Old 35mm film exposed and still in a camera
Old 35mm film exposed and still in a camera
Author
Discussion

bobfather

Original Poster:

11,194 posts

273 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
quotequote all
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.


2 sMoKiN bArReLs

31,382 posts

253 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
quotequote all
Whatever the answer is from the experts I don't think I could resist the temptation to get them developed! Not a huge financial risk I would have thought?

Good luck!

Simpo Two

89,753 posts

283 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
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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.

bobfather

Original Poster:

11,194 posts

273 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
quotequote all
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 terminals

Simpo Two

89,753 posts

283 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
quotequote all
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.

bobfather

Original Poster:

11,194 posts

273 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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No trace of battery leakage, just need to acquire a replacement battery now


S6PNJ

5,666 posts

299 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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Screwfix - about £2.79 from memory!

Shaw Tarse

31,817 posts

221 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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Awaits pics with "Over exposed" stickers on them wink

Mr Pointy

12,643 posts

177 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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Shaw Tarse said:
Awaits pics with "Over exposed" stickers on them wink
They might not tbe those sort of pictures smile

troc

4,009 posts

193 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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My father-in-law was a boots pharmacist. One of his side jobs was putting those stickers on smile

The Rotrex Kid

33,317 posts

178 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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bobfather said:
No trace of battery leakage, just need to acquire a replacement battery now

I miss the days of cameras have their own very specific and very expensive batteries

Good luck, I hope the pics come out well!!

ian in lancs

3,843 posts

216 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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trust them to these folks https://www.snapsphotoservices.com/

rampageturke

2,623 posts

180 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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In the case of the rewind function not working, any half decent "independent" lab will probably accept film still in camera to be developed. You may pay a bit more but you'll get your film.

bobfather

Original Poster:

11,194 posts

273 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2022
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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

s p a c e m a n

11,414 posts

166 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
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Should've left the film in the camera so that when it's found again someone gets loads of photos of your dog

bobfather

Original Poster:

11,194 posts

273 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
quotequote all
s p a c e m a n said:
Should've left the film in the camera so that when it's found again someone gets loads of photos of your dog
Haha

droopsnoot

13,712 posts

260 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
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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).

Simpo Two

89,753 posts

283 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
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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.
hehe

So much for 'tech' eh.

David_M

439 posts

68 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
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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.

rampageturke

2,623 posts

180 months

Friday 25th February 2022
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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 biggrin