Olympus OM10 How to Load Film

Loading the film is extremely simple for this camera. It is so simple that it is almost common sense, and after a few times, becomes second nature. You will need to have a flat surface to place the camera upon, so that it is steady when you are installing the film.

If you are planning to get some extra frames by using the very first part of the film, which the loading procedure usually wastes, then it is better to load the film in a dark room.

This camera has a simple take up spool with a slot so that you can feed the film leader through it. There are in fact two slots on the take up spool, so that when you push the film through one, it emerges through the other.

The film advance lever rotates the take-up spool and increments the counter by one.

You need to pull out a small amount the film leader and insert it into the slot in the take-up-spool. Push the leader in just enough to come out from the other opposing slot. However, you do not want too much of the film to come out.

After advancing the film once using the lever, you can see how the film winds.

This is the pressure plate.

The pressure plate ensures that the film rests uniformly across the exposing chamber; however, you still need to make sure the sprockets and perforations align before closing the back cover.

Take blank shots until the counter shows "1". Ideally, the blank shots are with the camera pointing at a light source. This way, the shutter speed will be at its fastest. If you are doing your own processing and confident with the loading procedure, you may not wish to take blank shots, and use the additional film for extra frames.

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