Loading film into the Mamiya 645 Film Holder is a crucial step in capturing stunning images with this medium format camera. By understanding the proper technique and following the steps precisely, you can ensure that your film is loaded correctly, reducing the risk of errors and wasted shots.
Before you begin, gather the necessary materials: the Mamiya 645 Film Holder, a roll of 120 film, a changing bag (if desired), and a film winder. It’s also essential to work in a clean and dust-free environment to minimize the risk of contaminating the film.
Once you’re prepared, follow these steps carefully:
1. Open the film holder by pressing the two latches on the back and lifting the top cover.
2. Unroll a short length of film from the roll and insert the leading edge into the slot on the right-hand side of the film holder.
3. Wind the film onto the take-up spool until the sprocket holes on the film engage with the sprocket teeth on the spool.
4. Close the film holder by pressing down on the top cover until it clicks into place.
5. Advance the film by turning the film advance lever clockwise until you feel resistance.
6. Repeat step 5 until the film counter reaches “1.”
7. Your film is now loaded and ready to use.
Preparing the Film Holder
Loading film holders can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. However, with the right instructions and a little practice, it can become a quick and easy process. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to load film holders for a Mamiya 645 camera. We will also provide some tips and tricks to help you avoid common problems.
Before you begin, you will need to gather the following materials:
- A Mamiya 645 camera
- A film holder
- 120 roll film
- A film cutter
- A pair of tweezers (optional)
Once you have gathered your materials, you can begin the loading process.
Step 1: Open the Film Holder
To open the film holder, locate the small latch on the back of the holder. Press the latch and lift the back of the holder up. You should now see the film chamber inside the holder.
Next, locate the two small knobs on the side of the film chamber. Turn the knobs to the right to loosen them. This will allow you to remove the dark slide from the film chamber.
Step 2: Load the Film
Now that the film chamber is open, you can load the film. Start by taking the 120 roll film and cutting off a short piece of the leader. The leader is the black paper that is attached to the beginning of the film.
Once you have cut the leader, insert the film into the film chamber. The film should be inserted with the emulsion side facing down. The emulsion side is the shiny side of the film.
Step 3: Advance the Film
Once the film is inserted, you need to advance it to the first frame. To do this, turn the knob on the side of the film chamber to the right. You will feel the film being advanced as you turn the knob.
Continue turning the knob until you see the number “1” in the frame counter window. This indicates that the film is now ready to be used.
Step 4: Close the Film Holder
Once the film is advanced, you can close the film holder. To do this, simply lift the back of the holder and press it down until it clicks into place.
Finally, turn the two small knobs on the side of the film chamber to the left to tighten them. This will secure the dark slide in place.
Your film holder is now loaded and ready to be used.
Inserting the Film into the Cassette
Table of Contents
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the cassette by pressing the release button and lifting the lid. |
| 2 | Insert the film into the cassette. Ensure the film is aligned correctly with the arrows and sprockets. |
| 3 | Close the cassette by aligning the lid and pressing it down until it clicks into place. |
Detailed Instructions for Step 2: Inserting the Film into the Cassette
1. Take the roll of film and locate the end with the leader protruding.
2. Align the leader with the arrows and sprockets inside the cassette. The arrows should point towards the film take-up spool.
3. Carefully insert the film into the cassette, ensuring it is taut and lying flat against the base.
4. Continue inserting the film until you reach the end of the cassette.
5. Check that the film is securely seated in the cassette by gently pulling on the leader. If the film moves freely, it is not properly inserted.
Aligning the Film Sprocket
To ensure proper alignment of the film sprocket, follow these steps:
- Identify the sprocket holes on the film. These are located along the edges of the film.
- Open the film holder. Pull the release lever on the back of the holder and lift the top cover.
- Position the film over the sprockets. Align the sprocket holes on the film with the sprockets on the film holder. There should be one sprocket on each side of the film.
- Insert the film holder into the camera. Line up the index marks on the film holder and camera body and insert the holder.
- Close the film holder. Push the top cover down until it clicks into place.
- Advance the film. Rotate the film advance lever to move the film into the camera.
- Check the alignment. Look through the camera’s viewfinder to ensure that the film is properly aligned. The sprocket holes should be visible in the viewfinder.
Additional Tips for Aligning the Film Sprocket
- Use a lightbox to illuminate the film and make it easier to see.
