How to Rewind Film on an M6

[kyler.]

Hi,
I recently acquired my first film camera, an m6.
As I am nearing the end of my first roll, I realized that I do not know how to properly rewind the film.
I would really appreciate if you guys could explain to me how to do this properly.

Thanks,
Kyle

[John Lawrence]

Here's a copy of the manual:

http://www.forloren.dk/lbf/LeicaM6manual.htm

John

[kyler.]

Thank you,
I'm wondering how far you rewind, I start to feel tension and then the tension loosened up and then got tighter again. At this point when I let go of the winder it recoils back to where it was.
Did i go far enough?

[DanP]

It should not take more than 20-30 secs or so if you have a consistent pace. You will feel a little more tension at the very end and once the film leader comes off the spool you will feel a let go...that's it.

If you try to hear it carefully, you can hear the film rewinding and then a snap when the leader comes off.

[Rob-F]

You may need to go just a little farther. It sounds like you could have just maybe 2 or 3 inches or so of leader left to go. When the film is completely wound back into the cassette, there should be no tension at all. I would keep winding until the film feels completely free. The recoil is a thing that can happen whether the film is fully rewound or not, so it doesn't tell you much.

[Richard G]

If you're worried to rewind further because of the second resistance you mentioned, puzzling though that is, there is always the option to place a good tight lens cap on and cock the shutter and if no rotation of the rewind crank occurs, trip the shutter and advance one more frame. If still there is no rotation of the rewind crank you have certainly rewound the film far enough for the leader to be off the tines of the take up spool.

[kyler.]

Thank you all for the help.
Unfortuantely, I didn't wind it far enough
It is very frustrating to see a lot of hard work ruined, but now I know for next time!
Is it possible that the amount that I had already wound back is saved and I just lost the 2 or so inches that I didn't finish winding?

Thanks,
Kyle

[Warren T.]

yes! only the 2 inches or so at the end are exposed to light, but they were probably already exposed (the film leader) when you loaded the film. So no worries, go ahead and process the film.

[kyler.]

Warren,
That is very relieving!
Now it looks like I've only lost a few shots or maybe no shots at all!

Thank you all,
Kyle

[MartinP]

Whatever is inside the cassette should be fine. If there were only a couple of inches sticking out then you probably haven't lost much - it would be worth developing for sure. If you can find a sacrificial roll of any sort of 35mm film (anything more than half a dozen shots, for example from a bulk roll, would do) then have a practice with that a few times. The rewind 'feel' is fairly consistent and you will be able to recognise what is going on.

Also, remember to wind a small amount of tension with the rewind lever when you have got the film to zero on the counter during loading. When you make the last blank exposure and wind-on you should then see the rewind-crank turn as the cassette core rotates. This is a very sensible confidence-check for the loading!

[dan_sutton]

why don't you just rewind more. why are you trying to time it just right? put all the film in the canister. wind twenty more times than you need.

[HuubL]

This is why I love this site. A question like this and than all these answers...

[semilog]

Ah, the things that we old farts take for granted...

[pachuco]

Well I feel like a jerk for not answering your question when I first saw it. I mean this in all honesty, I thought your post was a joke. After realizing it was not a joke I was reminded by my wife that when I first had a Leica years ago, I excitedly shot 36 frames but my film never advanced so they were all on one frame. Leica's are funny that way.

[browncycle]

I guess I'm an old fart too because when I read the line "I just got my first film camera" I didn't quite understand at first. My first camera was a film camera. I must be getting old...

[David Hughes]

It also pays to check the little rewind lever or button that releases the sprockets as, sometimes, they haven't engaged fully.

Dare I ask if any of you new comers have seen or heard of a dark or film changing bag? A sort of lightproof container with two light-tight sleeves for your hands; very useful for opening cameras inside and fiddling about with them in the dark.

Regards, David

[kyler.]

pachuca- Please do not feel bad. It was my fault at being hasty and not waiting for more responses in that I messed up. Although I probably lost many frames, I think of this as a learning experience and I won't make the mistake again.

David- That sounds like something that would come in handy for me a lot! I'll have to look into one.

Thanks again,
Kyle