GA645: Lens spots and spool question

Odot · Mar 17, 2017

Hey, my GA645 is finally here and i noticed these red/greenish spots on there - is this ok/going to have an effect on the images i take?

Also, is the spool supposed to stick out when the film is inside? I find this a bit odd. Either way, let me know. THanks you guys

TimVermont · Mar 17, 2017

As to question number 2, you've no doubt figured out that the small red pins at the bottom of each film chamber release the film spool holders, and the knob comes out as seen in your picture. Insert a new film roll, and push the knob in (Knopf eindrucken) note that you may have to rotate the film roll until the knob clicks into the closed position. The film will not feed properly with the knob in the out position. If it will not click into the closed position and stay closed, try it without a roll of film in place, and if successful try a different roll of film.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

RattyMouse · Mar 17, 2017

Push in that spool and it should stick. In your image that spool is in the unloading position.

Have you tried cleaning the lens? What you are seeing might be removable dirt. If not, there's a good chance it wont affect the image quality, but you need to shoot some pictures to find out.

Odot · Mar 17, 2017

Thanks for the advice. Bummer: i opened up the camera in a changing bag in order to set the spool in a proper position for it to go in. It worked like a charm. What i didnt realize is that once i open and close the camera, that it will make loading noise which leads us to thje following question:

what does the camera do when you upen case mid-film? does it rewind to start (i had 8 shots, now it shows 1) or did it still keep its position but decided to simply reset the shutter count?

TimVermont · Mar 17, 2017

Back to the changing bag. Open the camera, push both red pins and release both spools. Rewind the film completely, carefully and tightly so it is just like a new unused roll of film and put a piece of tape around it so that it doesn't spring open. Take everything out of the changing bag. Properly seat the take-up spool, push that knob in. Properly seat the roll of film, push that knob in. Remove the piece of tape and keep your left thumb on the roll of film. Bring the paper leader across to the take up spool and wind on to the start mark. Close the camera and let it auto wind to "1". Set it to 1/500th, put the lens cap on and take 9 exposures. Finish the roll as normal. Note that the first 8 pictures you took will likely be crooked/spaced poorly and maybe even unsharp.

Odot · Mar 18, 2017

TimVermont said:
Back to the changing bag. Open the camera, push both red pins and release both spools. Rewind the film completely, carefully and tightly so it is just like a new unused roll of film and put a piece of tape around it so that it doesn't spring open. Take everything out of the changing bag. Properly seat the take-up spool, push that knob in. Properly seat the roll of film, push that knob in. Remove the piece of tape and keep your left thumb on the roll of film. Bring the paper leader across to the take up spool and wind on to the start mark. Close the camera and let it auto wind to "1". Set it to 1/500th, put the lens cap on and take 9 exposures. Finish the roll as normal. Note that the first 8 pictures you took will likely be crooked/spaced poorly and maybe even unsharp.

Hey Tim, thanks for your reply. I just spoke to someone who told me that the film does not rewind once the camera loader opens, it does the opposite by advancing the film as if you have placed a new roll of film in. I will just leave this roll "as-is" and if it messes anything up then i will go the classic route as you have recommended. Thanks again!

TimVermont · Mar 18, 2017

I think we are having a language problem. Whomever you spoke with is correct that the camera does not rewind. Medium format film always moves from film spool to take-up spool.

However, what happened when you opened the camera at Frame 8 and then closed it again is that it wound the film as if it had a fresh film inserted. Normally this is just leader paper but you were on frame eight. Therefore, you the human must rewind the film and start the loading process correctly. Once correctly loaded you must advance nine frames to save the pictures you already took.

My German is not Berlin German, but perhaps this will help:

Wem auch immer du sprachst, ist richtig, dass die Kamera nicht zurückspult. 120/220er Rollfilm bewegt sich immer von der Filmspule zur Leerspule.

Doch was passiert ist, als du die Kamera bei Bild 8 öffnete und dann wieder schloss, ist, dass die Kamera den Film transportiert, als ob einen frischen Film eingelegt war. Normalerweise ist das nur Vorspannpapier aber den Film auf Bild 8 war. Deshalb muss du den Film zurückspulen und korrekt einsetzen. Damit das erste 8 Bilder nicht verloren geht muss du die Kamera 9mal spannen wie oben geschrieben.

macfred · Mar 18, 2017

TimVermont said:
Wem auch immer du sprachst, ist richtig, dass die Kamera nicht zurückspult. 120/220er Rollfilm bewegt sich immer von der Filmspule zur Leerspule.

Doch was passiert ist, als du die Kamera bei Bild 8 öffnete und dann wieder schloss, ist, dass die Kamera den Film transportiert, als ob einen frischen Film eingelegt war. Normalerweise ist das nur Vorspannpapier aber den Film auf Bild 8 war. Deshalb muss du den Film zurückspulen und korrekt einsetzen. Damit das erste 8 Bilder nicht verloren geht muss du die Kamera 9mal spannen wie oben geschrieben.

Great explication, Tim ! I have three GA645's in use - this is exactly what the camera does. Very helpful for the TO, I guess. Your German is great !

TimVermont · May 22, 2017

Hi Odot,

It's been a while.

What was the outcome when you developed the film?

anfenglin · May 23, 2017

Regarding the spots: they are irrelevant. My GA645 also had them and I never noticed anything in the pictures. "Had" only because I sold the camera.

Odot · Jun 5, 2017

Hell everyone, the spots did turn out to be irrelevant.

However, there are some other significant issues. Sometimes i shoot two photos of the same object within seconds, one photo has normal to be expected colors, the other photo has a strong blue tone, as if i had a blue filter on my lens. How could this be? Is this a development issue or film issue?

RattyMouse · Jun 5, 2017

Odot said:
Hell everyone, the spots did turn out to be irrelevant.

However, there are some other significant issues. Sometimes i shoot two photos of the same object within seconds, one photo has normal to be expected colors, the other photo has a strong blue tone, as if i had a blue filter on my lens. How could this be? Is this a development issue or film issue?

What kind of film?

Are you looking at scans?

Odot · Jun 6, 2017

RattyMouse said:
What kind of film?

Are you looking at scans?

Hey, its a Portra 400 - the blue tone or any visible difference for that matter, does not appear on the negative itself, only on the scan. Also, the development of these films are automated and since the negatives are on one roll, i dont see how one negative can appear so significantly different than the other. With that said, is it a scanning issue? Did i just give myself the answer?

RattyMouse · Jun 6, 2017

Odot said:
Hey, its a Portra 400 - the blue tone or any visible difference for that matter, does not appear on the negative itself, only on the scan. Also, the development of these films are automated and since the negatives are on one roll, i dont see how one negative can appear so significantly different than the other. With that said, is it a scanning issue? Did i just give myself the answer?

Sounds like a scanning issue to me. The white balance is off on the scan that shows the blue. That's pretty common and I'm sure with another scan it could be made to be better. Certainly not a camera issue.

MattKing · Jun 6, 2017

It is either a scanning issue (most likely) or your film was bored when you took nearly the same shot twice

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