35mm film in old camera

[Jukebag]

I know film cameras are old school for many, but I found an old 35mm film camera from the 90s (an Hanimex RAF auto focus) that hasn't been used for at least 20 years but for some reason still has the film inside. I've no idea if the film has been used or was placed in the camera and no photos were taken maybe because the camera malfunctioned and became faulty for whatever reason (when I opened the back the film was wrapped around the film spool but the indicator dial on the bottom of the camera showed an "S", which I presume means start or stop?). Can film be developed after being dormant in a camera after so long? (no idea is said film has been used or been partly used as I can't tell). I'm guessing the last time I used this particular 35mm film camera was about 1999/2000, after that I started to use an Olympus APS camera until 2003 when I went digital. No idea of my local Max Spielmann develops film anymore.

[seanyfez]

I have developed a couple of films left in cameras I have purchased over the years, one dated from the mid 70’s and one from the late 60’s.
Although I used black and white chemicals (these were both colour films) the images were fine - just a little soft.
Film from the 90’s should be ok as long as it hasn’t been kept in a hot environment ( much of my large format film dates from the 70’s and is fine - kept in the fridge!)
Your biggest issue may be light leaks caused by opening the back - it sounds like you may have lost some images.
In a case like this I would just drop the film into Snappy Snaps or Boots and see what transpires...

[Simpo Two]

If the tongue is sticking out of the canister it hasn't been used; if the tongue has gone in then it's been rewound.

'Wrapped around the film spool' sounds like it wasn't rewound before opening the back = bye bye any photos that might have been on it.

[Jukebag]

Simpo Two said:

If the tongue is sticking out of the canister it hasn't been used; if the tongue has gone in then it's been rewound.

'Wrapped around the film spool' sounds like it wasn't rewound before opening the back = bye bye any photos that might have been on it.

For some reason the camera wouldn't do anything prior to me opening the back, so I stuck in a few new batteries and it kinda did something when I pressed the shutter button, but noticed the numbers dial (or whatever it's called) didn't really move to another number (could've been stuck). After abit of fiddling all of a sudden the camera started making a long whizzing noise, and when I opened up the back the film had reeled back onto the cannister. I then removed the film and then placed it back in the camera and pulled the film out and wrapped it back around the spool (I think the film may've not been fed round the spool correctly when it was last used many years ago, and I don't think anyone took any photos as I'm sure they would've been developed). After I closed to back lid and tried to take a few more photos I noticed the camera light was now working which it wasn't before, and I noticed the number dial was now moving according to the number of photos I was taking. I'm gonna try and take more photos of my travels to see if I get up to 24, take to a shop and see if there is any resulting exposures.

[anonymous-user]

From your description I would say the long whirring noise was the exposed film being rewound into the canister, then you have taken another set of images on top of the originals. Could be some interesting double exposures...

[Jukebag]

swiveleyedgit said:

From your description I would say the long whirring noise was the exposed film being rewound into the canister, then you have taken another set of images on top of the originals. Could be some interesting double exposures...

I was wondering the same about it taking another set of images on top. To be honest I think the camera was already knackered because I don't think the motor was working properly, which is probably why the shutter sometimes work and sometimes dosen't work. So far I've managed to obtain about 18 shots (assuming it's actually taking photos and isn't just the shutter going off when I press it and nothing happening inside with the film). I took the camera with me this afternoon to the local park but half the time nothing would happen when I pressed the button, but could be the batteries. I think it's likely the camera isn't working correctly and probably wasn't working correctly when it was last used and when the film was placed in the camera years ago by someone in my family.

Edited by Jukebag on Sunday 15th November 16:17

[alabbasi]

You can still get film developed but it needs to be sent out. I bet money those automatic developing machines that were in every pharmacist can be bought for what they weigh in scrap.
I have an old Olympus OM1 that my mother used for her Phd back in 1982. It came with a roll of film that expired in 1986. I keep thinking I should take some pictures with it and see how they come out.

[covboy]

Still a lot of interest in film photography. (check out some FaceBook pages) During the lockdown, I've bought my old Mamiya 645 out of retirement,and bought used Canon 300 35mm and a Mamiya 330 21/4sq . Plus a film scanner to see the results (I gave mt darkroom equipmentaway to a school a while back - Interestingly the teacher involved said there was great interest from pupils in the developing & printing side of things)

[Jukebag]

alabbasi said:

You can still get film developed but it needs to be sent out. I bet money those automatic developing machines that were in every pharmacist can be bought for what they weigh in scrap.
I have an old Olympus OM1 that my mother used for her Phd back in 1982. It came with a roll of film that expired in 1986. I keep thinking I should take some pictures with it and see how they come out.

