How To Load Film in a 35mm SLR

Are you ready to dive into the world of film or analog photography? Loading 35mm film into an SLR camera is easy once you get the hang of it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Step 1: Open the back of the camera by pulling up the winder (rewind knob) – normally on the left-hand side of the camera. It will give you a satisfying click and the back will pop open. On some cameras like the Nikon F2 above, you rotate the lock on the bottom to the open position instead. Then you can pull up the winder on the left side and you are ready to insert your film.

Step 2: Place the film canister into the slot on the left-hand side – make sure the taller portion of the canister is on the bottom. Push down the winder to lock the spool into place – you can jiggle it slightly to make sure it’s secure and lined up correctly.

Step 3: Pull the film leader across the camera towards the slot on the right, called the take-up spool. Do this gently until enough film is exposed to reach the take-up spool on the right side.

Step 4: Place the cut-off end of the film into the slit. Then with your thumb, wind the bottom of that sprocket to the left, or using the film advance lever, just a little to ensure that the film has ‘caught’.

Step 5: Advance the film. Using the film advance lever on the right-hand side, cock the shutter and fire. Repeat this one or two times and ensure that the sprockets are secure in the holes of the film as shown above. Note: Sometimes the first frame will be partially exposed – this is normal. You can use this creatively or load the film in a dark bag or in low light to get an extra shot. An example is shown below.

Close up the back of the camera and you’re almost done!

Step 6: Set the ISO of your camera. Typically, this is a knob on the right side with your shutter speed. Pull up on the dial and twist until you see the appropriate ISO – this is dependent on the film you inserted. In the example, I used Kodak Pro Image 100 so I have set the ISO to 100. Both of these cameras state ASA instead of ISO. Generally, these terms can be used interchangeably. ASA is the American Standards Association while ISO is the International Organization for Standardization.

If you need any more help, feel free to get in touch! Happy shooting! 📷