Can't understand what's happened here? Rollei 400S

[dickgillberg]

I can't understand what's going wrong here. It's a Rollei 400 S film that I've loaded my self from a 30.5 m roll with my Computrol loader. I can't say that I do that a lot but I think Im doing it right. Shoot with my Canon Eos 1V. Developed as I use to with my steel tank in Ilfotec HC.

 

[koraks]

I would guess this is most likely a problem when handling the film in the bulk loader. Either when loading the bulk film into the loader or when loading the film onto a 35mm cassette. The sharp delineation to the fogged area makes me lean towards the former; that somehow the bulk roll unrolled a bit, stuck to the inside wall of the loader and then light leaked past the loader's lid. The roll of exposed sprockets in the 3rd and 4th full strips visible suggests that some of the film was stuck to itself when the fogging exposure took place. Because of the sharp outlines, the whole thing was pretty static during the fogging exposure, suggesting it either happened over time with a very small light leak, or it was quick and instantaneous.

I'd suggest removing the bulk roll from the loader and tucking it safely into its original packaging, and then carefully inspecting the bulk loader for light leaks.

 

[Dustin McAmera]

I don't now how you load your tank, but I would also consider whether it might have happened then. Clearly, one layer of film has shadowed the next, but they weren't perfectly aligned when it happened. I wonder if this might be a quick flash of light up the sleeve of a black changing bag, while you had the film out of its cassette. If that's what it is, check if the elastic of the changing bag sleeves is still ok, and wear long sleeves yourself when using the bag.

 

[koraks]

I wonder if this might be a quick flash of light up the sleeve of a black changing bag, while you had the film out of its cassette.

I thought about something associated with the development tank, but what makes me lean in a different direction is this mostly the sharp delineation to the fogged edges, which would be hard to pull off inside a changing bag etc. I also think it's quite challenging to pull that off inside a development tank, one way or another. The period of the sinusoidal repetition also suggests a larger radius than a 35mm cassette or camera film take-up spool, which rules out something happening inside the cassette and the camera.
So that's how I arrive at the thought that it's probably related to the bulk loader. But that's also a bit of a guess, I admit.

 

[dickgillberg]

Thank you! I think I try another roll with the bulk loader first and another camera. I load my developing reels in my darkroom so I rule out that.

 

[koraks]

I think I try another roll with the bulk loader first and another camera.

Let us know how that turns out. As explained above, the only thing I personally believe to be free of any suspicion is the camera, so my expectation is that this experiment won't fix any problem that may exist.

 

[Kino]

I think you might somehow be briefly opening the light trap and fogging the film you are loading.

The light hit frame 1 and reflected around the interior of the bulk loader, printing in the outline of the leading strand.

Notice the perforations printed into the next layer.

This also appears to happen on the tail of the bulk load, so you may need to revisit how and when you open the light trap to spool the film.

If the Computrol works like most inexpensive bulk loaders, it depends on a firm, friction seal of the light trap when operating. You may not be closing the trap firmly enough...

 

[pentaxuser]

Here's something you might try: Unroll enough film from the loader into a cassette while in total darkness either in a room or changing bag and set aside; then take the roll completely out of the loader and do as above

Take the same set of pictures twice with both rolls and see what difference if any it makes. If the second roll is fine but the first roll is not then that suggests a problem with the loader.

What you find or do not find might help determine where you go from there

pentaxuser

 

[Kino]

Here's something you might try: Unroll enough film from the loader into a cassette while in total darkness either in a room or changing bag and set aside; then take the roll completely out of the loader and do as above

Take the same set of pictures twice with both rolls and see what difference if any it makes. If the second roll is fine but the first roll is not then that suggests a problem with the loader.

What you find or do not find might help determine where you go from there

pentaxuser

Good idea.

 

[pentaxuser]

Good idea.

Thanks Can I now add to the OP that based on your comment about cause: Sacrifice the next few inches of film nearest to the exit of the loader to ensure that it isn't used, just in case there is a light leak when you extracted the previous end rom the bulk roll.

It may be sacrificing a few more inches unnecessarily but better to be safe and be sure that you have eliminated any possibility of a light leak being at what will be the end of the next roll that you use

pentaxuser