My uncle told me to always check the film door before loading

He's been shooting film since the 70s and said, 'If you don't see the take-up spool move when you advance the lever, stop.' I loaded a roll of Portra 400 last week, shot the whole thing, and felt that sick feeling when I rewound it in three seconds. The film never caught. I lost 36 shots of my kid's birthday. Has anyone else had this happen, and how do you make sure it's loaded right?

3 comments

3 Comments

linda_perry1426d ago

Ugh, that's the worst feeling. I always watch the rewind knob turn a little when I advance the first two shots. If it doesn't move, I know it's not caught. What's your go-to check before you start shooting?

brookepark11d ago

Remember when I thought checking the spool was a waste of time? I shot a whole roll at a family reunion once and the film never caught. Now I watch that rewind knob like a hawk for the first few winds. It's the only way to be sure you're not just taking pictures of the inside of your camera.

the_jennifer26d agoMost Upvoted

Actually, checking the spool seems like overkill. Just load it and trust the camera. All that fussing can waste your first shot anyway.