Why would a 35mm negative strip scan upside down and in reverse frame order?
Asked 8/16/2017
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I’m scanning a 35mm family negative strip and found one roll that looks odd. The frame numbers on the film appear normal, but the pictures scan upside down, and the shooting order seems reversed: the image in frame 2 was taken before the image in frame 1, and the first photo taken is near the end of the roll while the last photo taken is near the start. Could this happen from incorrect camera loading, a camera design that transports film differently, or is it more likely a scanning/orientation issue?
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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Some models of 35mm film cameras, upon loading advance all the film from the cassette on to a take-up spool. For these models, the first picture is taken on the end of roll, likely about frame # 36 or # 24. As you take pictures, the film advance actually rewinds the film back into the cassette. This scheme was used on a few models, it protected exposed film from accidental damage should the camera back be accidently opened.
The other stuff, upside down or even inverted left for right might be due to the film inserted upside down in the scanner.
Lots of strange stuff in this business!
Addendum: As a veteran of the photofinishing business I think I have seen it all. The one that was most weird. The film was loaded so the base side faced the lens. The photographer over-exposed so heavily, printable images were exposed through the base side. The images were inverted left to right.
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, this can happen without any manufacturing defect. Some 35mm cameras load by pulling the entire roll out of the cassette first, then each shot rewinds one frame back into the cartridge. In those cameras, the first photo taken ends up near the highest frame number and later photos appear progressively closer to frame 0. That reverse shooting order is normal for that design.
The upside-down appearance is most likely from how the negatives were placed in the scanner, or from a camera/disposable design that transported the film in an unusual orientation. Disposable and some compact cameras could run film in the opposite direction or with the cassette positioned differently from a typical 35mm camera.
Incorrectly loading a normal 35mm cassette literally upside down in a standard 35mm camera is generally unlikely, because the cassette and film path are keyed to fit one way.
So the most likely explanation is: reverse frame order from the camera’s transport design, and upside-down scans from scanner/film orientation rather than a film defect.
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