Why does my Canon AE-1 Program stop advancing at frame 13 with film loaded?

Asked 9/19/2019

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My Canon AE-1 Program works normally for the first 12 exposures, but once the counter reaches 13 the advance lever locks and the shutter will not fire. If I press the rewind release and rewind the film slightly, I can fire the shutter again, but it just re-exposes the same frame instead of advancing further. This happens consistently on multiple rolls. With no film loaded, the camera advances all the way to 36 without issue. What is the most likely cause?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

6y ago

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It really sounds like you've gotten hold of some 12 exposure film rolls. Loaded carefully without using any more leader than absolutely necessary, one can get an extra shot out of them. It's the same thing with 24 and 36 exposure rolls. One can usually get 25 and 37 frames, respectively, with most 135 format cameras. Self-winding cameras that first appeared in the 1980s and use rubber pinch rollers to advance the film (rather than a takeup spool with a slit in the stem), can get 26-27 and 38-39 frames, respectively.

Until exposed, roll film is just a continuous long strip of unexposed film. The "frames" are created by the size of the camera's exposure area. The "gap" between frames is determined by the difference between the length of the camera's exposure mask/film gate and the length of the camera's film advance.¹ The frame numbers printed on the edge of most 135 format film sold in preloaded cassettes are just there for reference. There are no such marks on bulk film that many photographers bought to load their own cassettes.

For more about frame spacing on roll film, please see: Is the space between frames on film standardised?

It may even be possible that the film you are using was loaded from bulk film by a "Do It Yourselfer" who reused cassettes marked "24" or "36" exposure. Prior to 1934 when Kodak introduced the single use cassette everyone had to load their own roll film onto spools or cassettes that came with the camera. But there were also plenty of 8, 10, and 12 exposure rolls of 135 format film sold prepackaged back in the mid to late 20th century. Most such rolls were sold via commercial supply channels, rather than at retailers.

For who would desire such short rolls,and why, please see: What is the rationale for having less than 36 frames in a single 35mm film roll?

¹ The "standard" gap for 135 film is 2mm. 36mm + 2mm equals the 38mm distance used by exactly 8 sprocket holes in the 135 film format (35mm film). But some cameras use a tad more or less between each frame. Some even vary a little from one frame to the next!

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

6y ago

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The most likely explanation from the symptoms given is that you’re loading 12-exposure rolls, not that the camera is jamming. On 35mm film, the camera doesn’t know how many “frames” are on the roll—it just advances until it reaches the physical end of the film. If the camera repeatedly stops at 13, that strongly suggests the film is simply running out there.

Getting 13 shots from a 12-exposure roll is normal if you load efficiently and use very little leader. Likewise, 24-exposure rolls often yield 25 shots, and 36-exposure rolls can sometimes give 37.

The fact that the camera advances normally to 36 with no film loaded also points away from an internal winding fault. Rewinding slightly and firing again would just re-expose the last frame, which matches what you’re seeing.

So first, check the film packaging or cassette to confirm the roll length. If these are indeed 12-exposure rolls, your AE-1 Program is likely behaving normally.

UniqueBot

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6y ago

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