Having read about the mishaps (and tragedies) of lost pictures due
to failure to engage the film in the take-up spool, a few thoughts...
1) If it is an unrepeatable, significant event, such as a wedding,
baptism, images on a trip, or honeymoon (practically everything
IS unrepeatable, isn't it ?) pictures of someone who is ill, etc.,
use a minimum of two cameras, even if one of them is a P&S. Yes,
cycle the take between two bodies and lenses as you shoot.
It is highly unlikely that you will blunder the film twice,
that both bodies will simultaneously fail, run out of battery
power or film, lenses fail, etc. You will also have two rolls, which
should not be sent through the lab at the same time, giving you a
back-up just in case. As so many have pointed out, the photo
version of Murphy's Law always strikes at the very worst
possible times.
Yes, I know it is overkill, not very frugal, etc. But when
I read about the shots some of the respondents to this thread
have lost, it makes sense to take every step possible to stack
the odds in your favor.
2) I use multiple modalities to verify the film is running through
the camera. First, I should say that getting one or two extra
frames out of each roll means nothing to me compared to getting
the shot. What I do is to lay the cassette in first, put the tongue
in the take-up spool, and hit the winder button, making sure the
holes engaged the sprockets. I close the back, tighten up the
rewind, and advance two frames observing the rewind knob AND gently
feeling it turn by very lightly pressing my left index finger
against it. I (bite my lip) haven't missed loading one in years
and years.
*= Doris Fang =*
Ps. Over 15 years ago, I was at a family get-together, and saw
my uncle arriving (late, as usual) with his two sons, one on each
arm, and his wife with an arm around one of them. I had a
Nikon with an 85mm before me, and raced up, just as they passed
under some trees, and exposed one frame (at f/2.8 & 1/125th, it was
K64). Before I had sent the film in, one of the boys had fallen
ill, it was found to be leukemia, and he died a few weeks later.
Months passed, and there was a quavering voice on my phone...
my uncle's voice, and he wanted to know if the picture I had
taken of them had turned out, that he wanted a print. Luckily,
they were all smiling, their eyes open, looking happy, and
beautifully backlit. I even gave him the slide... He was very
thankful.
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