I have several rolls of 35mm film, some of which I know have been shot and rewound and the others not yet used. I have been told that if I compare the length of the leaders that I can tell which of the rolls are shot and used and which are not yet used. As I recall if I compare 2 rolls, the roll with the short lead is the unused roll and the one with the longer lead (approximately an inch or so longer) is the one that has been shot and rewound. Is that logical (as Spock would appreciate)?
2007-09-19 09:34:30 · 6 answers · asked by humility 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
Many cameras' takeup spools will put a bit of a crease in the end of the leader, where the spool grabs it, that can tell you if the roll has been used. But, if in doubt, don't risk it.
2007-09-19 09:52:43 · answer #1 · answered by gringomasloco 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately you won't know for sure until they are developed. New films normally show three sprocket holes where the full width of the film starts to the canister.
Sometimes you can see on the leader if it was bent in a different direction when in the camera, this would be a hint.
I don't know about how many films you are talking but as all the others said I would not risk losing pics because of a few bucks. If there is nothing on the films you pay only the developing charge which is not so much (at least here).
If you know how many films are exposed (e.g. 2 out 4) have the two with the longer leads developed first and have a look. If there are pics on them - that's it. If not the pics are still on the other films and not lost.
Make it a habit to fully rewind your films.
2007-09-20 10:01:53 · answer #2 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only way to tell for sure without losing the entire roll is with something called a "clip test", where the lab snips out a length equal to 2-3 frames and develops it.
Unfortunately, only a professional lab, most of which are few and far between these days, will do it, and probably charge you as much as you would pay at a grocery store lab to just go ahead and have the whole roll processed.
What Terisu said is your best option-just go ahead and have them all developed.
2007-09-20 07:46:44 · answer #3 · answered by Ben H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always made it easy on myself by fully rewinding any roll when I was done shooting it. That way, if there was a lead sticking out, I knew it wasn't used.
But since you don't do that, and you're not sure, I recommend just assuming they're all used, and get them developed. You won't be charged for blank rolls if you take them to a lab, and face it, film is cheap.
The alternative is to possibly have double exposures on some rolls, which could totally ruin your pictures if they're the one-of-a-kind sort.
2007-09-19 16:41:35 · answer #4 · answered by Terisu 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
the only way to know for sure is to develop the film
typically a new roll has three sprocket holes showing but if you guess and guess wrong you lose TWO rolls of photos which cant be replaced in most cases Spock would just develop the rolls it's only logical
2007-09-19 20:52:06 · answer #5 · answered by fuma74 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Terisu - if you don't wind them all the way in, assume they are all exposed and take them in for developing - you don't want to risk ruining once in a lifetime shots to save a few dollars on film
2007-09-19 16:46:15 · answer #6 · answered by Jenna V 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