Putting Film In The Camera - BOLEX SBM User Manual

Double check that the pressure pad is locked in position.
If you desire the camera to make a small click every second (at 24 fps) this is the
moment to set the Audible Counter Control (11) to point downwards.
If there is an empty spool in the takeup position (16) you can now remove it by
pressing down on the Spool Ejector. Inspect the takeup spool to ensure the sides of
the reel are parallel. If they have been bent out of shape, the film could bind and
cause a camera jam. Test the reel by sliding a 16mm core all the the circumference.
(Its always a good idea to have a few spare cores in the bottom of your schoolbag.)
Swing the Loop Former Control (7) counter-clockwise until it clicks into the down
position. The small button on the control returns the Loop Formers to their
original position. Normally this task is accomplished with the closing of the
camera door. But I digress.
The Loop Former Control is in the down position and the Loop Formers have
closed in around the film gate. You are now ready to insert the fresh roll of film.
A few words about Film. Generally you will be loading the Bolex with 100
foot rolls. If the film has come from the manufacturer mounted on a daylight spool
it is safe for you to load the camera in subdued light. It is usually cheaper to buy
film in larger amounts, such as 400 foot rolls . These rolls can then be taken into a
darkroom and wound down onto four 100 ft rolls. If you are about to load one of
these "broken down" rolls I would recommend that you load the camera in total
darkness. Even though the film has been wound onto "Daylight reels" it is not
daylight safe like the same film coming straight from the manufacturer. The
difference is in how the film is wound onto the reels.
A

Putting Film in the camera

The illustration (A) on the left is a cross
section of film wound onto a daylight
core by the manufacturer. Notice that
the film zig-zags, one layer touching the
left interior wall, the next layer touching
the right interior wall. This winding
arrangement assures "Daylight loading"
because at any given moment, only one
layer of film is exposed to light.
The Illustration (B) on the right
represents a roll of film broken down
onto a daylight spool. (As you can do in
a darkroom when you break up 400 feet
into four 100 ft rolls. ) Notice the wind
is random and usually favours one side
of the interior wall of the spool.
B