Replacing used film

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 54248
  • Start date Start date
D

Deleted member 54248

Guest
I have an old camera that is broken, but it still has some film in it, maybe 20 shots or so. I wanna take it out and place it to another camera. How should I go about this?
 
OldPic said:
I have an old camera that is broken, but it still has some film in it, maybe 20 shots or so. I wanna take it out and place it to another camera. How should I go about this?
Click to expand...

I guess you could rewind it leaving just enough leader to load it into a new camera then "take" the same number of blank shots (perhaps a couple extra for safety) with lens cap on on the new camera so the film is in the same position.
 
if you have a film changing bag, you could use that to swap the film from one camera to another.
 
Tricky69 said:
if you have a film changing bag, you could use that to swap the film from one camera to another.
Click to expand...

Rewinding it into the canister makes far more sense than this though - changing bags always cave in so it's going to be difficult sorting out the film that has been shot, much better to have it in the canister and shoot it through with the lens cap on, stopped down to f/22 and the fastest shutter speed of the body.
 
I'd go with the smallest stop/fastest shutter speed/lens cap route too. I've done it a few times and had no problems. One camera that I don't how I'd load with a partially shot roll is my Olympus XA. I've often wanted to do this, but short of sticking black tape over the lens (which I'm not going to do!), I can't think of a sound method. Any ideas? The shutter will stay open for an awfully long time if shot inside a changing bag, so 20 exposures might just flatten the battery.
 
Since the rewind mechanism was broken, I just opened the camera up in a red light, took out the film, used the sprocket to wind it myself and put it in the new camera.

I think red light is alright for film, that's how it used to be made, right?
 
OldPic said:
Since the rewind mechanism was broken, I just opened the camera up in a red light, took out the film, used the sprocket to wind it myself and put it in the new camera.

I think red light is alright for film, that's how it used to be made, right?
Click to expand...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but no. Red light will fog film. If red lights were safe for film, it would have saved generations of people struggling to load their film onto Paterson reels in complete darkness!
 
freecom2 said:
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but no. Red light will fog film. If red lights were safe for film, it would have saved generations of people struggling to load their film onto Paterson reels in complete darkness!
Click to expand...

Is that fog extremely noticeable/bad/etc.?

Also, how do people actually used to make film? I thought that there were red or blue light bulbs for that?
 
Impossible to say - depends on how strong the red light is, how close it was, how much it was reflected off your walls, how long the film was exposed for. It would be a pointless endeavour to try and guess really, just develop it and hope for the best :thumbs:

I'm not 100% sure but, if I remember correctly, a video I saw from the production of the Impossible Project mentioned it was done in complete darkness for the emulsion parts.
 
Wow. Perhaps those dim lights were used only for B&W film? I think that would make sense.

I think it should be moderately alright, as it wasn't exposed for more than a second, each frame, most frames were exposed to extremely dim light. I think they should look somewhat like those old photos.

Since this was going to be my test film, I wonder how accurate the tests will be... I was going to test the camera settings, different lighting, etc.. :/
 
OldPic said:
Wow. Perhaps those dim lights were used only for B&W film? I think that would make sense.

I think it should be moderately alright, as it wasn't exposed for more than a second, each frame, most frames were exposed to extremely dim light. I think they should look somewhat like those old photos.

Since this was going to be my test film, I wonder how accurate the tests will be... I was going to test the camera settings, different lighting, etc.. :/
Click to expand...

Well it would have been alright for B&W film, prior to about 1930, when B&W was orthochromatic (not sensitive to red). Nearly all modern B&W films are panchromatic (sensitive to all colours). Tri-X used to be marked as 'Tri-X Pan' until about 1970 if I remember rightly. This was to stress its 'modern' characteristics. You can still by ortho film but it's a speciality product.
 
Well I've spoke with someone from around here, he says he used to produce photos in red/blue lighting.

In any case, I'm gonna post the photos if I'll have enough money to scan them.
 
OldPic said:
Since the rewind mechanism was broken, I just opened the camera up in a red light, took out the film, used the sprocket to wind it myself and put it in the new camera.

I think red light is alright for film, that's how it used to be made, right?
Click to expand...

That was why I suggested the changing bag, as I didn't know 'how' broke your camera was.

As others have said, modern film is sensitive to red, and will probably be affected, depending on how much light landed on the film and the film speed etc etc.

Very early (1800's) emulsions were mostly sensitive to blues, so you could use a red light to coat your glass plates etc.
 
OldPic said:
Well I've spoke with someone from around here, he says he used to produce photos in red/blue lighting.

QUOTE]

his idea of producing photos and your idea of taking photos may be two completely different things !
Click to expand...
 
OldPic said:
Since the rewind mechanism was broken, I just opened the camera up in a red light, took out the film, used the sprocket to wind it myself and put it in the new camera.

I think red light is alright for film, that's how it used to be made, right?
Click to expand...

