Old 35mm film exposed and still in a camera
Discussion
I've been sorting through my late father's storage boxes. He died 35 years ago, and I've discovered an Olympus Stylus compact camera with a used film still in place. I'm seeking advice as to the likelihood that the exposed images could be retrieved. Will the film have deteriorated over the last 35yrs to a point that the exposures will be useless.
Definitely get it processed. Little to lose and you might find irreplaceable images.
In case you're not familiar with film, DO NOT open the camera back until the film is fully rewound into the cassette. If you're unsure, open it under a duvet in a darkened bedroom after dark so you can feel what's going on.
In case you're not familiar with film, DO NOT open the camera back until the film is fully rewound into the cassette. If you're unsure, open it under a duvet in a darkened bedroom after dark so you can feel what's going on.
Simpo Two said:
Definitely get it processed. Little to lose and you might find irreplaceable images.
In case you're not familiar with film, DO NOT open the camera back until the film is fully rewound into the cassette. If you're unsure, open it under a duvet in a darkened bedroom after dark so you can feel what's going on.
It has a battery driven rewind function, I need to open the battery compartment, hoping that the batteries have not leaked all over the terminalsIn case you're not familiar with film, DO NOT open the camera back until the film is fully rewound into the cassette. If you're unsure, open it under a duvet in a darkened bedroom after dark so you can feel what's going on.
bobfather said:
It has a battery driven rewind function, I need to open the battery compartment, hoping that the batteries have not leaked all over the terminals
Ah yes, early moves to replace a simple handle that can't fail to a more complex arrangement that can...!You'll probably have to scrape corrosion off the terminals and replace the batteries. If it still doesn't work, do the bed trick as described and wind it in by hand directly on the spool. Or, if you have no plans to use the camera again, just go for the latter and save the experiment.
trust them to these folks https://www.snapsphotoservices.com/
Well heck, that didn't work. Turns out my dad had put a new film in there. The LCD said frame 1 but a thought that could be due to lost memory. I decided to take photos until auto rewind cut in, hoping to reach the end after 3 or 4 photos. Result was that I achieved 24 photos of my dog. Film now in the bin, camera back in the box I got it from but without a film cartridge this time
I've bought cheap (car boot money) cameras before now, perhaps because I wanted a lens or strap or something, and I've often been tempted to send the film in for processing, but I've stopped myself in case there's anything iffy on the film that I might get the blame for. I like old photos, and will buy old slides or negs from the car boot if they're cheap just in case they've got some nice old street scenes in them, but I don't want to end up on a register.
(Not suggesting the OPs Dad took "that sort of photo" of course).
(Not suggesting the OPs Dad took "that sort of photo" of course).
bobfather said:
Well heck, that didn't work. Turns out my dad had put a new film in there. The LCD said frame 1 but a thought that could be due to lost memory. I decided to take photos until auto rewind cut in, hoping to reach the end after 3 or 4 photos. Result was that I achieved 24 photos of my dog.
So much for 'tech' eh.
bobfather said:
I've been sorting through my late father's storage boxes. He died 35 years ago, and I've discovered an Olympus Stylus compact camera with a used film still in place. I'm seeking advice as to the likelihood that the exposed images could be retrieved. Will the film have deteriorated over the last 35yrs to a point that the exposures will be useless.
Many years ago I inherited a old folding kodak camera from an uncle. It had a film in it that when developed had photos of his kids on it - about 20 years earlier at least. Always worth having them developed to see what comes out - worst case you have wasted a few quid.
bobfather said:
Well heck, that didn't work. Turns out my dad had put a new film in there. The LCD said frame 1 but a thought that could be due to lost memory. I decided to take photos until auto rewind cut in, hoping to reach the end after 3 or 4 photos. Result was that I achieved 24 photos of my dog. Film now in the bin, camera back in the box I got it from but without a film cartridge this time
Either that or you took 24 double exposures 
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