Film Rewind Fail: Forgot to Activate Rewind Tab = Camera Damage?

[Kazu.toh]

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Dear everyone, 

Today I made a mistake by not activating the small rewind tab/lever when I tried to rewind the film. The rewind knob did not want to move because the film was not allowed to be rewound. As a result, the film tore in the camera. 

My question is if I have in some way hurt the structural integrity of the sprocket or rewinding system by my rookie actions today.

 

Thanks,

-An anxious camera owner.

[jaapv]

Probably not. Check for film rests in the camera.

[Kazu.toh]

Check for film fragments? Yeah, somehow felt like there are more particulate matter in the camera... I have since used a blower to try to pump them out. 

I'm slightly more relieved to hear the mechanism is not hurt. 

Edited May 16, 2021 by Kazu.toh

[ktmrider2]

Am pretty sure the film tears well below the damage threshold of the rewind gear/clutch.  I think I have done the same thing (long long time ago) and it did not damage whichever M film body I was using at the time.

 

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Kazu.toh,

Welcome to the Forum.

If you still have all of the pieces of broken film & the film cartridge itself you might try to reassemble the film pieces with the cartridge to see if any pieces are still left in the camera. Pieces of film inside camera bodies are 1 of the things that can sometimes cause damage.

Best Regards,

Michael

[plaidshirts]

7 hours ago, Kazu.toh said:

Check for film fragments? Yeah, somehow felt like there are more particulate matter in the camera... I have since used a blower to try to pump them out. 

I'm slightly more relieved to hear the mechanism is not hurt. 

The film will tear first before any of the internal gear gets damaged. Use a vacuum (tape a straw to the end of the hose to get to tight areas in the camera) to suck all the small debris that a blower can’t get out. 

[Pyrogallol]

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Many years ago a student rewound the whole length of a 35mm film in a Russian Zenith camera without pressing the rewind button. The camera was full of little bits of broken perforations.

[Kazu.toh]

Thanks everyone for the input!

I'll more mindful the next time with this important lesson learnt.

[a.noctilux]

😇 ...untill the next lesson.

May I think that this would happen only once as "forget to take off the lens cap with M, then notice it after few black frames".