Hasselblad film bumps

Twellsphoto · Apr 24, 2010

I'm making a new post because I accidentally posted in ULF forum.

I just got a 501c/m and the camera and back are in great shape. However I've ran three rolls of 120 through the A12 back and each one of them has had dents and bumps in the film. First two rolls I chalked up to being new to putting the rolls on plastic reels. Third roll I had my Darkroom instructor load the film onto a steel roll for me and I ended up with the same results. The bumps and dents are all over the film so not sure I can narrow whats causing it. Any ideas? It doesn't show in my prints unless its supposed to be really flat then you get the light from the indention bent. Thanks -Twellsphoto

Mark Fisher · Apr 24, 2010

Sounds very strange. If they were from loading a reel, I'kl expect dents on the edges, not all over. I'd try to run a roll through the camera making sure you go through it about the same rate as if you were shooting....shoot a few frames over a few minutes, shoot another an hour later, shoot a few more a few days later, etc. At least that will narrow it down between processing and the camera back. Even better, if you can borrow a known good back, try it and see what happens. If it is the back, I'd just send it to get overhauled or get another one.

Dan Henderson · Apr 24, 2010

have you used 120 film before? And if you have on another camera, was the film causing you trouble now part of the same purchase that was okay before? If you have the variables of new film, a new camera, and new processing procedures and equipment, perhaps you should eliminate them in order. If this is a new batch of film, then sacrifice a roll that has not been through the camera and open it up in daylight to make sure it did not come from the factory that way. Eliminating this, then move to the camera back. When you unroll the film to load it onto reels in the darkroom, can you feel the defects? (Or, if you are careful perhaps you can roll your sacrificial film back up, run it through the camera just shooting nothing, then take it out in daylight to see if the camera back caused the problems. If it comes out of the camera ok, then it must be in the processing equipment or process.

tenaitch · Apr 24, 2010

Sounds like a film handling issue, try putting a roll through a pro lab with a dip and dunk machine and see if you still get the marks or process an unexposed roll in your usual way. Should narrow down the source of the problem.

pgomena · Apr 24, 2010

Avoid putting exposed rolls of 120 film in your pocket with keys, change, pocketknife, etc. I learned that lesson the hard way. Nice dents and marks all over the place.

Peter Gomena

erikg · Apr 24, 2010

Are you new to loading a Hasselbald back? There is a clamp on the pressure plate, if you missed that it could cause the film to wind strangely. Just a thought.

Sirius Glass · Apr 24, 2010

erikg said:
Are you new to loading a Hasselbald back? There is a clamp on the pressure plate, if you missed that it could cause the film to wind strangely. Just a thought.

Check out:
"Loading film into a Hasselblad back"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op6hDyMmkqA

Steve

Twellsphoto · Apr 24, 2010

I'm pretty sure I loaded the A12 correctly. I watched a video or two before hand and really take my time each time I've done it. I had someone suggest to me that I could be the speed at which I crank to the next frame. It mostly likely me just fumbling the film to much trying to get it into a plastic reel. I'm going to take next roll to a lab to have processed then I will know if its my fault on that part.

Q.G. · Apr 24, 2010

You can't wind too fast, so that's not it.

wblynch · Apr 25, 2010

Is it fresh film or expired film that's been sitting around a long time? Could be the film has taken a set...

Hasselblad film bumps

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