How to Rewind 35mm Film — and What Happens If You Open the Back
Finished the roll? How to rewind safely, what to do when it won’t rewind, and how much you lose if the back gets opened.
To rewind 35mm film in a manual camera: when the advance lever stops at the end of the roll, press the rewind release button (usually on the bottom of the camera), flip out the rewind crank, and turn it in the direction of its arrow until you feel the tension release and the crank spins freely. Only then open the back. If you open the back before rewinding, light will fog the film — close it immediately to save what you can.
Here's how to rewind correctly, what to do when something goes wrong, and what happens if the back gets opened.
How to rewind 35mm film, step by step
- Recognize the end of the roll. The advance lever stops partway or won't move, and the counter is at or past the roll's length. Don't force the lever — that can tear the film from the cartridge.
- Press the rewind release. On most manual cameras it's a small button on the bottom plate. It disengages the sprockets so the film can move backward. (On some cameras it's a lever or collar near the shutter button.)
- Unfold the rewind crank on the top left of the camera.
- Turn the crank in the direction of the arrow (usually clockwise). You'll feel steady resistance.
- Feel for the release. When the leader comes off the take-up spool, resistance drops suddenly and the crank spins freely. Stop there if you want to leave the leader out, or turn a few more times to wind it fully into the cartridge.
- Open the back and remove the cartridge.
Leader in or out? Winding the leader fully inside tells everyone the roll is shot and protects it from being reloaded by accident. If you leave it out, mark the canister "EXPOSED."
Automatic cameras
Most point-and-shoots and autofocus film cameras rewind themselves at the end of the roll, with a whirring motor. Wait until it stops completely before opening the back. Many also have a mid-roll rewind button if you need to remove a partly shot roll.
What if the rewind crank won't turn?
- You didn't press the rewind release — or it popped back up. Hold it down while you start turning.
- The film is torn from the cartridge (often from forcing the advance lever). The crank spins freely right away but the film is still on the take-up spool. Don't open the camera. Bring it to us unopened, and we'll remove the film in the dark.
- Batteries are dead in a motorized camera. Replace them before opening.
What happens if you open the back before rewinding?
Light hits the film that's out of the cartridge. How much you lose depends on how quickly you close it:
- Frames across the camera back and the ones nearest the opening are usually lost to fog (they'll come back black or washed out).
- Frames wound tightly on the take-up spool are partly protected — the outer layers shield the inner ones — so some photos are often saved.
What to do: close the back immediately, rewind as normal, and have the roll developed. Tell the lab it was opened. Our guide to film light leaks shows what fogged frames look like.
Mid-roll rewind
Need to remove a roll before it's finished? Note the frame number, press the rewind release, and rewind only until you feel the leader detach — then stop, so the leader stays out. You can reload it later, advance past the shot frames with the lens cap on, and continue. This takes care, so mark the cartridge with the frame count.
FAQ
How do I know when my film roll is finished?
The advance lever stops or becomes hard to move, and the frame counter is at the end of the roll (for example, 24 or 36). Don't force it — rewind instead.
Which way do you rewind 35mm film?
In the direction of the arrow on the rewind crank, usually clockwise, after pressing the rewind release button.
What happens if I open my camera without rewinding the film?
Light fogs the exposed film. Close the back immediately; frames wound tightly on the take-up spool are often saved, but those near the opening are usually lost.
My film won't rewind — what should I do?
Make sure you've pressed the rewind release. If the crank spins freely without resistance from the start, the film may be torn. Don't open the camera; bring it to a lab to be unloaded in the dark.
Rolled up and ready? Send your film to our film lab or bring it — or a camera you can't open — to our shop at 731 Franklin Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 (Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (closed Saturday)). Loading the next roll? See how to load 35mm film.
Cover photo: D. Meyer, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.
Written and reviewed by the Neptune Photo team — the staff behind the counter and in the film lab at our Garden City, NY shop since 1963. Read our editorial policy
