Blank Roll of Film Except for One Frame

<p>I've been in the digital photography world for about 3 years and just decided to try my hand at film when I found a minolta XG7 in mint physical condition for a ridiculously good price (turned out shutter was stuck). I purchased Fuji Superia X-tra 400 film. I shot all 24 frames and took it to be developed but when I went to pick it up the guy told me that it was blank except for 1 frame... 1-19 and 21-24 were all blank (by blank I mean unexposed) and the only frame that turned out was number 20. Before I shot anything I took the camera to be repaired (shutter was stuck) but after repairs it appeared to be working perfectly fine, shutter fires no problem. Could this be user error? Or camera malfunction? </p>

<p>An XG7 was the first real camera I bought, back in the day. It worked through more than 20 years of abuse, but when it failed it was the meter. Do you have another camera that you can verify meter accuracy against?<br>

<br />EDIT: When mine failed, it failed intermittently. Some frames would still be good. </p>

<p>Would it be possibly to verify with my DSLR? Not sure if film meters and digital meters are the same... I know nothing about film.</p>

<p>I did notice that sometimes the meter registers in the view finder and other times it doesn't.</p>

<p>Your digital camera's meter should agree within 1/2 stop of your film camera's meter provided they both have single focal length lens that are not telephoto.</p>

<p>Sunny 16 says that 1/film speed or closest shutter speed to it at f16 will produce a good exposure in bright sun, 1/film speed at f8 in open shade. You can always reference the shutter speed/f stop you are using to this rule to see if the exposure you have selected is reasonably good. Search engine Sunny 16 for the complete technically accurate version.</p>

<p>I suspect that the camera's shutter is not operating properly with film in the camera. Completely blank film except for the rebate markings says the film was never exposed. A grossly under exposed subject/scene should leave a ghost image that may be difficult to see. I have had to hold film at an angle to a bright light source to see some ghost images. Another possibility is you left the lens cap on but with a SLR you would notice that immediately.</p>

<p>Take the camera and bad roll of film to the repairman.</p>

<p>If the frames are truly blank, and not with faint images in them, then the camera wasn't repaired properly. You can open the back and take a few shots to see if the shutter is opening. If you see light through the lens, the shutter has opened.</p>

<p>"in mint physical condition for a ridiculously good price (turned out shutter was stuck)."<br /><br />If the shutter was stuck, it wasn't in mint condition. :) <br /><br />For a camera this old and non-functioning, if you had not already taken it to a repairman, I would have advised you to trash it and look for another one. But since you've spent your money on the repair I would take it back to the repairman and ask him make good on it. But if he wants more money, cut your losses.</p>

<p>My brand new FM in 1979 locked up completely after a few rolls. Mint condition is no guarantee against a bad shutter. After an authorized repair, it never had a problem again. </p>

<p>Yes, the DSLR will be close enough to use as a meter. </p>

<p>As for testing with the back open, I now have a Nikon FE2. Seems that it doesn't turn the meter on until the exposure counter gets to 1. Fortunately, I read about that before trying it. </p>