Shoot 120 roll backwards or respool?

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loquax ludens

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I recently acquired a Minolta Autocord. I loaded it with a roll of film, shot almost the entire roll, and something didn't seem right. The shutter was so silent that I thought it might not be opening. So I set the speed on B, the aperture on f/3.5, looked into the lens, and tripped the shutter. Sure enough, it didn't open. The shutter shifted a little and looked like it was trying to open, but it never opened.

After working the shutter quite a lot, it finally started working. It looks like it's going to need a CLA.

But my real question is about the film. It's been run through the camera, but I don't think any of it was exposed. It is now wound onto the takeup reel.

Can I just load the film again and shoot it backwards? I figure if the leader is the same length at both ends, this should be possible. Or will I need to manually respool it in the darkroom?

As I recall, the leader is only taped to the paper backing at the start of the roll, so I'll need to tape the film at the end (new front) before loading it.

The loss of one roll is not a big deal, but I'd like to be able to use the film if possible.
 
If you re-roll it, the film will bunch up. You will have to untape it and retape it. I would wonder if it didn't see some exposure, so you may get some double exposures. It won't hurt to try it, but don't use it on anything important.
 
I had this happen a while ago and re-spooled the film in a change bag ... as said the film bunches and you have to detach and re-attach the tape anchor.

In hindsight it was more trouble than it was worth! :p
 
Rather than respool, can I just unroll the film in the darkroom, tape the free end, then roll to the front, remove the tape that secures it to the leader there, and then roll it back up and run it through backward? Or is the leader a different length at the end of the spool?

ruby.monkey, your idea is a pretty good one too.
 
I did the same in my Rolleiflex and tried for a couple of minutes in darkroom and decided as Keith said it wasn't worth the hassle and put it down to experience.
 
I've found that having a dummy roll of 120 film comes in handy for testing cameras and such. Take the film and respool it in daylight. You'll see what people mean by the 'bunching' at the taped end- peel up the tape and smooth it out. Then put the roll in a drawer.

Nice to check counter function and such, especially in a camera like the Autocord where the counter will not work without a roll.
 
How much are you paying for film? Film is cheap. Move on.
Check new cameras before loading with priceless film.

Wayne
 
Has anyone said it isn't worth it?

Unless losing one roll of film will cause you to lose sleep, throw it out. Or pull it off the roll and throw it in the air whilst shouting "yipee".
 
Dan Daniel said:
I've found that having a dummy roll of 120 film comes in handy for testing cameras and such. Take the film and respool it in daylight. You'll see what people mean by the 'bunching' at the taped end- peel up the tape and smooth it out. Then put the roll in a drawer.

Nice to check counter function and such, especially in a camera like the Autocord where the counter will not work without a roll.
Click to expand...

I second the idea! It's a waste of time and effort to try to respool and reuse it. But having a "test" roll can be very handy.
 
Gumby said:
Has anyone said it isn't worth it?

Unless losing one roll of film will cause you to lose sleep, throw it out. Or pull it off the roll and throw it in the air whilst shouting "yipee".
Click to expand...

Yep. I've sacrificed entire rolls to get a take-up spool - for what I spend on this hobby overall, losing a $4 roll isn't a big deal.
 
Kodak Ektar 100 purchaed from Amazon last year, $18.45 for a 5 roll pro-pack. I paid $3.69 per roll. It's about $4 more expensive for a pro-pack of 5 rolls now than it was then, so replacement cost is a bit higher.

It's definitely not that big a deal with respect to the cost. On the other hand, my own laber is cheap when valued as hobby=fun. I already have exposed "test rolls" in 135 and 120, no need for another one. Maybe I should just slit it up for my Minox or chop it up for an Altoids pin-hole camera like the red ape said. (No offense intended ruby.monkey!)
 
Well no harm in trying. Don't throw it out, keep it as a test roll if it doesn't work out respooling it backwards.

Film might be cheap, but it's not free. No ones gonna get rich by throwing away small change regularly...
 
First time ever, I have to admit. I don't mow my own lawn anymore either, and that's $35 a week (1.5 pro-packs of Ektar 100). Just look at all the film I'm wasting there!
 
If you have a changing bag and spare spool, definitely try to do it. Still people are doing exact same thing on re-spooling for their 620 Kodaks'.
 
It's sitting in a drawer in my darkroom, phh. Part of me agrees with the "don't bother, it's not worth it" advice. The other part of me hates to waste what might be perfectly good film, and is willing to take a chance on it. I will probably respool it next time I'm bored and have nothing better to do. I learn lessons better the hard way.
 
I respool 120 on to 620 spools all the time. It is easy enough with a little practice. It sounds like you really want to run that roll through again so I say just do it!
 
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