First time using Leicaflex SL, understanding why my 35mm film came back "unexposed"

[GianlucaG]

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Hi everyone,

I’m new to using the Leicaflex SL and recently had an issue with a roll of film I developed.

The lab told me the film was developed but showed no images — they said it was “not exposed” and had been “rewound incorrectly”. The person on the phone couldn’t really explain what “rewound incorrectly” meant. I plan to follow up tomorrow and ask if I can speak directly with the lab.

The Leicaflex SL loading process is a bit particular: first, you attach the film to the take-up spool, then you insert the cartridge into place. I wonder if that threw me off somehow.

I followed the loading process carefully: first attaching the film to the take-up spool, then inserting the canister.

I managed to shoot all 36 frames, cocked the shutter each time, checking the film roll advance by watching whether the film cartridge’s spindle rotated

When I rewound the roll (it took time), I opened the back, the film had been fully rewound into the cartridge, except for the final tail, which was still firmly attached to the take-up spool (as expected — I cut that part off.

Could this have happened because the film didn’t advance correctly, or maybe I loaded it the wrong way around (emulsion facing away from the shutter)?

Has anyone experienced something similar?

Thanks in advance for your help!

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[bobtodrick]

If you did indeed check that the film was advancing by watching the rewind knob turn when advancing the film, then the film was in fact advancing.  If this is the case, and there are absolutely no images at all than either your shutter is not opening...or the lab had a mishap and isn''t taking responsibility.  I've been involved with photo labs for over 40 years...this is by no means unheard of,

So my only advice would be to ensure the shutter is working which is easy to verify by either opening the back or removing the lens and working the shutter at various speeds.  If it's working try running another film through the camera and see what develops (pun intended).

[Stuart Richardson]

When you get your film back, please post what it looks like here (even a iphone shot). If the film is clear, but the numbers are visible on the film clearly, then that means the film went through the camera and was never exposed, but the development was correct. If the image area is black but the area around it is clear and there are numbers visible, that means that the shutter is opening, but not closing properly, and the development was correct. If the film is completely clear with no numbers, that means the film was fixed without development. If the film is completely black, that means that the entire roll was exposed to light and then developed normally. One you have that information, it should make it easier to find out what happened.