How do I load film into my Konvas 1M/2M?

How to Thread the Konvas Magazine

Actually it is nowhere near as hard as one would initially think. Thanks to Viktor in the Ukraine (who provided an English translation of this portion of the manual), it was fairly easy to master. In some ways, it is like loading an Eclair CM-3 magazine. Both the 200 (60m) and 400 (120m) mags load the same way. Just practice alot in the light, because it can get wacky in the changing bag!

In any case, we now press on to...

Threading the Konvas Magazine
Threading the Konvas Magazine

The constituent parts. Pictured is a 400-foot mag and its cover . The rectangular piece of metal upper center is a protective cover for the pressure plate while the mag is removed from the camera body.

Threading the Konvas Magazine
Threading the Konvas Magazine

Directly above and below the pressure plate are two threading doors. After removing the mag cover, flip both of these open.

Threading the Konvas Magazine
Loading Film into Konvas Magazine

Rear of mag shown with a load of 35mm acetate camera negative seated at the top, which is the feed portion. the film is emulsion IN. The Konvas instruction manual diagram shows the film emulsion OUT, feeding over the top of the roll, however, I have had no trouble running in this manner (since most rolls come emulsion in from the factory.

Loading Film into Konvas Magazine
Feed the film into Konvas magazine teeth

Position the end of the film between the "center post" and the two tan rollers at the top, and press the film gently against the teeth of the feed side drive sprocket.

Loading Film into Konvas Magazine
Loading Film into Konvas Magazine

Here's a close up view.

Loading the Konvas Magazine
Press and turn

Press down on the center of the sprocket hub and rotate clockwise. The teeth will engage the perfs and draw the film up. With your other hand, gently pull about 18 to 24 inches of film through the sprocket. When finished, release the hub of the sprocket and it will lock into place.

WARNING: do not pull the film once the sprocket is engaged. It is coupled with the drive gears on the mag and they don't budge! You could very easily tear your film or damage the perfs, thus jamming the mag.

Loading the Konvas Magazine
Loading the Konvas Magazine

You should now have something that looks like this...

flap down
top flap down

Now look down through the top of the mag. See that really narrow slit between the body and the pressure plate? You need to push the end of the film through there. There's plenty of clearance; you don't need to push on the plate at all.

Konvas Pressure plate
Konvas Pressure plate

If you are successful, you'll have something that looks like this. The edges of the film will fall into two runners. Notice the two clips on the "top" (actually the side) of the outboard runner.

Konvas Pressure plate
Pressure plate film loaded

If you guide the film to the inboard runner, the outboard side of the film will gently lift the clips into their proper attitude. If you do not guide the film to the inboard runner, you'll hang up on these clips and get aggravated very quickly! Once the film has reached the bottom of the pressure plate, STOP!

film release pin
film release pin

Immediately below the pressure plate is a pin, which holds the film in the proper place for the pulldown claw to engage a perf. You MUST depress this pin, then feed the remainder of the film through.

releases film
releases film

As you can see by this reverse shot, depressing the pin moves a small but critical assembly out of the way. Feed the film through and release the pin. It will then lock the film into place.

top film loop
top film loop

Okay, take a cigarette break...I'll wait...

Congrats, you have made it through the biggest part of threading! This is a shot showing the approximate size of the top loop in the mag. You should be able to fit an index finger very easily into the loop. It is recommended to leave the top loop slightly bigger, as the slack will displace to the lower loop once the mag rolls. If your loop is too big or small, simply depress the pin below the pressure plate and advance or retard the film by hand until you have achieved the proper size.

take-up loop
Konvas take-up loop

Next, place the end of the film against the left side of the takeup drive sprocket, depress the center hub and turn clockwise. The perfs of the film will be engaged by the teeth of the sprocket and the film will be drawn to the other side of the "center post" and into the takeup portion of the mag. Attach the end of the film to a takeup core and placed on the clockwise turning takeup spindle.

take-up loop
take-up loop correctly sized

Here's the approximate size of the lower loop. As you can see, it is somewhat smaller that the top loop. Again, this is because the top loop will displace the extra down to this loop, thus balancing them out.

Finished Loaded Konvas Magazine
Finished Loaded Konvas Magazine

Close the threading doors, place the mag cover on and lock it into place.

The finished job, ready to go.

Now, let's go on to mount the mag on the camera...