Left lens cap on - can I recover the frames?

<p>I got a Mamiya 6 about 2 months ago, and just took it on vacation (along with a digital) for my first major use. Of the first 8 rolls I shot, thought, I had 3-4 frames lost because (sigh) I didn't take off the stupid lens cap. TTL has spoiled me, I fear. I've already gotten to the point where I check everything one last time before hitting the shutter, which is the best solution. My question, though, is if I miss in the future, is there a way to get the camera to let me take a photo again without advancing the film, so I can make full use of my roll - or is this just one of those losses I have to use as a spur to make myself do it by the checklist everytime?</p>

<p>Got the manual handy? Usually one can set the camera to take multiple shots on one frame. But in some you have to set this beforehand, in some after the first shot; so look into your manual ...</p>

<p>You don't have to ever miss in the future. Glue a strip of semi-flexible plastic to the lens cap that extends far enough from the cap to be visible in the viewfinder and block part of the view. Whenever you put the lens cap on, you have to make sure to orient the cap so that the strip blocks the view. It's easy to remember to use the right orientation, because you have the cap in your hand with this weird extra strip of plastic on it. Sometimes, I've just used several layers of electrical tape to construct the strip.</p>

<p>Great idea, Hector! If I ever get another rangefinder camera I'll remember this!</p>

Don't use a lens cap. If you can't stop worrying about the glass, then use a high quality UV filter (B+W mrc) instead of the cap. 100% fix.

<p>Not really a 100% fix. When you consider that a lens cap keeps the glass clear of fingerprints, dust, lint, splashes, grease marks -- all the stuff that can happen to a camera in any normal day of use, in and out of camera bags and weather - then an unprotected UV filter on a well-used camera will very quickly get dirty and scratched beyond usefulness. </p>

<p>Leaving the lens cap on is something that I'll guess most rangefinder shooters have done once. But usually only once - it tends not to be a mistake that is repeated. I suspect the problem won't arise again.</p>

<p>Put on a skylight filter and don't be sloppy. 90% fix. Mr. Farmham, one of my photo teachers back in Dallas 1978, used to tell us during every single class (young dudes and gals) "You can't be too careful in photography"</p>

<p>Unless you are dropping your camera often in the mud or sand or have metal objects bouncing around in your bag next to your lens, you won't scratch the UV filter. And <strong>even if</strong> you manage to scratch it, no normal scratch on the filter (or even on the front element of the lens) will ever show up on the final image (ok, maybe, just maybe, on a super close focusing macro lens it might. And only if the scratch is truly horrific). You can replace/clean the UV filter way easier than the front element, and with less stress. But, if you are shooting in wet weather/blowing sand, you really should use a UV filter for protection.</p>

<p>And heck, except for weather protection, the coating on the front element of modern lenses is so tough that I don't use any clear filters on some lenses. Even the best multi-coated filters add some potential level of flare.</p>

<p>However, on my leica lenses, I can't bear <strong>not</strong> to use a filter just because the lenses are so spendy. This is an emotional decision, not a rational one. With a cold analytic viewpoint, to spend big bucks on leica glass only to add a level of image degradation in the front is rather dumb.</p>

<p>I have used cameras very heavily as a pro wedding photographer and amateur photojournalist. Trust me on this. It's much worse to get no image at all.</p>

<p>To answer the question you asked, the Mamiya 6 does not have any simple way of doing this. If you leave the cap on, you have lost those frames. </p>

<p>The question I'd be asking myself is when you find out you've wasted the frames, and how many you've wasted by the time you discover it? I sometimes find out at the end of work at that particular location when putting th egear away. Sometimes I find out when I pick up my negs and contacts and note that a few of my contacts are black. In short you can only re-use the frame if you find out before you take another shot, and for me at least that would be unusual . Most times I find out too late.<br>

I don't want to use a filter instead of a cap. First because if I put something on the front of a lens then it tends to be because I want to achieve something with the image. I certainly don't want to keep cleaning a protection filter, or remember to unscrew the protection filter before I shoot. If i want to use a red/orange/polariser or whatever. Frankly I think I'd just end up with a pile of vignetted photographs and more flare. I think Hector's idea sounds smart, though there's a little part of me that thinks that actually, I deserve to lose the film since I've screwed up and possibly cost myself some important shots.. </p>

<p>Love the bit about "it'll happen once and not again". Not in my case sadly- probably because I'm thinking "picture" and not "camera". </p>

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<p>In short you can only re-use the frame if you find out before you take another shot, and for me at least that would be unusual .</p>

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<p>Not with the Mamiya 6. Once you've released the shutter, that frame is done.</p>

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<p>So, what we are saying here, is that the Mamiya 6 has NO double exposure capability in the simplistic & traditional sense.<br>

Jim</p>

<p>Well I'm saying that. "We" seems to be a party of one. </p>

<p>Jeff. You're right. I assumed that because my 7ii has multiple exposure then the 6 would have too, and I should have checked because it doesn't.</p>

<p>The Mamiya 7 doesn't have double exposure either. The 7ii changed that.</p>

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<p>I have used cameras very heavily as a pro wedding photographer and amateur photojournalist. Trust me on this. It's much worse to get no image at all.</p>

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<p>Sure - you and me both. By all means please do whatever you like. But you won't catch me using one - and if you'd seen the state of my lens caps you'd know why.</p>