Getting blanks on my film

andrewmaiphoto · 01-06-2014, 02:20 AM

So I bought a Pentax Asahi Spotmatic F today and loaded some film into it and started shooting to test if it was fully functioning and working after I was done with my roll of film, there were no photos on the film it was like completely blank. The film is quite old I found it in a cupboard which was owned by my dad and it was probably from 2 centuries ago or maybe 3 even. Is the film expired? or something wrong with the camera? The film is Konica Super 100 VX

sterretje · 01-06-2014, 03:29 AM

I'm not sure about the age of the film. I think quality will detoriate but it should still record something (just a feel, might be wrong though).

Did you set the shutterspeed and aperture for correct exposure?

It should be very easy to check your camera (no film in it). Take the lens of and shoot while looking in the mount. Does the mirror go up and down when you shoot? Does the shutter open and close? You can also shoot while the back is open and look completely through the camera to see what happens.

Jonathan Mac · 01-06-2014, 03:30 AM

Sounds like it probably wasn't winding the film on. Did the rewind knob on the left turn every time you advanced a frame? This is very important to check on a film camera as it's a common problem, indicating that the film wasn't loaded properly.

Even with a very old film I'd expect some kind of image, though if you exposed it at box speed it would probably come out very under-exposed.

andrewmaiphoto · 01-06-2014, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

I'm not sure about the age of the film. I think quality will detoriate but it should still record something (just a feel, might be wrong though).

Did you set the shutterspeed and aperture for correct exposure?

It should be very easy to check your camera (no film in it). Take the lens of and shoot while looking in the mount. Does the mirror go up and down when you shoot? Does the shutter open and close? You can also shoot while the back is open and look completely through the camera to see what happens.

Yup Ive done all that and checked. Might see whats gonna happen when I buy fresh film.

andrewmaiphoto · 01-06-2014, 03:53 AM

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

Sounds like it probably wasn't winding the film on. Did the rewind knob on the left turn every time you advanced a frame? This is very important to check on a film camera as it's a common problem, indicating that the film wasn't loaded properly.

Even with a very old film I'd expect some kind of image, though if you exposed it at box speed it would probably come out very under-exposed.

isnt the knob to advance frame on the right? and to rewind after you're done on the left? :S

Na Horuk · 01-06-2014, 04:55 AM

What do you mean it was blank? Was it as if it was never used, or was it burned out, completely white overexposure?
It could be possible that you made a mistake when getting the film back into the canister. I am not sure about that specific camera model, but some SLRs require a button combination when you rewind the film, or they will overexpose everything. Try finding a manual for that camera

stevebrot · 01-06-2014, 11:26 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

but some SLRs require a button combination when you rewind the film, or they will overexpose everything.

Huh?

To the OP...Have you confirmed that the shutter is operational? You can do that by dry firing the shutter with the back open and looking forward through the lens from the back (aperture full open) at a bright scene. Even at the top speed you should see light through lens. Repeat for all speeds.

If the shutter is opening, the above comments regarding fail to wind onto the take-up spool apply. Everyone who has ever owned a 35mm film camera has had that problem at least once.

Steve

stevebrot · 01-06-2014, 11:32 AM

Originally posted by andrewmaiphoto

isnt the knob to advance frame on the right? and to rewind after you're done on the left? :S

Ummmm...yes, but the rewind knob should rotate with each stroke of the wind lever. If it doesn't, that is an indication that the film is not being taken up by the wind spool.

Steve

Oldbayrunner · 01-06-2014, 01:29 PM - **1 Like**

In case you dont have one, here's a copy of the manual

http://www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_spotmatic_f.pdf

andrewmaiphoto · 01-06-2014, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Huh?

To the OP...Have you confirmed that the shutter is operational? You can do that by dry firing the shutter with the back open and looking forward through the lens from the back (aperture full open) at a bright scene. Even at the top speed you should see light through lens. Repeat for all speeds.

If the shutter is opening, the above comments regarding fail to wind onto the take-up spool apply. Everyone who has ever owned a 35mm film camera has had that problem at least once.

Steve

Yes the shutter has opened for every speed and seems totally fine and operational

andrewmaiphoto · 01-06-2014, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Ummmm...yes, but the rewind knob should rotate with each stroke of the wind lever. If it doesn't, that is an indication that the film is not being taken up by the wind spool.

