How do I remove film safely from an old camera?

In my recent efforts to declutter I have found two cameras with film. Neither will rewind. I would like to try to save the film and find out what pictures are on there. Is it possible? Are there any camera shops left out there?|||If these are old 35mm or APS point and shoot cameras with motor advance, try putting in new batteries.





If it is an old slr type camera or point and shoot camera with a mechanical crank, make sure you have depressed the rewind button on the bottom of the camera before turning the rewind knob.|||yes there are, however it's expensive, your best bet would be to take it to your nearest school or college that has an art department, explain your problem and see if they can help, they most likely won't charge you.|||they will have to be opened in a dark room otherwise you will ruin the film try a local photographer explain your problem am sure he will open them and rewind them , he probably will Develop them as well for a fee|||If you have a photo daylight changing bag you can use that instead of finding a photo-lab. If you don't or can't find a photo-daylight changing bag you can use a heavy or thick trench coat. Button it up (inside and outside if possible), fold it in half. Put your camera and if necessary a light tight container for the film in the top portion of the coat before folding in half. (buttons inward). Then take it into a dark room or dark closet.. Using the arms of the coat, access the the camera and open the back. Take out the film and manually re-spool the film back into the container or papaer backing and seal. If necessary place the film in the light tight container for processing. You can do this for each camera you need to open. This is an old photographers emergency trick for saving exposed film. Then you can find a photoprocessor online (Google) to send your film to.


I hope this helps you with your problem.|||Depending on what cameras you have there are different ways to take out the film. E.g. 120 format (medium format) film does not have to be rewound - it is simply completely wound on the taking spool and then taken out. It has a backing paper which prevents the film to be exposed to light when on the spool.


35mm cameras need the film to be rewound. If they are battery driven you might need new batteries and there is often a small button you have to push to rewind the film before all frames are exposed.


Manual 35 mm cameras have some sort of device that prevents the film from being rewound. In most of them a button on the bottom of the camera disengages that device and you can rewind the film.


A photographer with a darkroom or a camera store can help as well.





If you could give the cameras make and type it would be helpful to give specific instructions.