How can I safely unload stuck film from a Contax RTS after rewinding the wrong way?
Asked 4/30/2020
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I’m new to film cameras and was shooting a 36-exposure roll in a Contax RTS. At the end of the roll, I accidentally turned the rewind crank the wrong way and also forgot to press the rewind release button first. After that, I opened the camera back to check and noticed the film was torn a little at the edge. I then pressed the rewind button and tried rewinding correctly, but the film still would not move.
Did rewinding the wrong way without pressing the release button likely damage anything in the camera? What is the safest way to unload the film now without causing more damage to the camera or losing the remaining frames?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
3
Well, first up, any film that is not in the can already is now junk. Film is sensitive to light, after all, and we measure exposures in fractions of a second during the day. Cracking the back to see what's going on cannot be done fast enough to not overexpose to oblivion.
Any frames that were successfully rewound back into the can will be okay and can be developed. Anything left out is now garbage.
In the future, if you think there is a problem, use either a change bag (lightproof bag) or a 100% lightproof room. An interior closet, at night, in a dark house, with the windows closed...is usually sufficient. Sit there for 5 minutes to let your eyes adjust - if you don't see any light, then crack the back of the camera. If you do see light, then it's still too much light to work! Also, make sure your phone is in another room for this.
And yes, you are reading this correctly: you need to figure out what is wrong with your camera in complete and total darkness if you want to salvage any film that you've exposed. This is why knowing your gear inside and out is critical. By the way, here's your manual: https://www.cameramanuals.org/contax/contax_rts.pdf and here's the donate page for the gent that hosts it: https://www.butkus.org/chinon/contax/contax_rts/contax_rts.htm
Cool. Now that that is out of the way, let's move onto your stuck film:
The camera doesn't have a "rewind button machine" that does anything automatically. It has a button that, when pressed, disengages the film advance mechanism so that the film can be rewound. According to your manual, you should only have to press the button to get the mechanism to allow the film to rewind. That being said, the first thing you should do is hold it down if the film advance mechanism is not allowing the uptake spool to move in reverse.
Because the rewind button disengages when the film advance lever is used, make sure the film advance lever is not partially cranked. If the shutter mechanism is cocked, shoot the frame. Attempt to rewind again holding the button if necessary.
If the film still isn't rewinding then try this: Hold the button down and gently pull the film back toward the can. Many new shooters get a little too powerful with the film advance lever and, after the last frame, they manage to pull the film right off the inside of the reel. Since it is this reel inside the can that spins to roll the film back up, if you've ripped the film off this reel then spinning the rewind crank handle will do nothing. So, attempt to get the film off the take-up spool by simply pulling it with your fingers.
If this still doesn't work, then cut your film out of the camera.
Once all of the film is out of the camera, do a function check on film advance and rewind. Grab a roll of film that you'll sacrifice and load it into the camera - keep the camera back open. Run through advancing every frame and then, once at the end, go through your rewind procedure.
If everything works, then you're good to go. Pending what works above, you may have ripped the film off the spool or suffered it getting bent and stuck in the take-up spool. The first is something you learn to not do - you'll get a feeling for when you are at the end of the roll based on feel when attempting to advance the film. The second usually happens earlier in a role due to improperly loading, but could happen near the end as well if you get particularly zippy with the advance and cause the film to jump a sprocket. Again, this is solved through experience.
If something doesn't work along the way, then a mechanism in the camera will need some professional attention. Look for camera repair and get it CLA'ed (Cleaned, Lubed, Adjusted). If it needs more than that, the repair shop will let you know. Be prepared to spend more than the value of the camera to get it fixed up.
Originally by user67377. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user67377
6y ago
0
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Opening the camera back in light likely ruined any film that was still outside the canister. Frames already rewound into the cassette should still be fine to process.
The safest next step is to remove the film only in complete darkness: use a changing bag or a truly lightproof room. Once your eyes adjust and you can confirm there is no light, open the camera and gently free the film by hand rather than forcing the rewind crank.
Rewinding the wrong way without pressing the release may have jammed the film, but forcing it risks tearing the film further. The torn edge you saw may be why it no longer rewinds normally.
So: don’t force the mechanism, and unload it manually in total darkness. After the film is out, check whether the camera advances and rewinds normally with no film loaded. If it still seems stuck, the camera may need service.
For future problems like this, never open the back in light; use a changing bag or dark room first.
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