I just bought a new EOS Rebel 2000 and have 2 questions 1.Can I use a roll of film if I take it out in midroll if so how and if not why would this feature be any use to me 2. My manual says I cant use infrared film what will happed if I try

I am an extreme begginer and hope these questions are not to dumb

-- Robert Fisher (rfisher@new-quest.net), May 13, 1999

Answers

I'm assuming that, since the 2000 manual says specifically not to use IR film, that it has the same IR transport/counter as the A2, etc. In this case, the camera uses an IR counter to determine frame number, and the counter would cause IR film to cloud. It also suggests that the 2000 body would be as accurate (which is reputed to be extreme) as the other EOS bodies in realigning film to the correct frame. I don't know if the Rebel 2000 has provisions for rewinding the film with the leader out, which is required to reload film mid-roll. Theoretically, you could use a mechanical leader retreiver, but I haven't tried that, and won't suggest it.

This has been covered many times in the photo.net forums with regrads to the Elan II, A2, etc. Check there, and search the archives.

Good luck.

-- Scott (bliorg@yahoo.com), May 14, 1999.

I'm not familiar with the Rebel 2000 (US name I believe) so I don't know what it would be called here in the UK, or exactly what features it has, but the 'lower end' EOS bodies do use an IR detector for frame counting so will fog IR film.

With regard to the midroll rewind feature, I find this very useful e.g. changing film speed to suit conditions, changing from colour to B&W, negs to transparancies etc. Again lower end bodies do not give you the option of rewinding with the leader out, so it is necesary to use a retrieval device, Ilford make quite a good one, but I use a cheaper version made for a well known UK photo retailer. They do need a bit of practice, you may find you need a few attempts on each film to get it to work.

A few important points:

Beware of being too rough with the retriever or you may scratch the emulsion.

When you remove a film midroll, mark the can with the frame count using a permanent marker pen and retrieve the leader immediately - don't get caught out by needing a film in a hurry and having to get the leader out first.

When reloading the film later, note the last exposure number on the can, load as usual & then advance the film to an unused frame by pressing/holding the shutter button ***with the lens cap on*** (!) until the frame counter is at the next unused frame (see below) on the remainder of the film. I usually go one frame past this to be sure of avoiding overlap, giving up one frame like this is far better than ruining what may be the best shot on the roll by a partial double exposure if the camera doesn't locate the film precisely in the same place, this will also give you a blank frame on your developed negs to clearly split the film into sessions. I have also got into the habit of setting the fastest shutter speed & smallest aperture whilst advancing the film, just in case any light leaks past the cap, not sure if this is necessary, but it won't do any harm.

When advancing the reloaded film, make sure you understand how your frame counter works, this will determine whether the 'next' frame number is higher or lower than the previous one. I use 2 EOS bodies, a 500N & 1N. Whereas the 1N frame counter increments between frames (the conventional way), the 500N starts at the max number of frames on the film and counts DOWN, it therefore shows how many shots remain. This is because when a film is loaded it is wound out onto the camera spool and wound back in as it is exposed, a safeguard against opening the camera back with a film loaded, all you lose is unexposed film and maybe one or two frames that haven't been wound back in completely, quite a good idea, but be careful if you transfer a film to or from a different camera which works the opposite way, because you will be starting at the opposite end of the film and working towards the already exposed part so in this case you just reload and start shooting, but remember to stop before you reach the used portion, again I would leave a single frame safety margin between them.

I hope this will be of some use to you, good luck.

-- Simon Foster (sfoster@netcomuk.co.uk), May 16, 1999.

Make sure to cover the viewfinder when advancing pre-shot film.

-- Paul Runnoe (prunnoe@aros.net), May 21, 1999.