Don't you just hate that?

[rmolson]

Don't you just hate that?

For nearly a year I have fought a fog problem with my 120 film I have 2 Bronicas SQ1a's and three magazines plus an old beater Yashica D ( which really does have a great lens) all four combinations would exhibit fog starting at the taped edge and extending a couple of inches and then down the side of the roll. The pattern was consistent from mag to mag and camera to camera. I had posted earlier and several comments suggested removing the fluorescent lights from the darkroom. Did that didn't seem to change anything Shot a roll of color film and sent it out to be developed ,no fog. This indicated it had to be in the darkroom., Switched to loading in a changing bag, some what better,( I use stainless steel tanks so leakage there isn't likely) still got some at the lead of the film at the taped edge,almost to the middle of the first frame Then I started loading in subdued light so dim I could barely see the slot in the take up spool to load the film. Wound the film carefully to the arrow and closed the magazine, Taped up every joint including the flip out for the posts to roll the film spools before advancing the film to fame 1. Still got it.400 speed film stronger than 125 speed All the same brand Ilford Finally having run out of ideas I order a different brand of film. Thinking maybe the spool somehow lets the light in when I handle it. I have been doing this for 50+ years and once had a touch so light I could grip wet color sheet film from the wash tank and never leave a print! Ordered the different brand of film and meanwhile developed the HP-5 roll in the camera of snow scenes shot in full sun.....not a blinking sign of fog!!!And I have no idea why? The problem stopped. Don' t you just hate that!?

 

[thebanana]

Maybe your old batch of B&W film had been x-rayed? It doesn't sound like a loading/unloading problem to me.

 

[AgX]

There are type 120 films around where the backing paper is too narrow (or the flange distance is too wide).
This could lead to light fogging while handling the spooled and end-taped film or to flipping open of the end piece while loading.

 

[jim appleyard]

There are type 120 films around where the backing paper is too narrow (or the flange distance is too wide).
This could lead to light fogging while handling the spooled and end-taped film or to flipping open of the end piece while loading.

This could be, but Ilford has very high standards of QC; never had a problem with Ilford in many years of shooting it.

 

[George Collier]

Which end of the film goes into the center of the reel? Is it always the same? I always load the taped end into the spring clip (Nikkor and Hewes reels) just to be consistent.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I'm with you, I would rather have figured it out, or at least know why. Random ain't always a good thing.

 

[kevs]

I had a similar problem with my Yashica 124G, it would leak light into the edges of the first four frames of every film, then all would be fine. Sometimes this didn't happen - sometimes it did. I couldn't work it out until I checked the door; the light-tight sealing material had perished, and sunlight hitting the camera back would leak into the camera through a gap in the edge of the film door. Of course, if sunlight didn't hit that spot there was no problem. Once the film was wound on, enough bulk was on the take-up spool to block the light from the chamber.

So it may be worth checking the seals around the doors of your cameras in case they have perished.

 

[rmolson]

I load the reels with the taped end in the center.I replaced the seals but knowing that I am not a repairman and could have done it wrong, taped over all joints with black photographers tape before advancing to the first frame. You wait, once I am convinced the problem is solved and let down my guard the photo gods will turn and bite me on the appropriate place!