How do you load film into this camera? - Vivitar V3800N 35mm SLR Camera

try turning the camera off to load
when loaded turning on should take it to the counter for no 1 film shot

Align film leader at mark, then close the camera back for prewind loading. Film rewinds as each shot is exposed. Built-in motor for automatic winding/rewinding. Film advance: Automatic. Single-frame and continuous (1 fps). Automatically rewinds film leader into cartridge when designated number of frames have been exposed (midroll rewind available).

sorce: http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/film/data/1996-2000/1999_eos3000.html?p=2
Canon Camera Museum Camera Hall Film Cameras

good luck

This camera uses 35mm film, not APS film. 35mm is a larger format, giving MUCH better results, at the expense of having to manually pull the leader across to the take-up spool each time you load a roll.

Here is what to look at: Custom Function number 8, "Auto film load when back is closed", default setting is 1 disabled on 0 it is enabled. If you have the manual for the F80 (same as N80) look on page 21 and page 72 and 73.If that is not the issue check the following: With the new batteries does the camera turn on, Can you focus, does the LCD light up? All that will let you know if you are getting power to the camera. If the answer is yes then the film should load so now check the inside of the camera back. Does it have the pressure are and roller next to the hinge. If that is missing then when you pull the film to the red dot, close the camera back there is nothing to put pressure on the film for it to load.

Draw the film all the way to the receiving spool. There's an 'eye' inside the film compartment to check that the film is loaded. When the film is not correctly loaded the camera thinks it's empty and rewinds the film.

Go ahead and try anyway. A ruined film is far cheaper than a useless camera or a professional repair. In any case, if the film hasn't loaded properly it will only be the first short length of film which is ruined. As this is a newly loaded film you haven't any risk of losing any undeveloped photos.

Auto spooling film systems are great when they work, but sometimes are a real pain and some cameras seem really picky about having a film leader of precisely the right length. See if you can engage the the film onto the spool manually.

Hey sonax,
This H error message means either the film is loaded incorrectly, or there is an internal malfunction in the camera. To determine if the film is loaded incorrectly you should take the film and the batteries out of the camera then reinstall the batteries and try taking a picture without film in the camera. If the camera allows it then the film was loaded incorrectly and I would refer to the camera manual for directions on how to load the film correctly. If the H error message persists then there is most likely an internal malfunction and I would have the camera looked at by an authorized service technician. I hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Allan
Go Ahead. Use Us.

Took out the battery, then put it back in. The film then loaded properly.

Hey buddy5000,
The process to load film into your camera is as follows
1. Turn the camera on and make sure the frame counter reads 0 if it doesn't there is probably film in the camera.
2. Press the film door release button and slide the release downward.
3. Place the new film cartridge in the film cartridge chamber and pull out the film leader until it reaches the red dot on the bottom right side of the film chamber. Make sure the holes on the lower edge of the film engage the teeth on the sprocket.
4. Now close the back door and the film should load automatically and# 1 should appear in the frame counter, and if it does not then the film is not loaded properly.

I hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Allan
Go Ahead. Use Us.

Hm. Well, the way this camera works is actually very clever. When you first load a film into it, it winds the entire film out of the cassette and into the camer. As each shot is taken, the film is rewound back into the film cassette. The advantage of this is that if the back of the camera is accidentally opened, the shots which have already been taken are already safely back in the film cassette and will not be damaged by the light ingress. However, your camera is behaving strangely. I would check that the electrical contacts where the film cassette goes in are clean. You can clean them using a cotton bud moistened with methylated spirits.