RELOADING MIKROMA CASSETTES

The Mikroma 16mm cassettes are small, and they are not the easiest to reload. One is a feeder cassette, and the other a take-up cassette -- with a spool for the film. To top it off, threading the film and cassettes into the camera requires a little patience -- but at least that part takes place with the lights on!

Memorize these instructions since you can't refer to them in the dark; better yet, run through the steps with the lights on with scrap film.
Gather all your items together -- 16mm film, cassettes, scissors, 1/2" black tape, and film template.
Wash your hands thoroughly, or use film gloves (obtainable at most camera shops) in order to avoid getting oil or dirt on the film.
Remove all caps and COMPLETELY take apart the cassettes, but keep them separate.
Remove any film from the cassettes.
Completely check the cassettes and clean them of any loose dirt or film scraps.
Place the bottom on the feeder cassette making sure the film slit is facing toward the right, and is on the side of the cassette that is facing you.
Turn off the lights.
Cut an appropriate length of film, using a template, ruler or whatever you can device -- 20" for 25 exposures, 40" for 50 exposures, etc. A yardstick with a notch or piece of tape at 20" (or 40") will work fine.
Mikroma cameras are designed to use single perforated film, and with single perforated film, the perforations must be on the top of the cassettes when loaded in the camera. If double perforated film is used, the bottom 1mm of the image is cut off. Unperforated film works too.
Wind the film tightly and slip it into the cassette with a 2" leader sticking out.
Make sure that the emulsion is wound in toward the center of the roll, and snap the top on the feeder cassette.
Turn on the lights
Put the bottom cap on the take-up cassette with the film slot facing toward the left, and on the side of the cassette that is facing you. .
The take-up spool has a small metal clamp in the middle. You can slide the film leader under this clasp -- or you might find it easier to use a piece of tape to attach the film leader. Then drop the spool into the cassette.
Place the top cap back on the cassette.
Make sure the feeder spool is on the left and the take-up in on the right, and that with single perf film, the perforations are on the top.

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