What happens if you expose movie film to light before it's been developed?

Question

I found this old camera in my parents' house, and I opened the film section of the camera, expecting it to be empty. I found, however, an old roll of film and quickly closed the camera. What will happen? I know if you expose photographic film to light it gets overexposed and ruined, but does the same thing happen to movie film? (The camera is an old Keystone 8 mm.)

Answer 1

It is light sensitive the same as that in a still camera - you have ruined it.

Answer 2

The film is not "ruined." There really is no such thing as ruined in film unless there is absolutely no image.



Depending on the exact type of camera (how the film is laid out in it,) the ISO of film and how long and what kind of light hit the film, there are MANY different effects that could occur.



Keystone was more known for super8 cartridges, than straight 8mm roll film so if that's the case, there's not anything wrong the film at all. It may have also been daylight load film. Even if it is hyper-sensitive roll film, there are a lot of variables that we don't know but more likely than not, the film will just have interesting leaks and fogging in SOME sections of it. There will still be perfectly recognizable images for you to enjoy.



At any rate, I suggest finding a place to have it processed and not panicking. Even film that is exposed to light by accident can look cool or still give some historical document. To just write it off as being ruined is nothing short of an uneducated, negative answer. Good luck with your 8mm!

Answer 3

12 Angry Men Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Rope Long Day's Journey Into Night A Streetcar Named Desire (I suppose) Cast Away (I mean, c'mon, for the most part) One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is mostly one place... OH!! The Shining.... yeah.... that's the hotel and nothing other than their house for about six minutes... That should count.... There's a lot more.. Rear Window! Yeah. That would have to be one.

Answer 4

The film is probably ruined. No harm in developing it anyway. Just in case some of it can be saved. However, the chances are, with it being an old camera and old film, it was probably already knackered. You cant just keep unexposed film forever. It has a use by date.

Answer 5

These cameras and film spools were designed to be loaded and unloaded in subdued daylight, you may have fogged a couple extra feet of film in the middle of the film but should still get it processed--Google Rocky Mountain Color Labs, they specialize in processing old films that required discontinued processes.

Answer 6

Film is film, if it's exposed to light it's ruined.