Auto-rewind Issue

RalphLambrecht · Dec 16, 2021

I'm currently working with a Nikon N70 film camera and 35mm film. When the roll is exposed one is instructed to simultaniously push two button to activate the film rewind, which will pull the entire film back into the canister. Question is: how can this be stopped before the film leader does not end up in the canister too? I'm trying to avoid having to deal with a film-leader retriever which are a pain.

Chan Tran · Dec 16, 2021

I don't think there is such an option for the N70 which is a low end camera. Can you stop the rewinding by releasing the buttons? If so perhaps the counter would count down during rewind and you can stop it when it reaches 1. Also I think there is a silent rewind which rewind slower and would give you a chance to do that.

abruzzi · Dec 16, 2021

I've never used a film retreiver, I just used a church-key type bottle opener to pop the top off. I later got a tool that was specifically for removing the end (right about the time that I mostly stopped shooting 35mm...ugh). I understand from other posts that you recently became one-handed, correct? (sorry for being indelicate) If thats the case, that approach probably wouldn't work for you since you need to hold the canister in one hand and the opener in another. Many years ago when I used a university darkroom, they had an opener attached to the wall. With the opener fixed in place, that could be used easily to remove an end of canister one-handed, if you could find them for sale.

OTOH, I really do appreciate auto cameras that stop before pulling the film fully in, which is one of the many reasons why I love my Pentax MZ-S.

gone · Dec 16, 2021

I have an N70 and an N8008s (the latter is essentially a pro camera), and no, unfortunately, one can't stop the film from rewinding all the way unless you get lucky and pop the back open at the right time during rewinding. That usually doesn't work though. I've had mixed results w/ those film retrieval tools, and now just rip the top off the the film canisters w/ a pair of pliers in the dark bathroom and load the film onto my reels.

reddesert · Dec 16, 2021

When Nikons of this generation were new, this was a common complaint. It was generally reported that the N8008, N90, F100, and up, and maybe the N80 could be reprogrammed by a Nikon authorized service center to leave the leader out when rewinding. I don't know about the N70. If you can find an authorized service center you could ask them if they can still reprogram any models. The N8008 and N90 are still pretty inexpensive on the used market.

eli griggs · Dec 17, 2021

Trying to force a roll to stop before the tongue gets pulled into the cassette, will result in torn bits of sprockets fouling your camera and possibly, your developing tank.

Pulling on a rewind knob of a motor winder or drive will do the same thing and those bits that break free will be with you forever, popping up to your ruin forever.

Nitroplait · Dec 17, 2021

RalphLambrecht said:
I'm trying to avoid having to deal with a film-leader retriever which are a pain.

Learn it once and it isn't a pain anymore. It is all about technique and when you have it down it is easier than loading a camera.
Just sit down with a roll and re-do it until it is muscle memory.

250swb · Dec 17, 2021

Is there a technical reason to leave the leader out? I've heard of some quirky daylight processing tanks that require the whole cassette to be put into the device with the leader out, but otherwise it's best to pop the cassette open with a bottle opener.

neilt3 · Dec 17, 2021

250swb said:
Is there a technical reason to leave the leader out? I've heard of some quirky daylight processing tanks that require the whole cassette to be put into the device with the leader out, but otherwise it's best to pop the cassette open with a bottle opener.

The OP would probably find it easier to get the film started on the spool before turning the lights off or putting it in a changing bag and then winding it all on .

I leave the leader out on my film so I can trim the ends in the light ready to start putting on the spools , I can't be bothered messing around with film retrievers when my camera does it for me .

eli griggs · Dec 17, 2021

Maybe, the OP wants to be able to remove partly shot rolls so a different film can be loaded and used, the the first roll can be advanced to within a frame or two of where he was, saving otherwise wasted film, which these days is fairly expensive.

Chan Tran · Dec 17, 2021

Back when I worked at the photo lab they had the Noritsu powered leader retriever. It works very well.

MattKing · Dec 17, 2021

Ralph is trying to load reels with a single functioning hand. His need to leave the leader out is quite practical.
Leader retriever's are challenging enough for those with two usable hands.

ic-racer · Dec 17, 2021

More featured Nikon. I know F6 does it but not F100.

reddesert · Dec 17, 2021

IIRC, there were several Canon EOS AF film cameras of that era that allowed setting "leave leader out" with a custom function. It was rumored that the Nikons didn't use a custom function and had to be reprogrammed at a service center because of some kind of Canon patent, but that seems vaguely implausible. I know switching cameras or lens mount systems is a pain, but getting an N90 or similar, if a service center can reprogram it, or a Canon film SLR is not terribly expensive now. I assume that for one handed use, the AF, auto wind etc is very desirable (also that a camera as heavy as the pro-level SLRs might not be easy to handle).

