md12 doesnt release film tension on fe2

rphenning

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Feb 16, 2009
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Playing around today I shot an entire roll of 36 exposures and at the 36th frame the motor drive tried to advance the film more instead of releasing. This left me stuck half-cocked and I had to go into a darkroom to pop the canister and relieve the film tension so I could rewind the film. I thought the md12 auto-slacked the film when you finished a roll? Am I not understanding the operation of the drive?
 
Don't have it in front of me, but there is a button to the lower right back that pushes in the rewind notch. Also turn the drive off. And of course, I may be missing something here, but you can remove the drive with the back still closed - no need to go into a darkroom - and then you can remove yourself as usual.

There is no auto-slack or autorewind that I recall, but I may not understand your question properly.
 
yeah there is a little switch on the motor drive to hit the rewind button on the camera. normally that would work as mine isn't gummed up or anything, but the motor drive half cocks the camera so that I cant do anything. Can't fire the shutter or rewind the film, even with the motor drive off. I think I might just have to not shoot my 36th frame with the drive on. Kinda bummed
 
Hmmm, odd. Sounds broken, or I'm missing something. The shutter being half-cocked shouldn't interfere with rewinding the film. Turning the MD-12 on and off while slapping it doesn't help?
 
the MD4 has an interlock system to rewind, a safety catch to slide up in the centre of the drive and a second at that goes across at the lower left to switch it to reverse and lock the first catch …. it’s easier than it sounds, is it something like that?
 
I didn't REALLY get all up in the md12's release lever because forcing things to move on tools is never really a good way to do something so I figured I'd ask some people first. You really think I can get it to release even though it's halfway through the advance?
 
A couple of earlier posts are correct- all you should have to do is turn off the motor and push the rewind button on the bottom. This is just a mechanical button that in turn pushes the film release/rewind button the bottom of the camera; you can then rewind as normal. The MD12 doesn't have any automatic stop for the end of the roll. Sometimes the motor (or even a forceful push with the regular advance lever!) will cause the mechanism to stick at the end of a roll, if it tries to advance beyond the last frame in the canister. Usually in this case the rewind button will be hard to push in, as there is a lot of tension on the film- be firm with it and it should release.
 
yeah the mir site was the first thing i checked when i encountered the issue, thank you though, very helpful.

I guess after this roll that is in it now is done I will give just pushing it harder a try. thanks everyone for helping.
 
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