Film Cassettes (Optional Item) The MF-4 uses two reloadable Nikon 250-Exp. Film Cassette MZ-l's at one time: one loaded with film, as the supply spool, and one empty, as the takeup spool. They are the same cassettes that are used for the Motor Drive F250 for the Nikon F-series camera and the 250 Magazine Back MF-I for the Nikon F2-series. (You can purchase any number of cassettes desired.) The cassette consists of an outer shell, inner shell and spool.

To open the cassette, hold it with the "Nikon" name facing up and the cutout of the outer shell facing you. While depressing the release pin on top, turn the inner shell. When the outer shell's cut-out coincides with that of the inner shell, the inner shell slips free, enabling the removal of the spool.

Loading Film

1. Cut the film. Trim the end of a length of bulk film to form a leader about 3cm (1.2 in.) long by 2cm (0.8 in.)wide. Then near the top of the leader, bend the film so that the emulsion side of the film (the inner side of the roll) is facing inward.

2. Insert the film into the spool. Hold the spool in your left hand and the end of the film in your right. Insert the leader into either one of the two slits of the spool with the emulsion side down.

3. Wind the film onto the spool. Wind the film onto the spool carefully. Be careful not to touch the emulsion with your finger. A fully loaded cassette requires 11m (33ft.) of film, which is enough for 250 exposures. Note: Film loading can be carried out very easily with the use of the Nikon Bulk Film Loader, available as an optional accessory.

4. Replace the spool into the inner shell. When the film has been transferred to the spool, slip the spool into the inner shell, leaving the film end protruding. The film end should be protruding toward you (with the emulsion side facing down) if you are holding the inner shell in your right hand.

5. Slip the outer shell onto the inner shell. Slip the outer shell onto the inner shell so that their cutouts are aligned with each other. Then twist the inner shell clockwise gently until it stops with two clicks. Now the catch of the inner shell falls into the recess of the outer shell, closing the cassette completely and sealing it against light. The loaded supply cassette can now be taken out into the light. Note: The film end should protrude approximately 10cm (3.9in.).

6. Wind the film onto the other cassette. Take out the spool from the second cassette. Cut a leader at the film end protruding from the supply cassette and insert it into one of the slits in the spool. With the emulsion side down, wind the film around the spool two or three times. Slip the spool into the inner shell in such a way as to make it symmetrical with the supply cassette. Then slip on the outer shell and turn the inner shell counterclockwise until the catch falls into position. Note: Winding of the film end onto the takeup cassette can also be done after the supply cassette has been loaded into the magazine back.

LOADING THE CASSETTES

1. Make sure the shutter release button is locked. Make sure that the lock ring around the shutter release button of the magazine back is set to the "L" position. Also confirm that the motor drive's S-C mode selector is set to "L."

2. Open the rear cover of the magazine back. Set the magazine back's takeup and supply open/close knobs to the "OPEN" position, pull up the rear cover latch and the cover will pop open.

3. Unscrew the rear cover support pin. Turn the rear cover support pin knob counterclockwise until it stops (the knob will unscrew approximately 4mm). Caution: Make sure not to screw out the rear cover support pin when the rear cover is closed.

4. Remove the rear cover. Push the left end of the rear cover forward with moderate force to remove it.

5. Pull out the cassette spindle knob at the bottom of the cassette chambers on the supply side.

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