If you are not sure about how to use the Zeiss Ikon Nettar, check my previous blog post on that here.

I decided to use the Ilford Delta 400 Professional Film. It offers clear black and white images and is a great option for any film photography project with the Zeiss Ikon Nettar. If you prefer having more grain in your image then try the Ilford HP5 Plus range, it might also be a safer bet with its wider exposure latitude!

To open up this camera, turn the camera so you are facing the back of it. Then pull down the latch on the left-hand side until it clicks open. Now pull the back door open and place it on the table in front of you.

Open up your film of choice. If you’re totally new to this and would like to try out some film, start with a lower cost film such as Fomapan. To load your film, you will need to press/pull down on the button in the bottom right-hand corner of the camera. Then insert your 120-film roll, carefully aligning it with the top catch before gently releasing the bottom catch. You may need to carefully adjust the film so it will snap into place.

Will the film in place, pull the film paper across to the left hand side and pop it into the spool. Make sure the film is aligned straight and rotate the spool by using the silver scroller at the top left-hand corner of the camera. I find taking a little bit extra paper out and reinserting it allows the film paper to catch deeper and tighter into the spool. Once it has caught, you can either close the lid or keep scrolling the paper until a large black arrow is aligned with the viewer and silver button in the centre at the bottom of the camera.

Alternatively, you can close the lid and lock the camera by pushing up on the released lever on the left-hand side of the camera. Then open the ‘window gate’ in the centre of the camera back. If you haven’t already scrolled the film, you will not see anything. Now, keep scrolling until you start seeing some arrows appearing which point to the right, the film is now starting to load. You will see some small ‘sun’ icons which get larger the closer you get to your first frame. Be careful at the point not to be winding your film too quickly, slow the motion down and align the ‘1’ you will see in the middle of the mirror gate. You are now ready to shoot your first frame!