Mamiya C 330s - loaded or not?

...it's a while since I used this camera and I can't remember if I put a film in it or not. The frame counter advanced from 3 to 4 when I wound the handle. Would that confirm loaded? or does the counter work without film? Whatever, it's going to be FP4. Thanks if you can help.

Well, the C330 will advance the frame counter if you have an empty spool in the take-up chamber. At least on the one I just tested.

The only way I know that works will lose you a frame.

In _subdued_ light:
Retract the lens panel all the way in.
Switch to Unlock.
Remove the lens pair.
Flip it to Lock, and see if you see the pressure plate of film.
Flip it back to Unlock.
Remount the lens
Switch to Lock.

You do this in subdued light to avoid fogging adjacent frames if there is film there. But you do have to see in.

If there is film present, advance to an unexposed frame and put a note with the camera!

If there is not film in the camera, open the back and zero the film counter.

I always try to leave cameras with zeroed counters when they are put away after testing for just this reason.

If the film content is valuable, I wind it off, unfinished or not.

Wait until it's dark, and open the back. If there's film in it, you're only on frame 4. Just remove film with both spools and rewind film manually. Then just reload it.

A thought experiment - try it at your own risk, and report back please
1) Shake the camera and listen near where the spools are or would be.
2) Loosen both spool change knobs.
3) Shake the camera again and listen near where the spools are or would be.
If you can hear a change in any rattling sound, and in particular if you can hear a single spool rattling back and forth, the camera is probably empty.
With my unloaded C330, I think I can hear the difference.
And when I return the spool change knobs to their regular position, the lower knob (where the feed spool would be if the camera was loaded), goes back in normally, but the upper knob (where the takeup spool is, whether the camera is loaded or not), doesn't fully return to the clicked in position.

... thanks, I removed the lens pair and flipped up the baffle to check the gate. The camera was empty after all! I returned the empty take-up spool to the feed position. The counter is now zeroed and stays that way even if the camera is cranked.

That’s the best result! Almost makes me nostalgic for 35mm and watching the rewind knob turn!

Neil Grant said:

... thanks, I removed the lens pair and flipped up the baffle to check the gate. The camera was empty after all! I returned the empty take-up spool to the feed position. The counter is now zeroed and stays that way even if the camera is cranked.

Click to expand...

Another Photrio success story!!