Can I open a film camera in complete darkness to check whether the film advanced?
Asked 3/23/2026
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I’m concerned that the film in my camera may not be advancing properly. Is it safe to open the camera in complete darkness to check whether the film is loaded and attached to the take-up spool, and how can I do this without ruining the film?
Originally by Ricky. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Ricky
2mo ago
2 Answers
12
Yes, it is certainly safe to open a film camera in total darkness. You should be able to feel if the film is in place and firmly attached to the take-up spool. Make sure that you close the camera properly before taking it into the light again.
Note that it takes considerable effort to obtain total darkness. If you can see even a small chink of light, it is probably not dark enough.
Alternatively, on many film cameras it is possible to check if the film is advancing without opening the camera. Turn the rewind knob gently (in the rewind direction) until resistance is felt. This takes up any slack in the film. Then advance the film one frame while watching the rewind knob. If the film is advancing correctly, then the rewind knob will turn as the film advances.
Of course, this method works only on cameras with a manual rewind knob.
Originally by Tom Axford. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Tom Axford
2mo ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — opening the camera in truly complete darkness is generally safe, and you can feel whether the film is properly attached and under tension. The key is that the darkness must be absolute; even tiny light leaks can fog film. A changing bag is ideal, but a very well-sealed improvised setup may work. If using a dark room, give your eyes time to dark-adapt so you can spot any stray light before opening the camera.
Be sure to close the camera securely before bringing it back into the light.
Before opening the camera, many film cameras let you check film advance from the outside: gently turn the rewind knob in the rewind direction until you feel resistance, then advance one frame while watching the rewind knob. If the film is advancing correctly, the rewind knob should rotate as the film moves. This is usually the safest first check and avoids opening the camera at all.
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