Help! Loaded Film Wrong

I have a FujiFilm DL 290 Zoom - I put the film in wrong as the shot counter is blank. I thought it might have just been the camera slowly dying, or the battery dying as its quite old - so I took a few photos with it (not sure if it was actually taking any, but the flash was going off). On the user manual it says that if the shot counter is blank that the film was put in incorrectly and needs to be reloaded.

 

Is there anyway to save this film? Should I rewind it in a dark room and reuse it? Was it actually taking photos, and should I just keep going until the film rolls back itself?

 

Thanks in advance!! Newbie if you couldn't tell.

If the film isn't winding, then it should be possible to save it. You won't have taken any photos.

 

In a dark place, I suggest under your bed covers, with the lights off, open the back of the camera and carefully feel inside. If you can feel the shaped leader of the film, then it was not loaded and you can turn the lights on and load it correctly. If, however, you can feel smooth film all the way across the back of the camera, close the camera back up and take it to a photo shop.

 

If in doubt or if you think there are important photos, take it to a shop without opening it yourself.

 

Good luck.

If in doubt or if you think there are important photos, take it to a shop without opening it yourself.

Taking important photos on a camera of unknown viability, and that you're unfamiliar with, would be very foolish.

 

In fact taking important photos using film at all these days would be quite foolish.

Taking important photos on a camera of unknown viability, and that you're unfamiliar with, would be very foolish.

 

Agreed.

 

In fact taking important photos using film at all these days would be quite foolish.

 

Nonsense!

Nonsense!

OK.

Scenario: One off occasion that you simply have to get pictures of - a wedding for example.

Which medium does the sensible photographer choose?

A digital camera, where the pictures can be instantly verified to be correctly exposed, composed and focussed while being stored on duplicate memory cards.

Or film, where none of the above can be verified at the point of shooting, and which carries the additional risk of being ruined during processing.

 

And don't tell me that processing cock-ups, loss of film in transit and bad film batches never happen!

You said, "taking important photos using film at all these days would be quite foolish".

This is complete nonsense and you know it ;-)

 

Of course there are times when digital is the choice to make. Your added example - professional event photography - being a good example. But to go back to your original claim, it is of course untrue, and there are many, many photographers, every day, (still) (thankfully) choosing to make certain important photos with film.

 

Let's not discourage anyone from shooting film by making these silly unnecessary statements.

Edited September 18, 2020 by Colin O

I seem to recall the "good old days" when shooting digital instead of film was considered foolish. Time flies!

 

Anyway, take a look at B&H Photo Video Digital Cameras, Photography, Camcorders and see if you can find a light-proof darkroom bag and use it to change film. Anyone shooting film should have one of these, anyway. Good luck!

You said, "taking important photos using film at all these days would be quite foolish".

This is complete nonsense and you know it ;-)

After more than 40 years shooting film and about 20 shooting digital, I have a pretty good idea which is more reliable. So not nonsense at all. Complete sense.

 

If someone wants to mess about with film for fun and doesn't care whether the pictures 'come out' or not, that's fine by me.

I seem to recall the "good old days" when shooting digital instead of film was considered foolish.

I remember some closed-minded reactionaries making such claims, but very little evidence to support them.

Edited September 19, 2020 by rodeo_joe|1

Important photos are on 8X10 transparencies :) . Pity I can only use and afford 4x5 Provia . Peter

Can’t agree Joe. I’ve been at this since I was maybe 14 so 40-odd years. Most of that time I didn’t hope it would be correct, I had no doubt and still don’t. I covered many news assignments and a couple hundred weddings confident that I had it right. Digital took a little adjustMent but I quit chimping a good while back. I will still consider shooting something important on film, digital is faster but so what? It’s a bit boring as well.

Rick H.

I will still consider shooting something important on film, digital is faster but so what? It’s a bit boring as well.

Ah, the thrill of the gamble!

 

Are you saying you've never had a mishap with film? If so, you're extremely lucky. And I'll freely admit to having screwed up myself or having a processing lab screw up for me.

 

There's a big difference between 'chimping' and checking everything is correct.

 

I keep hearing this 'film slows me down' mantra. It's pure nonsense. You can take your time using any medium you like.

Edited September 24, 2020 by rodeo_joe|1

I once was a second shooter at a wedding and it wasn't until I got up to shot 38 that I realized I hadn't put film in the camera that the main shooter gave me. How embarrassing. At least my digital camera tells me, "No SD card inserted, butt head." (Yeah, I know - watch that the take up lever turns when advancing film.)

I once was a second shooter at a wedding and it wasn't until I got up to shot 38 that I realized I hadn't put film in the camera that the main shooter gave me. How embarrassing. At least my digital camera tells me, "No SD card inserted, butt head." (Yeah, I know - watch that the take up lever turns when advancing film.)

Been there, done that! Good thing my goddaughter had a professional photographer at her wedding. I didn't check the take-up reel.

Shot half an event at ISO 12800?

 

Just convince the client that grainy monochrome is 'in'

 

Easy enough mistake to make with modern cameras that will go to 1/8000 on the mechanical shutter alone.

 

(Fortunately, never done it on a paying job, yet...)

Shot half an event at ISO 12800?

Not that high, but I did leave my D700 at ISO 3200 in bright sunlight after shooting in overcast drizzle two days earlier. Didn't even notice any drop in quality, but did mentally kick myself for not checking and resetting it.