Here's an old thread on the subject: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/motorised-slrs-with-film-leader-out-capability.139584/

Sirius Glass · Dec 17, 2021

I have the Nikon N70 so I checked the manual. There is no feature to rewind the roll and leave the film tongue remaining outside the cassette. That feature is available on other Nikon AF cameras, I believe. Since the OP has a definite need, as apposed to a nice to have wish, I recommend that he check out the other Nikon AF models to see which of those offer the rewind with film tongue extend capability, and find such, switch over to the appropriate model.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 18, 2021

ic-racer said:
More featured Nikon. I know F6 does it but not F100.

View attachment 293477

interesting;have to look.

TheMissingLink · Dec 18, 2021

I don't remember which model I used in my 35mm past but I used a simple technique as the film is rewinded rather slowly:
There is a noise like 'klack' as the bended end of the film jumps out of the spool hitting on the back inside.
Just after that I pulled the releasing crank, the back opened stopping the rewinder.
It worked for me most time.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 18, 2021

TheMissingLink said:
I don't remember which model I used in my 35mm past but I used a simple technique as the film is rewinded rather slowly:
There is a noise like 'klack' as the bended end of the film jumps out of the spool hitting on the back inside.
Just after that I pulled the releasing crank, the back opened stopping the rewinder.
I'm hoping to apply a similar trick; as soon as I hear the film and jumping out of the school I'll shut the camera down; just cutting the power and turning it off. That should also stop the rewind action.
It worked for me most time.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 18, 2021

Chan Tran said:
I don't think there is such an option for the N70 which is a low end camera. Can you stop the rewinding by releasing the buttons? If so perhaps the counter would count down during rewind and you can stop it when it reaches 1. Also I think there is a silent rewind which rewind slower and would give you a chance to do that.

Low end camera with all the features I need and nothing more. It seems to be highly underrated SLR.

Chan Tran · Dec 18, 2021

RalphLambrecht said:
Low end camera with all the features I need and nothing more. It seems to be highly underrated SLR.

You do need the one feature you're asking for. For the most part those are not important but it does seem to be important to you. For me the leader retriever works well enough.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 18, 2021

Ralph, Can you hear the point when the leader comes off the take-up spool but before it gets pulled into the original cassette?? If you can, then pop the battery compartment open to pop out the battery before the leader gets pulled into the cassette. Practice this procedure with an old roll. It may work but require a little practice.

This thing reminds me when I was stationed in Japan in the USAF in 1965. They had a wonderful darkroom available for the airmen with some great equipment. I bought a Nikon F Photomic T and took up "real" photography including a course. The first time I went to develop some film, I used the church key method and came out of the darkroom with my palm ripped open and blood all over the film, my clothes and the darkroom. What a mess.

eli griggs · Dec 18, 2021

I've used duel headed can/bottle openers since about '76, and have one hanging on a string, hanging from the front left, of my DR sink, as you face it, for those cannisters that are no designed with reuse in mind.

Never once have I injured myself with one of these, knocked on wood, but that's to today.

Whom knows what tommorow beings.

neilt3 · Dec 18, 2021

eli griggs said:
I've used duel headed can/bottle openers since about '76, and have one hanging on a string, hanging from the front left, of my DR sink, as you face it, for those cannisters that are no designed with reuse in mind.

Never once have I injured myself with one of these, knocked on wood, but that's to today.

Whom knows what tommorow beings.

Famous last words !
Next time you go on there , you best wear safety goggles and a hard hat !

Sirius Glass · Dec 18, 2021

TheMissingLink said:
I don't remember which model I used in my 35mm past but I used a simple technique as the film is rewinded rather slowly:
There is a noise like 'klack' as the bended end of the film jumps out of the spool hitting on the back inside.
Just after that I pulled the releasing crank, the back opened stopping the rewinder.
It worked for me most time.

That works well for 35mm cameras that must be manually rewound, however some cameras power rewind into the spool automatically at the end of the roll and others rewind on comment. The problem the OP has is that the N70 does not have an option to rewind with the leader remaining out. Camera manufactures often do not allow that so that roll cannot be double exposed.

eli griggs · Dec 18, 2021

Cheers!

neilt3 said:
Famous last words !
Next time you go on there , you best wear safety goggles and a hard hat !

Auto-rewind Issue

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