I forgot what Film is in my camera, how do you keep track?

[pridbor]

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Recently got my M7 back from CLA with new Dx sensor and Viewfinder. 

Before giving Leica (US) a great review, which they got, I rushed to shoot a couple of rolls of film to test it out, it went very well thank you! 

Pretty easy to remember which Film I inserted as I shot both in "a few days" time frame. I left the M home on my vacation to Mexico

and it has been almost 2 months since I took it in my hands, only to find that I must have taken a few Photos, from looking at the counter,

and thus I have a film in the camera. I now can't recall what film is in the M7 any longer and I was wondering how all you "M" shooters keep 

track of what's in your Camera?

A very mundane question, as many of you maybe only shoot with 1 film camera and maybe always 1 type film, but I have 4 "R" cameras all loaded with film plus the M7,

but in the R  you can see what's loaded through the window, so I'm clearly not accustomed to "the way of the M" 🙂

So how do you do it?

 

Preben

[Stealth3kpl]

Piece of decorators masking tape on the camera base and a sharpie.

Pete

[Ouroboros]

I tear a bit off the box, enough to identify the film and push it into the hot shoe.

[Kl@usW.]

scotch tape--the version you can write on with a lead-pencil, I then stick it on the bottom. of the camera. And-as you have an M7- your dial should be on the correct ISO anyway-so no trouble with the exposure... 

[spydrxx]

I do one of the following...use different ISO films and reset the reminder on the rear door or winding knob (on the bodies which have it), insert a clipped square of the film box in the accessory shoe, or for self loaded cartridges I made a plastic insert for the accessory shoe, and engraved the two film types and ISOs I use one on each side.

[250swb]

Well two things, if you can't remember it can't have been very important, and if you didn't make a note (like a note on some tape attached to the baseplate) then equally it can't have been important. So junk the film and start again but this time take a note. Once upon a time people knew what was on the film, it was either this Christmas at one end and the next Christmas at the other end, or holidays. 

[RayD28]

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4 hours ago, Ouroboros said:

I tear a bit off the box, enough to identify the film and push it into the hot shoe.

 

Same here. Works like a charm.  

[Guest]

vor 6 Stunden schrieb pridbor:

...

If I no longer remember the film which has been inserted into the Leica-M, I memorize the number of the film counter and slowly rewind the film back into its cartridge.
Usually, by carefully listening to the noises when rewinding, one might rewind the film only to the extent that the beginning of the film still looks out of its film cartridge.
The camera is then opened to determine which forgotten film type has been inserted.

If it happens that the film has been completely rewound into the film cartridge, there is a film returner available as an aid that can be used to pull the beginning of the film out of the film cartridge without opening or destroying it.

Now the film type is better remembered, maybe even with a small sticker on the base plate.
Then the film is inserted again into the Leica-M and released forward again without a lens but with the bayonet closed by the bayonet cover and with the shortest exposure time up to the noted number of photos already exposed.
For safety's sake, two additional black exposes are made in order to completely exclude double exposures.

In later film development, the laboratory is expressly instructed to remain the film in one piece and never cut it into the usual film strips in order to prevent photos of the second part of the film, which was certainly not exposed as an exact continuation of the first film part, from being cut not correctly.

I also use this same procedure if a film that is not fully exposed has to be changed in the meantime and will be used later again.

It is best to practice this procedure a few times with a test film that you never want to develop.

Edited March 20, 2020 by mnutzer

[plaidshirts]

I use a phone app called “Film Rolls”. 
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/film-rolls-app-for-film-photographers/id675626559

[bags27]

Not to worry.

Probably 90% (or more) of the film we use is in the ISO 100-400 range. 

So, unless you suspect you were shooting superfast film, just shoot the remainder of the film at ISO 200 and all will be fine. Maybe even great, as you'll get slightly unexpected results. Creativity comes from that.

Mistakes are more often made if we had been using a filter (esp. a ND filter) and messed with the ISO ratings to compensate, but forget to change the ISO back. That could result in 3 or more stops difference, and that is sometimes too creative! 😄

Edited March 20, 2020 by bags27

[Pyrogallol]

Piece of paper with details of film and exposures, kept on camera bag, my metadata recording system. I than write the exposure details in the margins of the negatives with a fine pen after developing the film.

[wattsy]

5 hours ago, bags27 said:

Not to worry.

Probably 90% (or more) of the film we use is in the ISO 100-400 range. 

I think the OP's camera is an M7 so the question of film speed shouldn't be a problem, unless the OP rolls his own and is in the habit of using different film types frequently.

mnutzer has the right answer – just partially rewind the film and have a look at it.

Edited March 20, 2020 by wattsy

[BradS]

I stick a piece of blue masking tape on the bottom plate and write on it with a sharpie pen. 
 

Sometimes, I’ll also write notes for each exposure or group of exposures in a small notebook. 

Edited March 20, 2020 by BradS

[bags27]

4 hours ago, wattsy said:

I think the OP's camera is an M7 so the question of film speed shouldn't be a problem, unless the OP rolls his own and is in the habit of using different film types frequently.

mnutzer has the right answer – just partially rewind the film and have a look at it.

whoops! thanks. 

[Herr Barnack]

Quote

...I was wondering how all you "M" shooters keep track of what's in your Camera?...

At Target or any office supply store, you can buy 1/2" diameter round stickers that are in neon colors.  I write Tri-X or Pro 400 H on one using an ultrafine point Sharpie and stick it on the base plate of my M4-P.

Problem solved. 😎

[Mark II]

I keep a log of all shooting, along with the camera/lens/film/speed-rating and also the specific developing conditions and chemicals. But basically if it is in the Leica it is B&W at EI1600, and if it is in anything else it is usually B&W at EI100 (unless the Leica is broken again and I am using a fallback).

But as of now it is really easy, as the virus lock down means that I can not shoot anything usefully. Here, I can not exit the flat save for an occasional 2 minute walk to the supermarket, and I had just mixed up 5L of XTOL that is unlikely to outlive the lockdown 🤨

[mann61]

For me it's simple: I always do stand  development so I vary the iso during the roll.

[Bill Clark]

I use a small post it note and put it on the camera. It’s easy to remove if you’re going to use the camera. It’s the size that’s used marking a page or document. It doesn’t harm the camera. 

Or, if I use a preloaded film I will take one of the box ends and slide in the camera case before putting the camera back in the case.

The post it  note works best for me as I mostly bulk load my own film.

Edited March 21, 2020 by Bill Clark

[hilm3]

For a long time, I used a note taking app on my phone. Now I just take a picture with the phone with the camera and the roll of film together.

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Hallo,

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[pridbor]

Thanks all for your responses!!

I have already taken a few of your advice into use!  I did have a system in place but it failed me, no honestly I failed it 🙂 A notebook where all camera films are listed, separate pages per Camera,  and I also  stored the film box in the same cubicle as the camera. But I forgot that when on a trip I need to bring the notebook and so in my haste I failed to remember to update when I got home.

I ended up doing the rewind trick 🙂

I had actually hoped that someone would have told me to buy "one of these" little things one can clip onto the neck-strap containing the end of the film box, would be a nice device for me at least.

Again thank for your suggestions

Preben