A Really Bad Feeling

[hjfischer]

I just re-wound a 36 roll of film in my Bessa R2 and to my dismay , it took all of one turn of the crank to realize the roll hadn't gotten onto the takeup spool even though the frame counter advanced all the way. All "shots" were taken on my recent trip to Badlands NP in South Dakota. I'm still going to have the roll developed but am sure I screwed up. Haven't had this problem in 30 years and should have taken more care in loading.. So, be careful lest this happens to you!

 

[Sputty]

I've had that feeling a few times... it's a sickening one. I always watch to make sure the film rewind knob is turning when I advance the first few frames, just so I know. Also, pay attention to the tension on your advance lever... it should feel a bit easy if no film is being drawn.

My sympathies - I know how it feels.

 

[kshapero]

sorry about that dude. I once took a roll (so I thought) but never took the cap off. I have been shooting for 30 years and it never occured to me. Like Duh?

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Every 35mm photographer I know has done this once.
I am neurotic about it, contantly checking the rewind knob...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

 

[luketrash]

Well the once you do it is what leads to the neurotic checking of the tension right? 🙂

I always hate hearing about it too because I feel for the person. Especially if it's not something you can go back and reshoot. Weddings, grandma's birthday party, vacations, etc....

 

[HuubL]

It sure happened to me once or twice in the more than 35 years I shot film. What troubles me though is that it's modern equivalent, forgetting to put a memory card in in the DSLR, already happened four times in the last three years. Similarly, only having a filled up flash card in the camera that forces you to search and delete rubbish shots for each new one to add...:bang:

 

[ScottH]

Sorry to hear it. That's a bad feeling alright. I managed the same for *4* vacation rolls on an unfamiliar camera. Of course, mentally, they're all keepers. Thank goodness I had 2 other camera's I was shooting with.

 

[Bike Tourist]

Yep, I was doing some aerials with a Leica. The door was off the plane and everything was noisy and windy. I ran out the first roll, then rewound and changed lenses from 50 to 90mm. Then I reloaded a new roll of film and shot the rest of the assignmrnt.

When I got back on the ground I discovered the takeup spool had never grabbed the film. Luckily, I had the 50mm shots, but no 90mm.

It's comforting to know we all screw up sooner or later!

 

[Grober]

There are two kinds of pilots: those would have made an approach with their wheels up and locked and those who WILL.

Same goes for 35mm film shooters. Happened to me TWICE in the last year! Embarrassing to be sure but not uncommon.

-g

 

[mc_vancouver]

I have a pair of reading glasses and a pair of bifocal everyday glasses and I keep forgetting where one pair is, and usually its on top of my head as I switched to the other pair, or in my shirt pocket. That said, I've shot a wedding without a roll of film in the camera, luckily I was using two bodies, but still...I had to make up some lame excuse ("My dog ate..." didn't wash).

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Happened to me. A nice series of shots of San Diego went into the nice flash card in my brain, but never made it to the Kodachrome 64 I had in the camera.

The worst part is that I didn't realize until I got the entire roll of film blank, along with a note from the lab telling me the film was never exposed.

Talk about feeling dumb... :bang: :bang:

Fortunately, it was only one roll... 🙄

 

[BJ Bignell]

I usually realise that I've failed to load the film properly when I've reached frame 42 or 43... And often, around frame 38, I'm thinking "Hey, sweet, a couple of extra frames!" 🙄

 

[rpsawin]

I don't think any of us could top Ansel Adams. He once carried an 8x10 camera, film packs, tripod and other gear for hours up a mountain trail. When he arrived at the spot and began setting up he discovered he left the lens in his car. He at least enjoyed the view...

Bob

 

[Marc-A.]

hjfischer, the same happened to me, for my first roll with my Leica III ... but it was just a roll of family portraits. I can imagine your frustration, then. Sorry for you.
Best,
Marc

 

[Warren T.]

Sorry to hear about that. 🙂 It happens to everyone at one time or another.

Many years ago, I shot weddings (as an assistant), and I picked up the habit of constantly and obsessively checking that everything is working properly including film loading and winding. We had 2 complete backup Hasselblad outfits including Norman strobes in the trunk of our car at the ready in case the primary gear goes kaput (it happened twice that I remember).

You can count me as one of those obssessive rewind knob tension checkers 😀.

--Warren

 

[giellaleafapmu]

I just re-wound a 36 roll of film in my Bessa R2 and to my dismay , it took all of one turn of the crank to realize the roll hadn't gotten onto the takeup spool even though the frame counter advanced all the way. All "shots" were taken on my recent trip to Badlands NP in South Dakota. I'm still going to have the roll developed but am sure I screwed up. Haven't had this problem in 30 years and should have taken more care in loading.. So, be careful lest this happens to you!

Sorry to hear that. Anyway, there is something worst which might happen: forgetting to close the dark-bathroom and/or to tell the other people who live with you that you are going to develop a roll and have somebody enter the room when you are loading the tank... Horrible!

Giella lea Fapmu

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

I usually realise that I've failed to load the film properly when I've reached frame 42 or 43... And often, around frame 38, I'm thinking "Hey, sweet, a couple of extra frames!" 🙄

I know that feeling . . . elation turns to concern and then annoyance.

 

[3js]

Never happened to me. Why, you might ask? Because I don´t slam the film door(or base plate) shut before I see the film going in the take up spool, ok I lose one frame or two, but at least the film is properly loaded, and there is 35 frames to go. Why is this so difficult to do?:angel:
But the lens cover, that´s a satanic plot.

 

[bobkonos]

You are in good company for sure. We all do it or have done it because we shoot a lot. No worries now, I doubt you'll do it again. And doesn't it often happen on a trip far away from home?

 

[Crasis]

Sorry to hear about that. 🙂 It happens to everyone at one time or another.

Many years ago, I shot weddings (as an assistant), and I picked up the habit of constantly and obsessively checking that everything is working properly including film loading and winding. We had 2 complete backup Hasselblad outfits including Norman strobes in the trunk of our car at the ready in case the primary gear goes kaput (it happened twice that I remember).

You can count me as one of those obssessive rewind knob tension checkers 😀.

--Warren

Warren, I'm with ya! Constantly rechecking the tension of the rewind knob is only a thing that us geniuses do 😉