colin_d Posted May 20, 2011 Share #1 Posted May 20, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have noticed scratches on my film in the last few months. It appears to be worse on negs than slide film. At first I accused the processor of causing them and they took responsibility blaming the squeeqy they used and compensated me and said they would update their equipment. Now because the scratches still appear and run lengthways in perfectly straight lines, but intermitantly not the entire length of the film, I suspect it could be the camera causing them. Is this a known issue with film Ms? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 20, 2011 Posted May 20, 2011 Hi colin_d, Take a look here Scratches on flim from the camera?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pico Posted May 20, 2011 Share #2 Posted May 20, 2011 First stop using a sweegie, then get back to us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted May 20, 2011 Share #3 Posted May 20, 2011 I've suggested this before, but run a film through the camera exposing only half the frames - leaving the rest in the cassette. Rewind and process. If the scratches are found on the part of the film that never left the cassette, then it's the processing. If they are only on the exposed part of the film, then it's the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 20, 2011 Share #4 Posted May 20, 2011 Hi If the scratches on different films are in the same position and same side (emulsion and base) and fixed distances apart then it is the camera, not cassettes or squeegee. If so it is probably the base so pop off the door and use a jewelers loupe on the leading and trailing edges of the pressure plate, the usual suspect. But you have not characterised the scratches... Not normal with Leicas BTW. Corrosion on normal cameras the plate should not corrode... If you are sending it to tecco send several uncut films as well, saves him the effort... Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted May 20, 2011 Share #5 Posted May 20, 2011 It's almost certainly the fault of the processor. Sometimes you can get a piece of dirt in the film chamber of the camera, but just use a lens brush to dust it out, anything sharp should be obvious. John has made an excellent suggestion, not only can you eliminate the camera (assuming that it is the labs fault), but you can then show them that it is their fault! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted May 20, 2011 Ok, I'll try using half a roll and see what happens. Attached is a sample shot with a noticeable scratch on the right in the brickwork, not the worst by any means. Scratches always runn dead straight longways which made me think it would be the camera. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/152164-scratches-on-flim-from-the-camera/?do=findComment&comment=1677566'>More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 20, 2011 Share #7 Posted May 20, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ok, I'll try using half a roll and see what happens. Attached is a sample shot with a noticeable scratch on the right in the brickwork, not the worst by any means. Scratches always runn dead straight longways which made me think it would be the camera. Cameras can scratch film, if you have scratches on two films, and they are in different positions then it is unlikely to be the camera, if they are i the same position then it may be the camera. You need to compare negatives, The second query is are the scratches on emulsion side or base side of the film, if they are on the emulsion side it is likely to be the processor or the cassette, on the base it can be the cameras pressure plate. The base is normally glossy the emulsion more matt. Again you need to look at the negatives. Mini labs can do length wide scratches as can cassette velvet. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted May 23, 2011 Cameras can scratch film, if you have scratches on two films, and they are in different positions then it is unlikely to be the camera, if they are i the same position then it may be the camera. You need to compare negatives, The second query is are the scratches on emulsion side or base side of the film, if they are on the emulsion side it is likely to be the processor or the cassette, on the base it can be the cameras pressure plate. The base is normally glossy the emulsion more matt. Again you need to look at the negatives. Mini labs can do length wide scratches as can cassette velvet. Noel On inspection of the neg the scratch is on the base side, I'll check the camera when I have finished the current roll. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 23, 2011 Share #9 Posted May 23, 2011 Jewelers loupe, matching the film scratch with the pressure plate, pig to address BTW, ... been known to swap backplates... Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
too old to care Posted May 23, 2011 Share #10 Posted May 23, 2011 Developed 2 rolls of film today. Both in same tank, no squeezie on either roll. One was fine, other one was full of small scratches. Both shot same day, thus must assume that the film canister was defective on one roll. Both Plus X. My M6 has never done this before so I believe that it is ok. This does not help you if all of your rolls are the same, hopefully they are not and it is the film or processing. Wayne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted May 24, 2011 Share #11 Posted May 24, 2011 Do you take the film out of the cassette when loading it onto the processing reel or do you pull it back through the cassette felt light trap? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
too old to care Posted May 24, 2011 Share #12 Posted May 24, 2011 I pry the end of the canister off with a bottle opener to remove the film. I normally do not have any problem, did today. Wayne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 24, 2011 Share #13 Posted May 24, 2011 If it is a new commercial 35mm cassette straight out of the plastic mini tub, then you must be in (or have been in) a dusty environment, I frequently blower brush cameras just to keep film shards out of focal plane shutters, should keep dust & grit out as well. You can salvage a film with a scratch on the base side, but you dont need to have to do this often. Bad enough having to take jewelers rouge to pressure plate. Noel P.S. I use IXMOO and FILCA for bulk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikael Siirilä Posted May 24, 2011 Share #14 Posted May 24, 2011 I have had similar problems with several self-developed films. Small straight scratches quite often. On both Tri-X and Delta 100/400. For the last two rolls I cleaned by M6 very well with pressurized air to make sure there is absolutely no dust inside. Also made sure the film rolls were clean. I developed normally but this time I used the Ilfotol wetting agent before drying. I used a clean squeegee and ran in relatively gently. No scratches on either one of those films. Not sure what caused them, still, but atleast I will stick to this process. -- Mikael Siirilä mikael.siirila.net www.flickr.com/photos/mikaelsiirila Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted May 25, 2011 Share #15 Posted May 25, 2011 Squeege or fingers or whatever you can think of will eventual cause scratches. Do it long enough and you will prove it. Do not rub on film. Check the surface and edges of pressure plate and the sprocket drive shaft and around the film gate. Once you switch to home processing and reloadable Leica brass cassettes all this goes away. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted May 29, 2011 I've checked the back of the camera and can see no reason for scratches to appear so I guess it's either the cannister or the processor. I will be getting a roll of Ektachrome E200 processed tomorrow, that might be informative although I find transparencies are not as affected as negs. Is it possible slides are not affected because of a different development process? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 29, 2011 Share #17 Posted May 29, 2011 On inspection of the neg the scratch is on the base side, I'll check the camera when I have finished the current roll. So are the scratches on the base side on all the negatives and are they in the same or on different places? Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted May 30, 2011 So are the scratches on the base side on all the negatives and are they in the same or on different places? Noel Noel, they vary, in number and position although when I only have one it could be in the same place as one of the multiple scratches when I have many, if that makes sense. And some rolls are worse than others, so all in all its pointing to the cannister or processor. The processor is a pro lab so I went away from them. I pick up the Ektachrome transparnecies this arvo, wait and see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted June 1, 2011 Share #19 Posted June 1, 2011 Hi Colin At least tt is not your Leica. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSUSpartan Posted June 16, 2011 Share #20 Posted June 16, 2011 I just bought a "unused" used MP and having the same issue. I think I've came to the conclusion that it's the pressure plate somehow, but I cleaned it and felt around on the pressure plate and noted nothing.... I ran through a couple rolls of film in the camera with the door closed, opened, bottom plate on, off.... it only happens when the pressure plate is closed and I think I pinpointed the location of where it starts, but when I look at the corresponding point on the pressure plate, there's nothing there... Frustrating. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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