Oh dear! :thumbsdown:
 
OldPic said:
Wow. Perhaps those dim lights were used only for B&W film? I think that would make sense.
Click to expand...

No, as others have mentioned B&W film is panchromatic so dim lights could not be used. I'm not sure where this myth that red lights are safe for B&W film comes from - is it a movie thing? Wrong information wastes time and resources when there is ample ways to source the right information.

OldPic said:
Well I've spoke with someone from around here, he says he used to produce photos in red/blue lighting.
Click to expand...

"Produce photos" = "printing photos using an enlarger in a darkroom" from the sound of it, which is done under a red light safely. But that doesn't mean the negatives on a roll of film can have the same treatment; the emulsion on paper is different to the emulsion on a negative, so you were talking about two completely different things essentially.
 
Red light used to be safe until the the introduction of early panchromatic film around 1910 - in fact the original way of developing in the Victorian times was by inspection, literally looking at the negative under red light until it was 'right' and then taking it out of the developer.

Of course when these early more red sensitive films started appearing this caused as big problem as they could not be developed by inspection. It was a scientist-photographer who's name I cannot remember who started the concept of temperature and time lists for each emulsion per developer as he realised that it was the only way it could be standardised. There was an article in AP on him about a year ago, I'll try and dig it out when I move back home.

This short film by Kodak on the production of film from 1958 may be of interest to the OP, it shows 120 film being made but its the same concept for 35mm (I know the rest of us have probably seen it before):

http://www.boeringa.demon.nl/menu_technic_kodakfilm_hbw.htm
 
OldPic said:
I have an old camera that is broken, but it still has some film in it, maybe 20 shots or so. I wanna take it out and place it to another camera. How should I go about this?
Click to expand...

On a slightly different approach.. I've been in a similar situation when a camera broke with film loaded and it couldn't be removed the usual way. The easiest way to deal with this is to forget about using the remainder of the film. Unless it's some very expensive highly technical film it's just not worth it for any number of remaining shots - particularly if (like me) you're not someone who normally develops their own and is used to handling exposed film naked*. For regular film in a regular camera, take the whole thing to Jessops**, explain what's happened and they will safely remove the film from the camera and develop it for you.


* referring to bare film in the naked sense, your lifestyle as a consenting adult in posession of a camera is entirely your own choice.
** there are other High Street shops that will do this, my local Jessops happens to be a good 'un.
 
I see, I actually just now realized that I will also have to get the film processed before scanning it, I even found a guy who could do the scanning for free. I don't think photography is for someone who's got no money, unless you can manage to get a DSLR from somewhere for free...

Thanks for your help, is a great forum for beginners!
 
OldPic said:
I see, I actually just now realized that I will also have to get the film processed before scanning it, I even found a guy who could do the scanning for free. I don't think photography is for someone who's got no money, unless you can manage to get a DSLR from somewhere for free...

Thanks for your help, is a great forum for beginners!
Click to expand...


You know you can get dev and scan in a supermarket for a few quid ?

:thumbs:
 
OldPic said:
My salary is around $200 a month. :bang:
Click to expand...

ah, ok, ...

You know you can get them dev'd and scaned at a local photo lab for a few dollars ?

:thumbs:

but seriously, you can get a digi point and shoot at a local thrift store for a few bucks. the quality won't be ready for publishing, but everything else to do with photography is still useable. Composition, light, dark, action mood etc etc. if you are lucky and find one with some manual menu controls, you can practice with shutter speeds and DOF etc too.

Enjoying photography doesn't have to be expensive these days.

If it interests you, dont give up :thumbs:
 
Tricky69 said:
ah, ok, ...

You know you can get them dev'd and scaned at a local photo lab for a few dollars ?

:thumbs:

but seriously, you can get a digi point and shoot at a local thrift store for a few bucks. the quality won't be ready for publishing, but everything else to do with photography is still useable. Composition, light, dark, action mood etc etc. if you are lucky and find one with some manual menu controls, you can practice with shutter speeds and DOF etc too.

Enjoying photography doesn't have to be expensive these days.

If it interests you, dont give up :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I've been interested in it for a while. I could scrap a couple bucks, probably up to $20-30 or so.

For me, the main fun is in the manipulation - manual controls. I love figuring stuff out and applying my knowledge, while at the same time trying new things (compositions), etc.. I would be more than happy with a camera that wouldn't produce 1080p pictures (or what's the today's standard), but would allow me to control how i shoot photos - shutter speed, ASA, DoF, aperture, etc.. In fact, it feels the best when I've the camera in hands, all settings set, and I'm using the lens (turning the rings), feels really pleasant for some reason. I took a couple shots with that red-tinted film, and still gonna finish that film.

