert the film leader so you won't have problem with the film takeup.

The Canon QL series would probably be worth a look too, since the QL stands for "Quick Loading".

 

[Kat]

Edit: Oh, man, after reading pendevour's and kin lau's replies again and staring at Dave's pic, now I get it! No wonder I was having such a hard time, I didn't put the film through the slot to hold it there! I didn't even notice a slot, the darn manual never made mention of it, just said "insert film into spool" and silly me did not think too deeply of what that meant. :bang: :bang: :bang: Boy, I'm in big trouble. Are the pics I've taken so far good as in the garbage bin for that mistake? Good thing I only took a few which I expect to suffer from camera shake anyway.

Gosh, I'm so embarrassed.

Thank you so much for the picture, though, and everyone else for all helpful replies.

 

[Kat]

Thank you for your infinite patience, Dave. I realized my own stupidity now...Edited my post above.

Okay, for those who have more "experience," at least you'll never embarass yourselves like I did just now, haha. As for age, I'm 24. 🙂

 

[RichardS]

Edit: Oh, man, after reading pendevour's and kin lau's replies again and staring at Dave's pic, now I get it! No wonder I was having such a hard time, I didn't put the film through the slot to hold it there! I didn't even notice a slot, the darn manual never made mention of it, just said "insert film into spool" and silly me did not think too deeply of what that meant. :bang: :bang: :bang: Boy, I'm in big trouble. Are the pics I've taken so far good as in the garbage bin for that mistake? Good thing I only took a few which I expect to suffer from camera shake anyway.

Gosh, I'm so embarrassed.

Thank you so much for the picture, though, and everyone else for all helpful replies.

Don't be too embarrassed. You're dealing with a 40-year old camera. Probably the reason the manual didn't mention it is because at that time almost all cameras had take up spools with slots that the film leader was supposed to be pushed into, except those that had a small piece of metal that would pinch the film as you pushed it between that piece of metal and the take up spool.

Hard to predict if your pictures are destined for the garbage bin. The film may have caught as you kept advancing it and you may have some good pictures.

Dick

 

[Kat]

Ah, so there is hope yet.🙂 Far as I know, I did manage to get the film fully around the spool, and the rewind knob is rotating as I advance. We'll see how it goes...Thank you, Dick, that makes me feel so much better.

 

[RichardS]

Kat,

What you really ought to do is get an early Leica, or a clone such as the early FEDs or Zorkis. There are websites explaining in great detail how to load film in them. I have a Zorki 2 C which I seldom use because I get frustrated trying to load film in iit. If you had one of them you would quickly decide that loading film in your Yashica is an absolute pleasure.

Dick

 

[Kin Lau]

Dick... that's a sick thing to do to a newbie... I love it 😀.

Kat, welcome to the club. You'll love the Yashica, and I see that you're catching on quick. Oh yeah, don't forget to take the lense cap off, and rewind the film when you're done before popping the back open.

 

[Kat]

Hehe, oh yes, I won't forget the rewinding, I'm actually excited to use the crank (am i weird or what? 😀 ) I also love using the advance lever, except that my thumb hurts after a while. The lens cap so far I'm not forgetting, it does help that the digital I've been using for a while also has one rather than the automatic open-on most have.

Richard, I'm definitely stayhing as far away has I can from those! I did see a website of a local collector of FSUs (zorkis and feds), and he mentioned loading as well, even just talking about cutting the film was enough to scare me off! LOL

 

[RichardS]

I don't think you can be considered a real rangerfinder camera user until you discover you've shot a half roll of film with the lenscap on.

Dick

 

[Kat]

Haha, maybe in my case it will be tearing off the film from advancing past the max. I'm not too good on keeping an eye on the counter.

 

[niimo]

YEAHHHH!! Man, my friend and I were out shooting trying to load the film and just could not figure out how to get it!

You guys are going to crack up, but I actually shot two full rolls (or.. thought I did) only to find that I loaded the film wrong so it never exposed. Wow.

Well, I learned that lesson thoroughly, to say the least.

Thanks for this thread.

 

[kyubi_fox]

Kat, you are not the only one. My only memories of film cameras were P&S cameras; all I had to do was align the holes, close the door and the motor would wind the film... Yashica GSN was my first film camera. It took me half an hour in my car, winding the film back and forth, manually rolling the film around the two round sticks only to watch it bounce out again to finally realize that the slits are there for a reason...
cheers, welcome to the club 🙂