Steve

So you're saying every time I stroke the lever to advance the film I should see the rewind knob rotate?
Right now Im out of film and cant test that out.

stevebrot · 01-06-2014, 07:30 PM

Originally posted by andrewmaiphoto

So you're saying every time I stroke the lever to advance the film I should see the rewind knob rotate?

Yep.

It is all in the manual (see Oldbayrunner's comment above).

Steve

andrewmaiphoto · 01-06-2014, 08:38 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Yep.

It is all in the manual (see Oldbayrunner's comment above).

Steve

Weird...I don't see it rotate. Im winding the lever right now oh and theres no film in the camera.

cscurrier · 01-06-2014, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by andrewmaiphoto

Weird...I don't see it rotate. Im winding the lever right now oh and theres no film in the camera.

It won't rotate without film loaded in the camera. Next time you load up a roll, make sure it rotates after you close the back and advance to the first frame. If it doesn't, the film may not be loaded correctly.

hks_kansei · 01-06-2014, 11:00 PM

The film starts in the can and as you take photos is wound onto the takeup spool (righthand side of camera when viewed from back)
After you've finished the roll you turn the rewind knob to wind it back onto the original spool inside the canister.
As you take photos the rewind knob should slowly turn the opposite way to the arrow as the film is unwound (it may not do it the first few shots as there is a bit of slack)

The button underneath simply unlocks the takeup spool to allow the film to wind back into the canister (it's a safety thing to prevent accidentally winding back and double exposing shots)

It very much sounds like the film didn't wind onto the takeup properly, it happens to everybody.

The other thing, and please forgive me if this question seems blindingly obvious (but some people have never, ever used film before, so might not be aware)

The film has been developed hasn't it?
You didn't just finish the roll, rewind it, and then take the film out of the canister expecting photos?

(again, sorry if it's obvious, but I've met some people who've never even seen a roll of film, let alone have a concept of how you get images onto it)

01-06-2014, 02:20 AM	#1
andrewmaiphoto New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 11	Getting blanks on my film So I bought a Pentax Asahi Spotmatic F today and loaded some film into it and started shooting to test if it was fully functioning and working after I was done with my roll of film, there were no photos on the film it was like completely blank. The film is quite old I found it in a cupboard which was owned by my dad and it was probably from 2 centuries ago or maybe 3 even. Is the film expired? or something wrong with the camera? The film is Konica Super 100 VX

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Silly film question on my MX	Codazzle	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	8	09-11-2013 12:06 PM
Thing on my Film?	bam431	Film Processing, Scanning, and Darkroom	9	04-07-2012 03:22 PM
Getting started with film... let's talk about the film film!	KeithM2	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	18	02-26-2012 09:22 PM
Problem with my winding the film on my Pentax ME	dawsonscholz	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	4	05-20-2010 02:35 PM
Shooting blanks...	Zeno	Post Your Photos!	9	06-22-2009 01:13 PM

01-06-2014, 03:29 AM	#2
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	I'm not sure about the age of the film. I think quality will detoriate but it should still record something (just a feel, might be wrong though). Did you set the shutterspeed and aperture for correct exposure? It should be very easy to check your camera (no film in it). Take the lens of and shoot while looking in the mount. Does the mirror go up and down when you shoot? Does the shutter open and close? You can also shoot while the back is open and look completely through the camera to see what happens.

01-06-2014, 03:30 AM	#3
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911	Sounds like it probably wasn't winding the film on. Did the rewind knob on the left turn every time you advanced a frame? This is very important to check on a film camera as it's a common problem, indicating that the film wasn't loaded properly. Even with a very old film I'd expect some kind of image, though if you exposed it at box speed it would probably come out very under-exposed.

01-06-2014, 03:44 AM	#4
andrewmaiphoto New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Originally posted by sterretje I'm not sure about the age of the film. I think quality will detoriate but it should still record something (just a feel, might be wrong though). Did you set the shutterspeed and aperture for correct exposure? It should be very easy to check your camera (no film in it). Take the lens of and shoot while looking in the mount. Does the mirror go up and down when you shoot? Does the shutter open and close? You can also shoot while the back is open and look completely through the camera to see what happens. Yup Ive done all that and checked. Might see whats gonna happen when I buy fresh film.

