Signs That the Film Is Not Advancing

Likewise, I felt like the advance lever had less resistance than usual when I operated it. It felt as if I were only cocking the shutter without actually winding the film forward.

Possible Causes:

1. After inserting the film, leave the camera back open and verify that the film is being pulled properly by cocking and firing the shutter once or twice.
   
2. Rewind the film and see how long the operation takes. If it matches up with the number of frames taken, everything should be fine. If it’s way too short, there is a problem.
   
   The film is obviously still reusable.
   
   You just need to reload it (use a film picker beforehand if the leader was completely rolled back into the canister), then fire and recock the shutter until you reach the frame you were at before rewinding.
   
   You must, of course, make sure to cover the lens with a cap or something else to avoid double-exposing over your previous shots.

Testing: Advanced Method (Interchangeable Lens Cameras Only)

The method I propose requires sacrificing two frames of your roll, but it has the advantage of being precise, avoiding having to rewind the film, and detecting any eventual overlapping frames.

Please note that this procedure carries risks: if you release the shutter button while you are still working inside, there is a high chance you will break the shutter curtains and the mirror mechanism, turning your camera into a paperweight.

And that will, obviously, be your sole responsibility. Do not do it if you have any doubts.

1. Remove the lens.



2. Switch to ‘bulb’ mode, usually designated by a ‘B’ on the shutter speed dial.



3. Cock the camera.

4. Press the shutter release button and keep it held down completely until the end of the procedure.



5. Make a small mark on the film (the little neon line at the bottom left here).

6. Release the shutter button and advance the lever.

7. Then, advance again and trigger the shutter once more. Look for the mark.
If you can no longer see it, it means the film has advanced properly.
If it is still there, it means the film is not advancing.

A Useful Verification

In my case, it was a good thing I checked because the film was indeed not moving forward, as the camera had gotten stuck in multiple-exposure mode.

• Multiple-exposure mode is activated, which cocks the shutter without advancing the film.
  
• The film is loaded incorrectly and therefore fails to catch and advance.
  I specifically had this experience with a Pentax ME Super (the film leader needs to be inserted in a specific way using Pentax’s ‘magic needles’ system).
  
• The internal mechanism is broken (although in this case, the lever tends to jam rather than spin freely).

Testing: Simple Methods

Today, I had a doubt: I wondered whether or not the film was actually advancing when I pulled the advance lever.