tab torn off FP100C

Wayne · Feb 23, 2014

Hmm, should this go here or in color film forum? I was shooting some 3x4 FP100C in my Polaroid 180 today and after an exposure the paper tab tore off and so the black tab to pull the print out never emerged. The shot is replaceable so its not that important but can I still save it somehow? Its only the first or second shot on the pack so I defeinietly want to shoot the rest, if I can.

NedL · Feb 24, 2014

Hate it when that happens. The rest of the pack is salvageable and I'm always surprised that they don't get fogged... they are pretty well protected in that pack until they are pulled into place for exposure.

In dim light, with the back opened as little as you can, pull out the white broken tab and the black wasted photo. Make sure the stack of tabs is all in place and then pull the next tab out ready to use. I messed up several boxes trying to do this before I got the hang of it.... unfortunately this is something that might take a little practice. It's not that hard to do but it is hard to describe.

Edit: and by the time you get good at fixing a pack, it won't happen any more! You'll get used to holding the tab in the center and getting a lot of surface area contact before pulling straight down. Those tabs are worst if there has been any dampness...

Fixcinater · Feb 24, 2014

The Fuji tabs don't seem to be as bad as aged Polaroid tabs...*those* are the worst.

Lee Rust · Feb 24, 2014

This also happened to me yesterday. In subdued light, open the camera back a tiny bit until you can barely see the edge of the film cartridge. Push down on the cartridge to keep light from leaking around the front edge, then grab the remainder of the topmost white tab from the bundle of tabs and pull gently until the black tab just starts to emerge from the roller slot. Once the black tab is visible, close the camera back and pull out the black tab as normal. If you're careful, the photo will be fine.

Wayne · Feb 24, 2014

Well I couldnt do anything with it, couldnt find what was left of the tab and just chucked it all in the trash. I couldnt even figure out how to make it work in broad daylight. Oh well. Hope that doesn't happen again. Is there something I should be doing some camera maintenance or cleaning perhaps to make the pull easier? Its a 180 camera.

Truzi · Feb 24, 2014

Pack film can be a bit difficult to load the first couple times. When I first tried, I had the feed all wrong, and kept pulling tabs off. You could get it out of the garbage and play with it until you get the hang of it, then put in some fresh film and try again.

NedL · Feb 24, 2014

Wayne said:
Well I couldnt do anything with it, couldnt find what was left of the tab and just chucked it all in the trash. I couldnt even figure out how to make it work in broad daylight. Oh well. Hope that doesn't happen again. Is there something I should be doing some camera maintenance or cleaning perhaps to make the pull easier? Its a 180 camera.

That's what I did the first couple times it happened.... very frustrating, sorry! Even if you can't find the end of the tab that broke off, it is possible to fish out the next one. I don't know the 180 camera specifically, but if there are rollers or bars to press the film, they might be cleaned.

Truzi · Feb 24, 2014

Let me clarify that I was not loading a camera, but one of those Daylab slide printers. The film chamber is essentially the same since the same film can be used.

When loading the film you may notice two "paths." One is where the pull-tab comes out, and the other where the film comes out. If loaded incorrectly, there is too much friction/resistance, and the tab comes off. Even if you manage to pull the film out, if it was incorrectly loaded, you either won't have an image, or it will be messed up badly.

Lee Rust · Feb 24, 2014

The Fuji film packs are a little thicker than the Polaroid originals, so the springs inside the camera back can sometimes exert too much pressure, making the first two or three prints harder to pull out. Some users bend the springs to reduce the pressure. Otherwise just get a really firm grip on the entire white tab, not just the end of it. Practice will definitely help.

Fixcinater · Feb 24, 2014

I screwed up a couple packs when I first started with 3000B by not RTFM beforehand, so I thought that the white tabs were supposed to come out through the roller slot, which forced the developer all over the place when I did finally get one pulled through. So...the whole thing was trashed.

+1 to just practicing.

Wayne · Feb 24, 2014

I've never had the problem before, and I have used the camera many times. I have noticed the first few in each pack are pretty hard to pull, so I guess its the springs. I'll have a look at that.

vdonovan · Feb 24, 2014

Over time you get a feel for the tension and direction to pull the white tab successfully. Initially I tore them all the time, now I never do.

As mentioned above, the first few shots in the pack are the worst. It does help to remove the springs. You can also cheat and open the back slightly BEFORE you pull the white tab. Pull the tab enough to get it started (less than 1/2 inch) and then close the back again. Now pull the white tab fully, it should be easy now.

Lastly, it's pretty to easy to recover from a torn tab. Open the back slightly, reach in and grab the remained of the torn tab, and give it an initial pull, as above. Once it is started, close the back and keep pulling.

tab torn off FP100C

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