What to Do When Your Film Jams: A Simple Guide

Apr 27

We’ve all been there. You’re out shooting, you’ve found the perfect shot, you go to advance your film, and… nothing. The lever won’t budge. Or maybe your point-and-shoot starts making a stressed-out whirring sound — EEK!
It’s a heart-sinking feeling, but before you panic or—worse—*try to force it*, take a breath.

A jammed roll doesn’t have to mean you’re done for the day. Let’s go over a few things to get you back to shooting.

First: Don’t Fight the Film.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you is this: If it feels stuck, don't force it. Modern film is surprisingly strong, and if you pull too hard, you’re more likely to rip the sprocket holes or, worst case scenario, strip the gears inside your camera. If the camera is telling you it’s done, listen to it.

Second: Check the Counter

Take a quick look at your frame counter. Are you at 24 or 36? Sometimes we get caught up in the moment and forget we’ve reached the end of the roll.
If you’re at the end, hit that film release button, start rewinding, and you’re good to go.

But if you’re only on frame 12? Then you might have a jam.

Find a Dark Space

If you have to open the back of the camera to see what’s going on, you need to be in total darkness. I’m talking closet-with-a-towel-under-the-door dark. If any light hits that film while the back is open, those photos are most likely going to be lost to the ether (and at the very least, be over exposed or littered with light leaks).

Once you’re in the dark, try these steps to salvage your roll of film to keep shooting.

Open the back of your camera and feel if the film is still running smoothy from the canister to the take-up spool. If it feels bunched up like an accordion, try to gently guide it back toward the canister while it’s still in the camera. Yes, you may end up with fingerprints on your roll, but hey if you can save your film and keep shooting— I’d take the chance.
- If you really want to be careful, having a pair of archival cotton gloves on hand is always great to keep in your film toolbox!
This can still pose a little risk if you get the film scooted back into its canister if your film has been creased heavily, but if you’ve smoothed it down and there’s tension between the canister and take up spool, go ahead and close your camera back.
Try to advance the film by snapping a few images. If you can keep shooting with the advance lever moving smoothly between exposures, you should be good to go. If your film still won’t budge, move to the next step.
In a dark room, hit the film release button on the bottom of your camera and try to rewind your film. If you’re film still doesn’t budge with an auto-rewind, or manual rewind, move onto the next step.
Open the back of the camera while it’s on a flat surface and remove your film canister from the camera, then gently unwind the film from the take up spool.
From here, slowly push the film back into the canister.

“What If This Happens When I’m Shooting on Location?”

Easy, pray to the film gods! Just kidding ~kind of~
This scenario really can cause quite a bit of stress if you’re in the middle of an important shoot, or if you’re out in the mountains and without a dark space to see what’s happening behind the camera back. Here is what I would do in this case (in addition to praying to the film gods):

If feasible, find a shady location! This will help with step number two.
Did you bring a jacket, backpack, or camera bag? If so, this is what I would use to put my camera inside of and check the film. It may not block out all of the light, but it will certainly keep your film from being completely exposed in direct sun. The darker the cover, the better. Even shaded areas will still expose your film to light, so try to find something that will block the light as much as possible.
Follow the steps 1-6 previously mentioned above to check the status of your film.

Just remember—

Breath & don’t panic. This happens to all of us at some point or another, such is the nature of shooting film.
And sometimes, if you’re lucky, those jams can turn into something unexpected, and pretty cool like multiple exposures!