Development issue or light-leak?

rwreich · Feb 22, 2016

Hello friends,

I was running a test to see if my latest (old) camera had an issue at 1/1000, so I shot an entire roll of HP5+ of the same scene within two minutes at 1/1000. Of the 36 shots, none exhibited the clear band of non-exposure typical for a shutter issue, but I discovered something else that was rather peculiar. I was hoping someone might like to talk about it to see what the issue could be. I don't have a scanner, so these were just iPhone grabs.

This is what almost every frame looks like =>

This is what the first two frames look like (00A & 0A) =>

So, I think it looks like a light leak where some sunlight got into the can during loading. But, maybe it's an issue with development... any ideas?

rwreich · Feb 22, 2016

APUGuser19 said:
That's a light leak, dude.

That's what I thought... just wanted to verify with a second or third opinion. It's only on the first couple frames but it runs up the sides next to the sprockets until frame 6 or 7. Do you think it's a camera light-leak or a film canister light-leak?

Sirius Glass · Feb 23, 2016

Is the light struck area only at the beginning of the rolls? Did you start shooting as soon as you closed the camera after loading the film? The film must advance enough to get the light struck portion passed the shutter.

Xmas · Feb 23, 2016

Hi
Not developing issue.
You should inspect the camera before shooting a film.
Capping is easily detectable.
Most cameras need foam everywhere and it needs to be intact. Sticky, missing residue or dusty you need replace yourself... Or send off as if debris gets into shutter camera needs big repair...
Try
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/sealreplacement.html
Or google Jon Goldman foam

Forum just threw Jave script error!

MattKing · Feb 23, 2016

Xmas said:
Or google Jon Goldman foam

Actually, Jon Goodman

markbarendt · Feb 23, 2016

Was it bulk loaded film in reusable cassettes?

Xmas · Feb 23, 2016

MattKing said:
Actually, Jon Goodman

Thanks predictive text error hope the link works as well...

rpavich · Feb 23, 2016

markbarendt said:
Was it bulk loaded film in reusable cassettes?

I know that on my bulk loaded cassettes I get the edge darkening as seen in the second photo in some.

MartinP · Feb 23, 2016

It looks very much like a leak through the cassette lips to me, although it isn't bulk rolled film in a reusable cassette ie. the cassette is not re-used. Perhaps it was particularly sunny at some point in the cassettes journey from container to camera, and back again?

Ricardo Miranda · Feb 23, 2016

No, it isn't the cassette.

It is your camera, more precisely the hinge at the end.
You haven't said what camera it is, but I would change the seals at the end.

rwreich · Feb 23, 2016

Thanks for the replies!

So, three things: 1) The darkening in the frame is only on 00A and 0A. The darkening near the sprockets is only present in the first five or seven frames, but does not interfere in the frame after frame 0.

2) The camera is a 1954 Nikon S2 and I'm honestly not sure that there was ever any foam in the seals. Because of the nature of the back/bottom plate, I just can't tell. I'm not familiar enough with the camera to "know" otherwise.

3) The film was not bulk loaded in a reusable cartridge but it was especially sunny as I was loading up the film. (The settings for the shot were noted as ISO 400, 1/1000, f/11 = EI 15ish)

paul ron · Feb 23, 2016

shoot another roll n see how consistant the "leak" is before assuming anything.

rwreich · Feb 23, 2016

paul ron said:
shoot another roll n see how consistant the "leak" is before assuming anything.

I have probably put about 15 rolls through this camera, but this is the first time I've noticed this. I have other rolls where there is some exposure on the edge of the sprockets but never disturbing the frame.

The only reason I inspected this roll was because I got a roll of color film back from a lab and one or two of the frames looked like it could have had a shutter issue at 1/1000. This roll was supposed to just be a test of the shutter to see how many times per roll I could expect problems at 1/1000. I found zero issues with the shutter, but this new issue is interesting.

I'll go back for a more careful inspection of the other rolls and report back. Thanks, everyone, for thinking this out with me!

Xmas · Feb 23, 2016

rwreich said:
Thanks for the replies!

So, three things: 1) The darkening in the frame is only on 00A and 0A. The darkening near the sprockets is only present in the first five or seven frames, but does not interfere in the frame after frame 0.

2) The camera is a 1954 Nikon S2 and I'm honestly not sure that there was ever any foam in the seals. Because of the nature of the back/bottom plate, I just can't tell. I'm not familiar enough with the camera to "know" otherwise.

3) The film was not bulk loaded in a reusable cartridge but it was especially sunny as I was loading up the film. (The settings for the shot were noted as ISO 400, 1/1000, f/11 = EI 15ish)

Good news probably your fault you need to load in shade.
An S2 has no foam.

rwreich · Feb 23, 2016

Xmas said:
Good news probably your fault you need to load in shade.
An S2 has no foam.

Good idea...

davedm · Feb 25, 2016

Which tank you are using ? what was the developer volume used ?

rwreich · Feb 25, 2016

davedm said:
Which tank you are using ? what was the developer volume used ?

I use the Patterson universal tank because I do also develop 120. This role and most of the others were developed in 500ml of D76 1:1.

Here is an image of another roll where exposure along the sprockets is even worse. None of the frames are ever disturbed, but it's still odd. This roll was shot in Puerto Rico on a family vacation.

Again, pardon the poor quality of the iPhone cam. The negs look good in real life.

pdeeh · Feb 25, 2016

Perfectly good enough quality

I get this occasionally. It might be light-piping, or it might simply be where the edges of the film have been in contact with the spiral grooves in the reel.

As it doesn't impinge on the image area I don't worry about it.

davedm · Feb 25, 2016

As pdeeh said, the issue with initial frames may be light pipping in strong sunlight. Please report if you continue to get the same problem.

Regarding the dark rebates, this may be result of photoflow build up on the reels if you are using photoflow with film on reels. Try cleaning reels with warm soapy water with a brush and see it helps.

rwreich · Feb 25, 2016

davedm said:
As pdeeh said, the issue with initial frames may be light pipping in strong sunlight. Please report if you continue to get the same problem.

Regarding the dark rebates, this may be result of photoflow build up on the reels if you are using photoflow with film on reels. Try cleaning reels with warm soapy water with a brush and see it helps.

Thanks for taking the time to look and advise!

Development issue or light-leak?

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