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Bromide drag (?) on pushed HP5+ or something else going on?

I've opened the bottom of my M before rewinding and it looks similar. An irradiated film cannister also looks like that. I've never seen Bromide drag that severe
 
I agitate far less than the OP in my inversion tank and I've never detected any unevenness like that illustrated.
 
Definitely light leak

also, over agitation can also cause such streaks as we see with stand development, but with a much higher contrast.
 
So you think its either:
  1. the camera leaking somewhere? Wouldnt the issue show up on all rolls in that case?
  2. When taking the film out of the case and onto the reel, I use one of those black bags you stick your arms into when I do that?
  3. When its in the box before development?
 
It looks like an in-camera light leak to me too. Check the light seals around the edged of the camera back. Light seals in older cameras can deteriorate with age and wear, or may have been removed. Sneaky coves these light leaks...
 
kevs said:
It looks like an in-camera light leak to me too. Check the light seals around the edged of the camera back. Light seals in older cameras can deteriorate with age and wear, or may have been removed. Sneaky coves these light leaks...
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Is the only way to get it to a Leica center to check this or can looking at the camera give any hints? I took a few pictures of it open now.

 
I admit, this is a totally nuts idea-- any xray sources around? If it's only affecting one type of film, but looks like a light leak, is it possible the film itself has been exposed to something?

I know my old TRS-80 from 1980 had a CRT monitor that emitted X-rays (somewhat low level, but I recall someone actually took an x-ray image by placing some film behind them and working on the computer for a day or two).

Do you have an alternate camera you can try?
 

Yeah, I have a Minolta as well. I will try and do the same with it this weekend.

I've shot a new roll as well at 800 with M6. I will develop it tonight and see if I get the same results.
 
Another vote for a definite light leak...one can't get a black rebate like that any other way. Looks like it was fogged while the film was rolled up on a take-up reel..
 
emilkarl said:
Is the only way to get it to a Leica center to check this or can looking at the camera give any hints? I took a few pictures of it open now.

View attachment 259865 View attachment 259866 View attachment 259867 View attachment 259868
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I know I'm in minority of one but i'd just try another roll and this time when you develop put the reel with film on the bottom then an empty reel on top and follow Ilford's instructions to the letter

The sprockets on the left side are showing development around them too which isnt a light leak.

Im sure i've had a roll look just like this when i heated microphen up to 35 degrees and developed for 5 minutes as an experiment. I wish i still had that roll to check but from memory it looked very much like yours.
 
emilkarl said:
Is the only way to get it to a Leica center to check this or can looking at the camera give any hints? I took a few pictures of it open now.

View attachment 259865 View attachment 259866 View attachment 259867 View attachment 259868
Click to expand...

Thanks; I'm not familiar with Leica cameras or their ecosystem. Judging by your negs, it seems likely light may be leaking through the back around the take-up spool when the film is static in the camera, and is being shielded by the sprockets. Bear in mind though, light doesn't always fog film adjacent to the leak; it could be on the other side of the camera.

Yes, it's probably best to get the camera to a service centre and show them the negatives. You might pay a bit of money but you'll have a fully working camera and guaranteed workmanship.

You might be able to search for a D.I.Y. solution on your favourite search engine. If you need a temporary fix, you could stick black insulation tape around the film door and pretend it's an expensive Holga...

Best of luck.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the replies and theories. It actually seems like it was a development issue somewhere and not the camera.

Yesterday I finished a new roll of HP5+ that I developed for 800. I followed the same recipe but was very careful with all of the steps. When rolling up the film on the reel. Made 100% sure that the reel was in the bottom of the tank, put the other reel on top.

By no means perfect there is at least no sign of bromide drag or light leaks.

 
It's a light leak. Can be an improperly closed light trap in the bulk loader when loading the film, improperly closed film cassette, improperly light-proofed development tank or an in-camera issue. It's not a chemistry-related development issue, bromide drag etc.; 100% sure light leak. It's fun to see all the other hypotheses but they don't make sense.
 

Love that first photo!
 
Wow those are mighy grainy. How do you achieve that?
 
Fill the tank almost all the way. Just do it. Agitate gently! Invert and rotate the tank twice, once per minute!
 
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