Is Your Film Advancing? A Quick Rewind Crank Check

Nothing worse than finishing a roll… only to find nothing was captured. 🎞️

To avoid that heartbreak, it’s important to check in advance whether your film is advancing properly.

After loading film, it’s totally normal to wonder, “Is it really in there?”
Especially if you’re new to film cameras, that worry is even more common. 😉

But don’t worry —
there’s a simple and reliable way to ease your mind!

Check the Rewind Crank to See If Film Is Advancing

To make sure your film is loaded correctly, keep an eye on the rewind crank (also called the rewind knob).

Here’s how to do it:
After loading the film and closing the back cover, advance the film and press the shutter a couple of times.

As you do this, watch the rewind crank — if it turns slightly as you advance the film, that’s a good sign! ✅ That motion means the film is being pulled from the canister and properly advancing.

Crank Not Moving? First, Remove Slack

If the rewind crank isn’t turning, the film might be a little loose inside the camera.

Try gently turning the rewind crank clockwise (to the right) until it stops — but be careful not to over-tighten!⚠️

This will remove any slack in the film and should allow the take-up mechanism to work properly.

Still No Movement? Possible Causes

If the crank still doesn’t move, the film might not be loaded correctly. Here are some common causes:

・The film tip isn’t securely inserted into the take-up spool🎞️
・The sprockets (the gear-like teeth) aren't engaging with the film holes⚙️
・The film is slipping after the back cover is closed🚪

In these cases, the film won’t advance at all — so even if you press the shutter, nothing will be captured.

You’ll need to open the back and reload the film from the beginning.

Over Time, You'll Feel the Difference

At first, you might feel nervous every time you load a roll. But as you gain experience, you’ll start to recognize the signs that it’s loaded correctly:

・The resistance when advancing the film✊
・The feel of the shutter release🎯
・How the film moves as you shoot🎬

With time, your hands will just know — “Yep, it’s loaded right.”

And that, too, is part of the joy of shooting with a film camera. There may be a bit of uncertainty, but that’s exactly what makes each frame feel more meaningful.

So take a deep breath, trust the process, and enjoy capturing your next shot💖