Loading Film

[russelljtdyer]

I just purchased a Zeiss Ikon camera, the recent model. It's a marvelous camera and I'm very pleased with it. I've taken few rolls of film with it so far. The results have been good and are getting better as I'm learning how to use the camera. For example, it's taking me time to remember to look directly into the viewfinder--otherwise the focusing rectangle disappears. There is one aspect of which I don't seem to have a comfortable grasp and would like someone to make it clear for me.

When I load film in the camera, after I've put the film correctly on the spindle, closed the back plate, tightened the film with the film rewind crank (located under the camera), and start to advance the film with the lever (located on top of the camera) to prepare for the first shot, the process is very awkward.

Here's typically the scenario I go through when loading film: I try to advance the film using the film advance lever, but the lever is locked. So I try turning the main switch knob from Off to On. That seems to do nothing, so I switch it back to Off. When I do this, the lever is freed, so I advance the film. I then try to press the shutter release button and nothing happens. So, I turn the main switch On and Off again. That frees up the shutter release and allows me to advance the film again. I then press the shutter release button again and it works this time. I try to advance the film again, but the lever is locked again. I look at it frustrated for a second or so. Then I hear a click without me doing anything. I try the lever again and it's free again. It's bizarre and disconcerting to muddle my way to the first frame. Once I take the first shot, it works as expected: I leave the main switch at the On position, I use the lever to advance to the next frame, press the shutter release button, then repeat lever advance and press shutter button for each shot.

Can someone tell me concisely, in clear language, what I'm exactly supposed to do to advance the film to prepare for the first photo? I read the manual and it does not mention a need to turn the main switch before each attempt to advance the film.

 

[morback]

Sounds like you're on A mode while advancing your film.

If you are on A mode and you have your lens cap on (or have the lens tucked against your belly), it will do a long exposure (longest 8sec I believe...). You can't wind the film during the time it's making an exposure. That's also why you hear that click after a while while looking at your Zeiss puzzled: it was counting down the seconds.

When I load film, I turn the shutter speed dial to 2000 and it works just fine. Try it out, let us know.

 

[russelljtdyer]

What you say, morback, makes sense. Yes, I do have the shutter set to aperture priority and the cap on the lens when loading the film. Conversely, the problem doesn't happen when the lens cap is on.

I'm about to fly out of town, so I don't want to load another roll of film in the camera until later this week. When I do, I'll try to load the film with the cap off or the shutter set to something other than 'A' and see if the confusion clears.

Thanks for the analysis. I was worried that their might be a fault in the camera. I bought it used from KEH and don't have much time to decide if it's working or to return it. I feel much better about the camera.

 

[Mister E]

I've noticed something else funny about the Ikon. If you have the shutter cocked when loading the film it will do what I think you are describing; to alleviate this you must load the film without shutter cocked. This should prevent you from not being able to advance the film. Also, like others have mentioned you want to set the camera to 1/2000 to take the first shots when advancing to 0. Don't forget to take it off of 1/2000 and set it back to A!

 

[hellomikmik]

might be useful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU7WDRs9BCU

 

[Paul Luscher]

I load film in with shutter UNCOCKED. I then advance film one frame with back door open, to confirm it's loaded properly. Then I shut the back door, hit the rewind to tighten the film, then fire off three shots on "B" to bring the film to the first frame.

 

[Paul Luscher]

Oh yeah, I should mention I keep the shutter speed on "B" throughout the whole loading process.

 

[Paddy C]

I had the exact problem on a number of my early "loads" with the ZI.

Everything would seem to lock up.

What everyone else has posted above will solve the problem.

My routine (IIRC):

1. Unload camera
2. Switch out of "A" and put shutter speed at 1/2000
3. Fire shutter
4. Load film "PJ style" (insert leader first, then drop cassette into place)
5. Advance film one frame with back open
6. Close back
7. Advance and fire shutter until you bring up first frame

Since I started this routine I've never had the camera lockup, never had a bad wind (ie the film coming loose), and I've gotten really quick at it.

 

[Mister E]

I had the exact problem on a number of my early "loads" with the ZI.

Everything would seem to lock up.

What everyone else has posted above will solve the problem.

My routine (IIRC):

1. Unload camera
2. Switch out of "A" and put shutter speed at 1/2000
3. Fire shutter
4. Load film "PJ style" (insert leader first, then drop cassette into place)
5. Advance film one frame with back open
6. Close back
7. Advance and fire shutter until you bring up first frame

Since I started this routine I've never had the camera lockup, never had a bad wind (ie the film coming loose), and I've gotten really quick at it.

I get 39 shots by not advancing the film with the back open. There's no need to do that.

 

[Luna]

39 and a cut off frame here. First to 40 wins.