Mamiya C330 S film advance problem, and reloading a wound but unexposed 120 roll

[abhaskar]

I recently picked up a Mamiya C330 S. I tested out the film advance and shutter without film loaded - the frame counter advanced when I turned the crank, the shutter was cocked, the shutter release actuated, and I was able to keep advancing the counter and releasing the shutter. I tried loading in a 120 roll, checking that the pressure plate was set to 120. However, when I closed the back and turned the crank, the film spool rolled, but the counter did not advance and the shutter did not get cocked. I kept turning the crank until the film was completely wrapped around the takeup roll. I opened and closed the back again to reset the counter, and the film advance counter and shutter cocking worked properly. Can I reuse the unexposed roll? What might have gone wrong with the film advance, and how can I diagnose it?

 

[MattKing]

This happens to me if I don't ensure that the back isn't completely closed. If the latch at the top right of the back doesn't fully latch, the interlocks don't function normally.
Get into the habit of using both thumbs to ensure the back is completely latched. If that doesn't solve the problem, the back might be bent.
The C330 series is good for re-spooling film - nice straight film path. Put the film into the feed chamber and then wind it through again on to another takeup spool. Be sure to keep the cap on the lens, so you don't expose the film inadvertently.
Sometimes this doesn't work, due to the fact that the tape only attaches one end of the film to the backing paper.
I use my C330 to re-spool film, for eventual re-spooling (by hand) on to 620 spools.

 

[mgb74]

I have just rewound the film by hand. Inevitably, I've had to undo and then retape the leading edge about 1/4" forward.

 

[abhaskar]

Thanks! I don't have a lens cap, so I put the camera face-down on my desk and set the shutter to 1/500 and the aperture to f/32. I was able to wind the film back to the start, load it back in, and get the film counter and shutter cocking lever to engage, though the film counter briefly "slipped" when I started to wind the crank after closing the back, and the winding felt a bit stiffer than the first time.

 

[mrosenlof]

another thing to be aware of with the Mamiya TLRs is that if you hold down the shutter release (on the body, not just the release on the lens) and wind the film, it will just keep winding. This is feature, a quick way to wind off a roll that you just need to get into the soup right away. If you're not thinking about it and press the release, or have a locking cable release on, it can feel like a bug.

 

[pbromaghin]

The C330 series is good for re-spooling film - nice straight film path. Put the film into the feed chamber and then wind it through again on to another takeup spool.

Would have been nice to know this a couple years ago! It's a lot better than using a changing bag.