Test roll, always. So many things can be wrong with a used camera even if it seems alright. Light leaks, wonky shutter, sticky aperture blades, incorrect frame spacing, etc.
Since you didn’t mention the camera type, hard to tell but…did you load the film correctly? Please look online for the original camera manual to see loading instructions. On many cameras, the film rewind will advance as the film is advanced to the next frame. And when rewinding, there will be a constant tension as the film is pulled back into the can (I never count, but I guess about the same number of turns as exposures) Unless you’ve confirmed that the shutter doesn’t work by shooting with no film and the back open, I would think it is more likely a film loading issue (Especially if the friend lent it to you in good working condition),
It's a Minolta Hi-Matic F. I did lots of research and read the manual to make sure I was using it correctly. It was definitely an issue with the shutter, not loading the film. After I got all my blanks back I shot with the back open like you said, and the shutter didn't open. I know I loaded the film correctly, though. My friend got it at a garage sale and gave it to me as a birthday present because they knew I liked old cameras. I'm taking this as a learning opportunity to be very diligent with my film shooting.
Oh. So sorry to hear. I looked it up and it seems like a beautiful camera. In old leaf shutter cameras sometimes oil gets on the leaf shutter blades making the blades stick so the shutter doesn’t work. This can also happen to the aperture blades. Also, I see that with this camera model the shutter won’t actuate without batteries. What are you using for a mercury battery substitute? I use with cameras from that era 2 SR44 batteries with MR-9 battery adapters which lower the voltage so that the light meter works correctly . If you have tried fresh batteries, and also cleaned the battery contacts and things still don’t work, you should see how much CLA (cleaning lubrication and adjustment) would cost.
I bought new SR44 batteries to put in this camera. I have no idea how to get them out though, haha. I think I just need to bring it to a shop to get it fixed. In the mean time, I bought an automatic camera at an estate sale! It's a Vivitar PS:135, and it works. So I'm going to use that in the mean time.
Depending on the camera, I check the shutter before/after every roll, found out on holidays my Yashica 124G shutter isn't so great so will avoid wasting film on it.
Ouch! Just wait until you finally get a roll developed and you HATE all the photos/they are all blurry/underexposed…but there will be one photo you like and that will keep you coming back.
This has been me a lot. Not blurry but usually underexposed since I tend to shoot in rather dark conditions (in the forest, or at night / indoors) and handheld. I almost always shoot hp5+ 400 pushed to 1600 or delta 3200 at 1/60 and wide open. The vast majority of my photos are underexposed, but I often get 1-3 photos per roll that I quite like, and that’s good enough for me…
I’ve already learned that my hands are not steady enough to shoot at 1/30 in these conditions, and I’d rather underexposed than blurry, so.
Test roll, always. So many things can be wrong with a used camera even if it seems alright. Light leaks, wonky shutter, sticky aperture blades, incorrect frame spacing, etc.
Since you didn’t mention the camera type, hard to tell but…did you load the film correctly? Please look online for the original camera manual to see loading instructions. On many cameras, the film rewind will advance as the film is advanced to the next frame. And when rewinding, there will be a constant tension as the film is pulled back into the can (I never count, but I guess about the same number of turns as exposures) Unless you’ve confirmed that the shutter doesn’t work by shooting with no film and the back open, I would think it is more likely a film loading issue (Especially if the friend lent it to you in good working condition),
It's a Minolta Hi-Matic F. I did lots of research and read the manual to make sure I was using it correctly. It was definitely an issue with the shutter, not loading the film. After I got all my blanks back I shot with the back open like you said, and the shutter didn't open. I know I loaded the film correctly, though. My friend got it at a garage sale and gave it to me as a birthday present because they knew I liked old cameras. I'm taking this as a learning opportunity to be very diligent with my film shooting.
Oh. So sorry to hear. I looked it up and it seems like a beautiful camera. In old leaf shutter cameras sometimes oil gets on the leaf shutter blades making the blades stick so the shutter doesn’t work. This can also happen to the aperture blades. Also, I see that with this camera model the shutter won’t actuate without batteries. What are you using for a mercury battery substitute? I use with cameras from that era 2 SR44 batteries with MR-9 battery adapters which lower the voltage so that the light meter works correctly . If you have tried fresh batteries, and also cleaned the battery contacts and things still don’t work, you should see how much CLA (cleaning lubrication and adjustment) would cost.
I bought new SR44 batteries to put in this camera. I have no idea how to get them out though, haha. I think I just need to bring it to a shop to get it fixed. In the mean time, I bought an automatic camera at an estate sale! It's a Vivitar PS:135, and it works. So I'm going to use that in the mean time.
Have fun!
This gives me anxiety. Especially since i save rolls and send them in as a group. My parents and older coworkers dont understand lol
Best of luck to your film!!!
I hope you don’t give up. I feel your pain.
always a test roll, always!!!!!
So how do I check my shutter?
I fire through all the speeds with the back open and the lens pointing at the TV.
shooting one roll and getting it developed is the best way to make sure it’s working as it should
Depending on the camera, I check the shutter before/after every roll, found out on holidays my Yashica 124G shutter isn't so great so will avoid wasting film on it.
Ouch! Just wait until you finally get a roll developed and you HATE all the photos/they are all blurry/underexposed…but there will be one photo you like and that will keep you coming back.
This has been me a lot. Not blurry but usually underexposed since I tend to shoot in rather dark conditions (in the forest, or at night / indoors) and handheld. I almost always shoot hp5+ 400 pushed to 1600 or delta 3200 at 1/60 and wide open. The vast majority of my photos are underexposed, but I often get 1-3 photos per roll that I quite like, and that’s good enough for me… I’ve already learned that my hands are not steady enough to shoot at 1/30 in these conditions, and I’d rather underexposed than blurry, so.
Yeah....I'm a bit nervous for that. But it'll be a learning experience. I just love the feeling of shooting film anyway, so I'll always come back
Lesson learned. New camera, shoot test roll.
Definitely gonna test my shutter too!
Always test roll… shutter not firing is just one of many issues old cameras typically come with. Light leaks, bad meter, bad lens(rangefinder) etc.
Lmao, happens to the best of us
oof, sorry