Automatic developing machines for film?, I've never heard of them before. I thought you needed a dark room and sent to a lab?. I've never been to a chemist and had my film prints developed in a day, normally I've had to wait a week for them.

[Simpo Two]

Jukebag said:

Simpo Two said:

If the tongue is sticking out of the canister it hasn't been used; if the tongue has gone in then it's been rewound.

'Wrapped around the film spool' sounds like it wasn't rewound before opening the back = bye bye any photos that might have been on it.

For some reason the camera wouldn't do anything prior to me opening the back, so I stuck in a few new batteries and it kinda did something when I pressed the shutter button, but noticed the numbers dial (or whatever it's called) didn't really move to another number (could've been stuck). After abit of fiddling all of a sudden the camera started making a long whizzing noise, and when I opened up the back the film had reeled back onto the cannister. I then removed the film and then placed it back in the camera and pulled the film out and wrapped it back around the spool (I think the film may've not been fed round the spool correctly when it was last used many years ago, and I don't think anyone took any photos as I'm sure they would've been developed). After I closed to back lid and tried to take a few more photos I noticed the camera light was now working which it wasn't before, and I noticed the number dial was now moving according to the number of photos I was taking. I'm gonna try and take more photos of my travels to see if I get up to 24, take to a shop and see if there is any resulting exposures.

OK I've found pictures of the Hanimex 35RAF and it looks like it has an electric rewind.

So the whizzing noise was the film (exposed in 1990) going back into the cassette ready to go off to the developer. Great. If the 'numbers dial' (exposure counter) was on about 25 or 37 then the film had been used. Don;t suppose you can remember what it said?

But then you loaded the film back in the camera - surprised you could do that because rewinding normally pulls the tail right into the cassette.

You can only use film once! So if you want to know what was on the film originally, DO NOT take any more photos. Rewind the film as before and send the cassette off for processing.

If you want to dabble with taking new photos on this camera, just buy another film.

Jukebag said:

Automatic developing machines for film?, I've never heard of them before. I thought you needed a dark room and sent to a lab?

You don't need a dark room because the film is protected from light in the cassette (and the little plastic canister it came in). It is the lab that has the developing machinery; you get back either prints or slides depending what type of film it was.

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 15th November 18:24

[Simpo Two]

Re-reading this, I think you opened the back before rewinding the film. If so it's all been exposed to light and therefore ruined.

[alabbasi]

Jukebag said:

Automatic developing machines for film?, I've never heard of them before. I thought you needed a dark room and sent to a lab?. I've never been to a chemist and had my film prints developed in a day, normally I've had to wait a week for them.

Up until about 10 years ago, you could get 35mm film processed in under an hour.

[seanyfez]

You can still get film developed in an hour.

Snappy Snaps (on some high streets) and some Boots stores still do it.

Film photography has been undergoing a revival over the past ten years so there is still money to be made developing and printing/scanning.

[sgtBerbatov]

seanyfez said:

You can still get film developed in an hour.

Snappy Snaps (on some high streets) and some Boots stores still do it.

Film photography has been undergoing a revival over the past ten years so there is still money to be made developing and printing/scanning.

Boots were scaling back their one hour photo development, so not all Boots stores do it. Jessops definitely do it in an hour too.

There are places that you can send them away to get done. I use AG Photo Lab in BIrmingham and they're fairly quick and about on par with high street photo labs like Boots in terms of cost.

You'll be surprised what comes out though. You'll get an image out of it, as long as you exposed it right when you took the photo 20 years ago. Depending on how the film/camera was stored, if it was humid with temperature changes expect to see a lot of grain. Otherwise it'll just be a little bit faded that's all.

[mcflurry]

I found these online - so you could find out and get any images dropboxed to you ?

https://takeiteasylab.com/film-developing-services...

[utgjon]

i've also been discovering film over the course of lockdown. I've been mailing my film to Brighton Film Lab (no affiliation) for them to process, scan, occasionally print and mail back to me. It's been a really good process and i've got some good results even on film that expired 15 years ago and has been stored terribly!