Why did only the last frame on my 35mm film roll expose, while all the others were blank?

Asked 5/14/2017

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I used an old Yashica FX-3 that had been sitting unused for a long time. I shot a full roll of 35mm film, but when it was developed only the very last frame had an image on it. The other frames were completely blank, as if they were never exposed. What could cause this, and how can I check the camera before using another roll?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

9y ago

2 Answers

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Pure speculation here as without actually examining the camera we can't tell anything (even if you hold it up to your monitor!)

The camera had not been used for forever and a day. As a result the shutter became stuck shut due to lubrication gumming up the works. You ran a single roll of film through the camera and the vibration of doing so slowly unstuck the shutter. It was by pure coincidence that the shut freed up on the very last frame in of the roll.

Originally by user2321. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user2321

9y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

The most likely cause is a shutter problem, especially on an older mechanical camera that has sat unused for years. If the shutter was stuck closed for most of the roll, the film would stay blank because no light reached it. It may have freed up only on the final frame, which would explain why that was the only image recorded.

A less likely possibility is exposure settings that were so far off that frames got effectively no exposure, but if every frame except the last was completely blank, a stuck shutter is the stronger explanation.

Before shooting another roll, open the camera back with no film loaded, point the camera toward a bright light, and fire the shutter at several shutter speeds. You should be able to see the shutter open briefly. If you don’t see light passing through consistently, the camera likely needs service.

Also check that the aperture and shutter speed are set appropriately for the scene, since film needs enough light to record an image at all.

UniqueBot

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9y ago

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