Help, think I cooked my film...

[fireboomer]

Currently in Marocco and I am really enjoying this trip. I have my dads Olympus camera with me. It has a good zoom and does it all (focus,...) automatic. Wich is good for me since I don't know that much about photograhy.
As for film I have 100 ASA slide film with me.

Since some days I notice that the shuttertime (think that's the righ term) is quite a bit longer and the camera almost always indicates I should use the flash. The first films I used, I had shuttertimes up to 1/500 or 1/350 easily. Wich I think is quite good. But then again I don't know that much about photography.
The last 2 films the shuttertime always was 1/100 or below. I thinks this is quite long and I can't figger out why this is happening. At first I thougt the batteries of the camera might have been going flat, so I changed those but it stayed the same. I also switched films but that didn't make a difference.
So the only thing I can think of is that the films migt have gone bad because of high temperature.
In a sleepy moment I have placed my films in the wrong pannier wich means they have spent some time on the side on the bike closest to the exhaust. There where still some clothes and otherthings inbetween, but still...

Can anyone help me out with some advice or explain to me what is happening or has happened?
At the moment I am in Taroudant and I think I might find new slidefilms if needed around here.

Are the films that got to hot lost? Can the guy who will develop then in Belgium do anything? Should I mention something special...?

Lots of questions, just hoping the slides will come out ok.

Thanks for any help.

Pieter.

[Photog Rob]

Pieter,

One thing is for sure, and that is the fact that, "cooked" film or not, that is NOT the cause of the problem. The camera does not actually know the condition of the film, it merely suggests an exposure according to the ASA sensitivity of it.

Now, knowing exactly which camera model you have would help a lot, since I can't even tell if it's a reflex type or a compact point-and-shoot. For the time being, I suggest the following:

-tell us more!
-if the camera has DX coding (little electrical contacts where you place the film canister), make sure they are clean and that you are using DX-coded film (should say so in the box and have a pattern of silver and black rectangles in one side). If possible, try to override this coding and manually set it yourself. See your manual (you have it with you, don't you? don't you?)
-if no DX coding, check the film speed (or sensibility) is correctly set on the camera.

All else failing, have one of those last rolls processed as soon as possible and see whether there really is a problem or not. If you can't or are not sure, it would be wise to switch to print film as it's much more forgiving.

Let us know what happens!

Roberto.

[fireboomer]

OK, I'll take a look and see what I can find out about the camera (simply going to bring it to th cybercafe I guess).
As far as I know it is point and shoot with a zoom lens. I wouldn't be able to take care off all the settings myself because of lack of knowledge...

And euh... no manual with me... simply because my father lost it before I could do so.

I'll get back with more info asap. Thanks already for all the help offered.

Pieter.


PS: ehum should have taken a course or something before leaving Belgium. Think I learned my lesson this time...

[This message has been edited by fireboomer (edited 15 May 2002).]

[fireboomer]

Here is the info:

Olympus IS3000, intelligent zoom and flash.
ED 35-180, high resolution lens.

The camera has the DX coding contacts and they are clean. The film is Fujichrome Sensia 100 and it has the silver and black things.

I can go through the menu's and set shuttertime and so, but couldn't find the menu to set the films ASA / speed.

That's all I can come up with now. Hope it gives you some more insight.

Pieter.

[mmaarten]

Hi Pieter,

I think you can't set the ASA manualy on your camera.
However you can set the type of measuring and maybe there is an error. Try switching from "fuzzy logic" to "spot". With this you dicede yourself what spot will be used to measure. Point it at your subject (there is a spot-marking in the view-finder) and your have the correct place to measure.
Also it's a good idea to check your lens, maybe it's covered with desert-dust? Don't "wipe" it clean. Use a "blow-brush" (or blow yourself) until there are no "hard parts" left. Then you could use a soft pensil.

Don't point the lens directly into the sun, this could (will) damage the sensor.

If all fail's, just set the thing on manual and guess. You'll find some guidelines on the film-box.

For more info or support: http://cf.olympus-europa.com

Good luck.

Maarten

ps: I like your mails... Did you make a snow-man?


------------------
- www.maartensworld.tmfweb.nl -

[Edward The Head]

Originally posted by fireboomer:
Currently in Marocco and I am really enjoying this trip. I have my dads Olympus camera with me. It has a good zoom and does it all (focus,...) automatic. Wich is good for me since I don't know that much about photograhy.
As for film I have 100 ASA slide film with me.

I think I know what is going on here. When I first got my camera I knew little about taking pictures. I knew even less now that everything is automatic. My camera was doing the same thing and here's why. The camera "knows" the speed of your film, in your case 100. When it's too dark or it doesn't like something else it leaves the shutter open to get in more light. You can try as suggested and take it off automatic, or get faster film for dark situations.

Like I said I know very little about camera's but it sounds just like what mine was doing and I put it on manual and it worked just fine.

[Photog Rob]

Pieter,

In light of what you are saying, I'd recommend you process one of those "problem" films to see whether there actually is a problem or not. It is always a good idea to use a permanent marker and write on the canister what's on that roll, so you can test the one you care less about.

While I appreciate the other advice being given to you, I think it is not to right time to start experimenting with manual settings if you have little idea of what you should be doing. Right now my main concern is that you get back with usable pictures from your trip. You can learn more later.

So, try processing one, if it's fine, forget the whole problem, if it's somewhat off, I suggest you go to print film for the rest of your trip, if it's completely screwed, go get a nice cheap point-and-shoot to take you out of this. Maybe even a disposable or two will get you home if you don't take many pics.

Then, when you get home, by all means try to get to grips with your camera, and try the manual settings. You'll probably like them.

Best,

Roberto.

PS: before you go, take a look at the FAQs you'll see in this forum, and pay special heed to the one about using 400 ASA print film in a point-and-shoot!

[fireboomer]

Roberto,

Getting a film processed isn't that easy since I am not staying long enough in one place. Prints wouldn't be a proble they can be processed in most placed here in a day. But slidefilm is a problem, they have to send them to a labo...
I have only seven more day to go, so I think I have to go for a guess.

I found that if I set the camera to the 'm' mode I have to set shuttertime and the camera chooses diafragma. There is a plus and min indicating (i guess) when it is too short or to long. I noticed that I have shuttertimes around 350 easely this way and the diafragma is around 8. With the little I know this seems to make more sence.

I did mark the films and I know what i on them. I also know (roughly) when the problem occured. So I know wich films will be the 'problem ones'.

Thanks for all the advice so far.


Pieter.

PS: luckly my buddy Graham has taken quite a few pictures during the time we rode together. He already promised to send me doubles.

[fireboomer]

I think we can close the topic... the problem exist no longer... the camera just got stolen out of my (locked!!!) hotelroom. For more info see:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000110.html


Pieter.

[Photog Rob]

Sh*t. That is certainly no way to solve a camera problem. I know how you feel, I have had stuff snatched too. Now, let's pray that the camera was really screwed up, so that it's new "user" ends up with a nice set of totally black prints.

Now, the last paragraphs of my previous advice, about getting a cheap point-and-shoot still apply (talk about a bad omen here...)



Roberto.



[This message has been edited by Photog Rob (edited 20 May 2002).]