Do you think I can get a defect-free used digital camera like that for roughly that price?
 
you probably wont get one with manual fous rings and such, but you'll definately get a decent 3Mp P&S that will give you some manual controls, for that money.

you other option is TTV photography

you pick up a cheap SLR or TLR, or anything with a half decent viewfinder. view finder, then a cheap point and shoot digi. You play with the film camera lens focus and composition to your hearts content, then you take a digital picture "Through The Viewfinder" with your cheap digi camera

https://www.google.com/search?clien...w&biw=1278&bih=866&sei=1QXeT-O4KYW58gOr0LG8Cw

There is literally tonnes of creative stuff you can do with old cameras and very little money !

Then there is pinhole cameras you can make youself. shoot direct onto photo paper and develop at home, it's quite cheap, and ready for when you have advanced a bit. You'll still need you cheap point and shoot, to convert the paper neg into a pos on a PC

:)
 
I'm going to take a look around Ebay and see if we have any used cameras store around here. That's not a bad choice, as I will have a lot of control over it anyway.
 
remember the post costs with ebay.

Try searching local ebay 1st, so you can collect.
 
oh, and when money is tight, time/patience is your friend ! if you can wait, you are more likely to find something decent for your money :thumbs:
 
also go to as many yard/garage sales as you can - some real bargains can be had there :)
 
Tricky69 said:
remember the post costs with ebay.

Try searching local ebay 1st, so you can collect.
Click to expand...

I'm looking right now if I will have to pay any customs. Shipping for cameras is usually a bit over $40 to my country. We have no local ebay too, by the way.

Tricky69 said:
oh, and when money is tight, time/patience is your friend ! if you can wait, you are more likely to find something decent for your money :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I don't mind waiting. Just looking for something to do that I'd enjoy.

Tricky69 said:
also go to as many yard/garage sales as you can - some real bargains can be had there :)
Click to expand...

We don't have yard/garage sales around here. I think those happen only in the US/Canada? As I actually haven't spoke to someone from any other country who would mention them. Just curious.
 
where are you ?
 
ah, when you said you earned $, I assumed you meant American $, sorry.

As for yard/garage sale - I just used the American term (see above :) )

In UK we have jumble sales / car boot sales / table top sales ... Etc

In France, they are called Attic sales

Basically, everyone everywhere has their own take on selling stuff they dont want any more !

Being close to Russia, there should be a good supply of old film stuff, I don't know about digital though. ?
 
Tricky69 said:
ah, when you said you earned $, I assumed you meant American $, sorry.

As for yard/garage sale - I just used the American term (see above :) )

In UK we have jumble sales / car boot sales / table top sales ... Etc

In France, they are called Attic sales

Basically, everyone everywhere has their own take on selling stuff they dont want any more !

Being close to Russia, there should be a good supply of old film stuff, I don't know about digital though. ?
Click to expand...

I just converted the currency to USD, as it's somewhat an international currency.

Well we don't have many stores or any yard sales around here. We have markets where people sell old stuff they don't need. They have to purchase a place so they could do it though. Usually it's old motors (huge, not related to cameras), old screws, a lot of other rusty stuff. I think I would be able to find a few old cameras, but generally they would be from USSR times, not anything even remotely close to digital. It's usually old guys selling their possessions, 60+ years old. You can find lots of WW2 stuff too, like insignias, emblems, medals, etc..
 
there's a chance you might find something with a big viewfinder then, if you wanted to try viewfinder photo's

Cheap mobile phones have reasonable cameras in these days too, for capturing viewfinder images.

Without knowing exactly where you are, I can't really say much more than that, me and my wife have our own business and send small packets all over the world. I could find out how much to ship to you from england if you want ?
 
Tricky69 said:
there's a chance you might find something with a big viewfinder then, if you wanted to try viewfinder photo's

Cheap mobile phones have reasonable cameras in these days too, for capturing viewfinder images.

Without knowing exactly where you are, I can't really say much more than that, me and my wife have our own business and send small packets all over the world. I could find out how much to ship to you from england if you want ?
Click to expand...

It's Lithuania. No customs too, as England is part of the European union. When looking through ebay, I've dismissed any cameras that would be shipped from US/CA, as the customs are enormous.
 
I'll get some prices for different weights/sizes tomorrow for you.
 
Hi

Did a quick check and the post for 500g is about £9 and about £14 for 1Kg.
That's royal mail airmail from UK - Lithuania .

I weighed a few cameras.

an Ensign Ful Vue was about 400g, a pentax Me with 50mm lens is about 650g,
and a Sony cybershot digital point and shoot is about 350g

Packing is usually about 2-300g minimum.

I hope that gives you an idea of postage charges from here.

I guess it might be less if you can get one more local to you.

Hope this helps you decide what you want to do :thumbs:
 
Whilst you can streamline film photography so that it works out relatively cheaply for each picture you take, it often only works out because of an initial high cost which works out to good value over time. For instance, the B&W developer chemical I use (Kodak T-Max Dev) works out to a very low cost per film developed, but I have to drop £13 everytime I buy a fresh bottle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top