Should you advance film immediately after a shot on a camera with manual, uncoupled advance?
Asked 1/1/2021
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On cameras where film advance is not automatically linked to the shutter, is it better to wind to the next frame immediately after taking a photo, or wait until you're ready for the next shot? I want to avoid confusion that could cause a double exposure or a skipped frame, but I also don't want to leave the camera cocked unnecessarily if that could stress the mechanism.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
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When I was shooting film, I always immediately advanced and cocked to be ready for a quick shot.
Inadvertent double exposures were not possible on my camera as cocking was default coupled to film advance. Similarly wasting a frame by double advancing was not possible either, you couldn't advance without triggering the shutter.
On the rare instances where I accidentally triggered the shutter with the lens cap on while putting it away, I enabled the intentional double exposure capability, allowing me to cock the shutter without advancing the film.
Now with digital, it's more, "Why won't ... or yeah ... off!"
Originally by user77199. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user77199
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A good rule is: be consistent, and avoid leaving the camera cocked for long periods.
From the answers, many photographers advanced right after each shot so the camera was ready for the next opportunity. That reduces delay and makes it less likely you’ll miss a moment. But if your camera’s shutter is cocked as part of that process, leaving it cocked for extended storage is generally best avoided, since sustained spring tension can be hard on some mechanisms.
So the practical approach is:
- During active shooting: advance after each shot so you’re ready.
- Before putting the camera away for a long time: leave it uncocked.
The exact behavior depends on the camera design, and some models prevent accidental double advance or double exposure while others do not. If yours uses a red window or a more manual loading/advance system, consistency matters even more. Pick one habit and stick with it so you always know the camera’s state.
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