- Be careful not to touch the film surface.
- If the film is not properly aligned, it may cause problems with exposure or focus.
- You can adjust the alignment of the film by rotating the film advance lever slightly.
| Hole Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Round holes | Regular 35mm sprockets |
| Long, rectangular holes | Nikon/Pentax or most 120/220 films |
| Short, rectangular holes | Mamiya 6/7, 120/220 films |
Closing the Cassette
Once the film is loaded into the film holder, it’s time to close the cassette. This is a simple process but requires care to ensure the film is not damaged.
First, locate the two release buttons on the top of the cassette. Press and hold both buttons while sliding the top of the cassette towards you.
Next, lift the top of the cassette away from the bottom. Be careful not to touch the film while doing this.
Once the top of the cassette is removed, you will see the film spool. Gently pull the film out of the spool and place it in the take-up spool on the other side of the cassette.
Next, wind the film onto the take-up spool by turning the knob on the top of the cassette.
Finally, close the top of the cassette by sliding it back into place until it clicks. Make sure the release buttons are not pressed when doing this.
The film is now securely loaded into the cassette and ready to be used in your camera.
Here is a table summarizing the steps for closing the cassette:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Locate the two release buttons on the top of the cassette. |
| 2 | Press and hold both buttons while sliding the top of the cassette towards you. |
| 3 | Lift the top of the cassette away from the bottom. |
| 4 | Gently pull the film out of the spool and place it in the take-up spool on the other side of the cassette. Wind the film onto the take-up spool by turning the knob on the top of the cassette. |
| 5 | Close the top of the cassette by sliding it back into place until it clicks. |
Attaching the Cassette to the Film Holder
To load the film holder with the film cassette, follow these steps:
- Open the film holder: Press the release button on the side of the film holder and lift the back cover.
- Insert the cassette: Place the film cassette into the film holder. Ensure that the arrow on the cassette is aligned with the arrow on the film holder.
- Close the film holder: Lower the back cover onto the cassette and press it down until it locks into place.
- Wind the film: Rotate the film advance knob clockwise until the film is fully wound onto the take-up spool.
- Set the film counter: Pull the film counter lever upwards and set the counter to “0.”
5. Verifying Film Loading
To ensure that the film is loaded correctly, perform the following checks:
| Check | Description |
|---|---|
| Film counter position | The counter should be at “0” with the first frame exposed. |
| Sprocket holes | The film should be engaged properly with the sprocket holes along the edge. |
| Film tension | The film should be taut and not loose. |
| Light leaks | Check for any visible light leaks around the film holder or cassette. |
If any of these checks fail, the film may not be loaded correctly. Reopen the film holder and check the loading process again.
Verifying the Film Advance
Once the film is loaded, you will need to verify that the film is advancing properly. To do this, follow these steps:
- Wind the film advance lever until the film counter reaches 1.
- Look through the film advance window (located on the back of the camera) to ensure that the film is moving smoothly and securely through the camera.
- If the film is not advancing properly, check the following:
- The film may not be loaded correctly. Remove the film and reload it following the steps outlined above.
- The film advance lever may not be functioning properly. Contact a qualified camera technician for repair.
- The camera may be experiencing a jam. Remove the film and try again. If the jam persists, contact a qualified camera technician for repair.
- Once you have verified that the film is advancing properly, you can begin taking pictures.
- After each exposure, wind the film advance lever until the film counter advances to the next number.
- Continue winding the film advance lever until the entire roll of film has been exposed.
Setting the Film Type and Speed (Optional)
While not strictly necessary, setting the correct film type and speed can improve the accuracy of the camera’s exposure metering. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the camera back by pressing the release button on the top right and lifting the back upwards.
2. Locate the film speed dial on the left side of the camera body, just above the lens mount. Turn the dial to match the ISO speed of the film you are using.
3. Locate the film type selector switch on the back of the camera, just below the viewfinder. Slide the switch to match the type of film you are using (e.g., color negative, color slide, or black and white).
4. Close the camera back by aligning the red dot on the back of the camera with the red dot on the camera body. Press down on the back to lock it in place.
Marking the First Frame
Once the film has been loaded into the holder and the dark slide removed, it’s crucial to mark the first frame to ensure proper alignment during shooting. This is especially important when using a leaf shutter camera like the Mamiya 645, where the shutter is located close to the film plane.