01-06-2014, 03:53 AM	#5
andrewmaiphoto New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac Sounds like it probably wasn't winding the film on. Did the rewind knob on the left turn every time you advanced a frame? This is very important to check on a film camera as it's a common problem, indicating that the film wasn't loaded properly. Even with a very old film I'd expect some kind of image, though if you exposed it at box speed it would probably come out very under-exposed. isnt the knob to advance frame on the right? and to rewind after you're done on the left? :S

01-06-2014, 04:55 AM	#6
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	What do you mean it was blank? Was it as if it was never used, or was it burned out, completely white overexposure? It could be possible that you made a mistake when getting the film back into the canister. I am not sure about that specific camera model, but some SLRs require a button combination when you rewind the film, or they will overexpose everything. Try finding a manual for that camera

01-06-2014, 11:26 AM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Na Horuk but some SLRs require a button combination when you rewind the film, or they will overexpose everything. Huh? To the OP...Have you confirmed that the shutter is operational? You can do that by dry firing the shutter with the back open and looking forward through the lens from the back (aperture full open) at a bright scene. Even at the top speed you should see light through lens. Repeat for all speeds. If the shutter is opening, the above comments regarding fail to wind onto the take-up spool apply. Everyone who has ever owned a 35mm film camera has had that problem at least once. Steve

01-06-2014, 11:32 AM	#8
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by andrewmaiphoto isnt the knob to advance frame on the right? and to rewind after you're done on the left? :S Ummmm...yes, but the rewind knob should rotate with each stroke of the wind lever. If it doesn't, that is an indication that the film is not being taken up by the wind spool. Steve

01-06-2014, 01:29 PM - 1 Like	#9
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	In case you dont have one, here's a copy of the manual http://www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_spotmatic_f.pdf

01-06-2014, 04:08 PM	#10
andrewmaiphoto New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Huh? To the OP...Have you confirmed that the shutter is operational? You can do that by dry firing the shutter with the back open and looking forward through the lens from the back (aperture full open) at a bright scene. Even at the top speed you should see light through lens. Repeat for all speeds. If the shutter is opening, the above comments regarding fail to wind onto the take-up spool apply. Everyone who has ever owned a 35mm film camera has had that problem at least once. Steve Yes the shutter has opened for every speed and seems totally fine and operational

01-06-2014, 04:09 PM	#11
andrewmaiphoto New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Ummmm...yes, but the rewind knob should rotate with each stroke of the wind lever. If it doesn't, that is an indication that the film is not being taken up by the wind spool. Steve So you're saying every time I stroke the lever to advance the film I should see the rewind knob rotate? Right now Im out of film and cant test that out.

01-06-2014, 07:30 PM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by andrewmaiphoto So you're saying every time I stroke the lever to advance the film I should see the rewind knob rotate? Yep. It is all in the manual (see Oldbayrunner's comment above). Steve

01-06-2014, 08:38 PM	#13
andrewmaiphoto New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Yep. It is all in the manual (see Oldbayrunner's comment above). Steve Weird...I don't see it rotate. Im winding the lever right now oh and theres no film in the camera.

01-06-2014, 09:06 PM	#14
cscurrier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bellingham, WA Photos: Gallery Posts: 280	Originally posted by andrewmaiphoto Weird...I don't see it rotate. Im winding the lever right now oh and theres no film in the camera. It won't rotate without film loaded in the camera. Next time you load up a roll, make sure it rotates after you close the back and advance to the first frame. If it doesn't, the film may not be loaded correctly.

01-06-2014, 11:00 PM	#15
hks_kansei Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 834	The film starts in the can and as you take photos is wound onto the takeup spool (righthand side of camera when viewed from back) After you've finished the roll you turn the rewind knob to wind it back onto the original spool inside the canister. As you take photos the rewind knob should slowly turn the opposite way to the arrow as the film is unwound (it may not do it the first few shots as there is a bit of slack) The button underneath simply unlocks the takeup spool to allow the film to wind back into the canister (it's a safety thing to prevent accidentally winding back and double exposing shots) It very much sounds like the film didn't wind onto the takeup properly, it happens to everybody. The other thing, and please forgive me if this question seems blindingly obvious (but some people have never, ever used film before, so might not be aware) The film has been developed hasn't it? You didn't just finish the roll, rewind it, and then take the film out of the canister expecting photos? (again, sorry if it's obvious, but I've met some people who've never even seen a roll of film, let alone have a concept of how you get images onto it)