When film gets stuck in cameras, photographers may sometimes be required to remove it manually in 100% darkness.
Before the digital cameras of today, and even before the automatic film cameras that would automatically feed film onto a take-up spool and then rewind it back into the canister after the last frame was taken, photographers had to manually load film into their Pentax cameras and rewind the film at the end of the roll. At times the film would malfunction and not rewind into the canister properly, or wouldn't rewind at all.
Instructions
1. Hold your Pentax camera upside down in one hand and look on the base plate for a small button enclosed in a recessed compartment. This is the film rewind button.
2. Press the button into the camera to unlock the rewind function. This should allow you to rewind your film.
3. Lift the rewind crank out of the rewind knob located on the top left of the camera.
4. Gently turn the crank in the direction indicated on the handle. If the crank will not turn, do not force it. This means your film is stuck and you will have to remove manually.
5. Place the camera and the black plastic protective case the film came in into a film changing bag. This bag is specially designed for loading film onto developing reels. It is 100% light proof and therefore safe to open your camera in. If you do not have a changing bag, wait until evening when the sun has set, find an internal bathroom or closet in your house. Bring the camera and canister into the room.
6. Turn off the lights and wait for a minute or two for your eyes to adjust. Hold your hand in front of your face; if you cannot see your hand it is dark enough to open the camera. If you can see you hand, place the camera and canister in a dark green garbage bag and, with the lights off, open the camera back and carefully remove the film.
7. Place the film into the plastic canister, secure the lid in place and take the film to a photo lab for processing.
Tags: camera canister, film into, film onto, Hold your, into canister
