First film - Dark edge - diagnosis ?

[Ulev]

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Hello,

 

I've just puchased a M6ttl.

Today I got my pictures from the lab and about the first 8 pictures did show a darker "edge" with a greenish cast.

The film was a Fuji 400 but am not sure of the excact kind. I did puchase the camera in a photoshop and the film got loaded by the shop owner.

 

I inserted a Fuji Pro 400H now and will have a check of this one gives a similar problem, but meanwhile, has anyone an idea about the nature of the problem ?

 

Thank you

 

Ulev

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[Stealth3kpl]

Hello,

 

 

I inserted a Fuji Pro 400H now and will have a check of this one gives a similar problem, but meanwhile, has anyone an idea about the nature of the problem ?

 

Thank you

 

Ulev

 

You might like to try another lab to ensure the problem isn't due to the lab's scanner.

Pete

[andybarton]

It could be a dodgy shutter.

 

Take a fresh roll of film and shoot a test shot at every shutter speed. Have it processed at a different shop if you can. If you still have a problem, the camera will need a CLA.

[Ulev]

You might like to try another lab to ensure the problem isn't due to the lab's scanner.

Pete

 

Thanks Pete,

 

I did notice the "cast" on the negatives as wel so it's probably not a scan problem.

 

Rgds

Ulev

[Ulev]

It could be a dragging shutter.

 

Take a fresh roll of film and shoot a test shot at every shutter speed. Have it processed at a different shop if you can. If you still have a problem, the camera will need a CLA.

 

Thanks Andy,

 

That's a great idea !

The first shots might have been taken at the same shutter speed which might cause the error.

I'll take a test shot for every shutter speed tomorrow and keep you guy's posted !

 

Thanks

 

Ulev

[geotrupede]

I bet this is because the prints are cropped. In fact labs never really print the full frame, so if you have vignetting, you always see it on one side.

Advice? Try to scan yourself and check.

Good luck :-)

G

[Michael Geschlecht]

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Hello Everybody,

 

When you try to interpert negative film to discover the source of problems there are questions of interpertation.

 

Looking @ prints from said negatives introduces even more variables.

 

You might try slide fim. It removes many potential alternative considerations.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[adan]

I also suspect a shutter problem - one of the curtains is sticking a bit, changing the width of the shutter slit (and thus the exposure) as the slit travels across the frame.

 

Since you have the film in, use 5 frames to explore the problem. Find an evenly lit/colored subject (like your beach) and shoot pix at 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, and 1/60 (changing aperture to keep the overall exposure the same). I suspect you'll find the faster the shutter speed, the more obvious the fade-out.

 

However, the good news is this may just be temporary. If this particular M6 was sitting unused for a while before you bought it, that kind of inactivity can make the shutter "lazy" and produce just such results. Exercising the shutter with no film can often bring it back into good order.

[Ulev]

I also suspect a shutter problem - one of the curtains is sticking a bit, changing the width of the shutter slit (and thus the exposure) as the slit travels across the frame.

 

Since you have the film in, use 5 frames to explore the problem. Find an evenly lit/colored subject (like your beach) and shoot pix at 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, and 1/60 (changing aperture to keep the overall exposure the same). I suspect you'll find the faster the shutter speed, the more obvious the fade-out.

 

However, the good news is this may just be temporary. If this particular M6 was sitting unused for a while before you bought it, that kind of inactivity can make the shutter "lazy" and produce just such results. Exercising the shutter with no film can often bring it back into good order.

 

Thanks Adan,

 

This makes sense (and I hope you are right) .

 

The pictures with the problem are taken with the fastest shutter speed for sure.

 

The camera has a "sitting" history. According to the shop owner it had less then 6 (!) film rolls loaded ! Therefore considered to be "new" but as well "lazy" I guess.

 

Since I've already a film loaded I will continue for these test shots, thereafter give it a "workout" and have another test.

 

Thanks

 

Ulev

[Xmas]

Hi

 

Shoot 500 frames without a film in camera, watching TV...

 

Once the oil & grease stiffens too far it is a last cause normally.

 

Noel

[Bateleur]

I'd go for the sticky shutter theory too, the symptoms are similar to a situation I had where a lazy curtain left it's imprint on the negatives. A CLA by a reputable technician will in all likelyhood solve the problem.

 

Regards

Charles

[wizard]

When I had an M6TTL, it developed the same problem. The darkening is caused by the two shutter curtains not running in exact synchrony. You will likely note this problem only when using the 1/500 and 1/1000 shutter speeds, it is usually non existent at slower speeds. A CLA should take care of this problem, but in rare cases it can not be fixed.

 

Andy