Threading the Camera —
Lacing the Film
Inch the camera until the pull-down claw is at the bottom of its stroke.
Check that the magazine is loaded with the appropriate film stock and pull out a very short loop from the supply (front) side of the magazine.
Rest one end of the magazine on the camera, feed the film loop through the magazine port and lock the magazine securely in position.
Special note: WHILE THREADING THE CAMERA DO NOT PRESS THE INCHING KNOB ON THE REAR OF THE CAMERA UNTIL THE FILM ON THE TAKE-UP SIDE HAS BEEN SECURELY LOCATED ON THE SPROCKET AND THE BOTTOM SPROCKET KEEPER HAS BEEN CLOSED. (Pressing in the inching knob activates the magazine motor and this is not a good thing to do until the film has been secured on the main sprocket.)
Pull about 8' (20cm) of film from the front compartment of the magazine and stretch it towards the bottom left hand corner of the camera.
Open the top and bottom sprocket keepers.
Thread the film through the camera exactly as shown on the threading diagram on the inside of the camera door. Double check that it is correct.
Check that the film on the take-up side is properly seated on the underside of the sprocket and close the bottom sprocket keeper.
Set the bottom loop so that it just clears the bottom of the camera.
Press a sprocket hole onto the perforation locating pin situated just above the aperture plate. This will ensure that the perforations will be correctly aligned with the registration pins. At the same time gently press on the edge of the film to ensure the film is fully into the camera.
Set the registration pins into the perforations by gently pressing the boss at the base of the retraction pin. (Note: Pressing the base of the retraction pin has a more positive feel than pushing from the top). If it does not go easily recheck the perforation alignment.
Set the top loop by pulling the film off the perforation locating pin. The top loop should be set to clear the locating pin as per the drawings on page 141.
Engage the film on the top of the sprocket and close the top keeper.
1. Pull out a short loop of film and rest the magazine on the camera, 2. Pull loop of film to bottom L.H. corner of camera, 3. Open top and bottom sprocket keepers, 4. PANAFLEX threading diagram, 5. PANASTAR threading diagram, 6. PANAFLEX 16 threading diagram, 7. SUPER PSR threading diagram, 8. Press film onto perforation locating pin, 9. Press in register pins by base of retraction pin.