Checking the Film Counter
Before marking the first frame, check the film counter on the camera back. This will typically display a number indicating the frame currently being loaded. Note this number down as it serves as the starting point for marking the first frame.
Positioning the Film Holder
Insert the film holder into the camera back as usual, aligning it with the reference marks. Gently press it into place until it clicks and locks securely.
Advancing the Film
Advance the film to the marked number on the counter. This can be done by pressing the film advance lever or using the film crank.
Marking the Frame
Using a fine-tip marker or pencil, carefully mark the corner of the film frame that will be exposed first. This mark should be visible through the viewfinder when the shutter is open.
Inserting the Dark Slide
Once the first frame has been marked, insert the dark slide back into the film holder to protect the film from exposure until the moment of photography.
Additional Tips
For optimal alignment, ensure that the marked frame is perfectly aligned with the center of the viewfinder. Additionally, it’s a good practice to cover the viewfinder with the lens cap to prevent light from fogging the film during marking.
Winding the Film to the Start
1. Open the camera’s back by pressing the release button and lifting it upwards.
2. Insert the film holder into the camera, ensuring that it is properly aligned.
3. Close the camera’s back to secure the film holder in place.
4. Advance the film by pressing the shutter release button until the film counter reads “1.”
5. Turn the rewind knob clockwise until the film is taut.
6. Press the shutter release button again to make sure that there is film in the camera.
7. Close the lens to “C.”
8. Advance the film by pressing the shutter release button until the film counter reads “2.”
9. If you are using a 120 film roll, you will need to advance the film manually. To do this, pull out the film leader from the film holder and insert it into the take-up spool. Turn the take-up spool clockwise until the film is taut. Advance the film by pressing the shutter release button until the film counter reads “2.”
| Film Type | Advancement |
|---|---|
| 120 | Manual |
| 220 | Automatic |
10. Close the lens to “A.”
11. Your camera is now ready to use.
Loading the Film Holder into the Camera
To load film into the Mamiya 645, you will need to first open the back of the camera by pressing the button on the right-hand side of the body. Once the back is open, you will need to remove the film holder from its compartment.
Loading the Film
To load the film, you will need to first feed it into the film holder by inserting it into the slot at the top of the holder. Once the film is inserted, you will need to pull it down until it reaches the bottom of the holder. Next, you will need to turn the winding knob on the right-hand side of the holder until the film is fully wound.
Inserting the Film Holder into the Camera
Once the film is loaded, you will need to insert the film holder into the camera by aligning the arrow on the holder with the corresponding mark on the camera body. Once the holder is inserted, you will need to press down on the top of the holder until it clicks into place.
To ensure that the film is properly loaded, you will need to check the film counter on the back of the camera. The counter should read “1” after the film has been loaded.
Table of Contents
| Step | Description |
|—|—|
| 1 | Open the back of the camera. |
| 2 | Remove the film holder from its compartment. |
| 3 | Insert the film into the film holder. |
| 4 | Pull the film down until it reaches the bottom of the holder. |
| 5 | Turn the winding knob on the right-hand side of the holder until the film is fully wound. |
| 6 | Insert the film holder into the camera by aligning the arrow on the holder with the corresponding mark on the camera body. |
| 7 | Press down on the top of the holder until it clicks into place. |
| 8 | Check the film counter on the back of the camera to ensure that the film is properly loaded. |
| 9 | Close the back of the camera. |
| 10 | Advance the film to the first frame by turning the film advance lever on the top of the camera. |
How to Load a Film Holder for a Mamiya 645
Loading a film holder for a Mamiya 645 camera is a simple process that can be completed in a few minutes. By following these steps, you can ensure that your film is properly loaded and ready to use:
- Open the film holder by pressing the release button and pulling down on the top of the holder.
- Insert the film into the holder, with the emulsion side facing up. The film should be aligned with the arrows on the holder.
- Close the film holder by pushing up on the top of the holder until it clicks into place.
- Load the film holder into the camera by sliding it into the film chamber until it clicks into place.
People Also Ask
How do I remove a film holder from a Mamiya 645 camera?
To remove a film holder from a Mamiya 645 camera, press the release button and pull down on the top of the holder.
How many frames does a Mamiya 645 film holder hold?
A Mamiya 645 film holder holds 12 frames.
What type of film can I use in a Mamiya 645 camera?
You can use 120 or 220 film in a Mamiya 645 camera.
