Is it the camera or the Lab-Box?

[beemermark]

OK, haven't used my Lab-Box in quite awhile but tonight I developed a roll of film from my Leica R7 and got this. Stripe is on almost every frame, same spot different widths.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

My vote would be for a light leak in the camera: The stripe is in the same place every frame, precluding processing; The stripe goes outside the frame, precluding shutter problems (though the camera has a vertical shutter [in a Leica??, shudder] and that alone lets the shutter off the hook. All that's left is a light leak in the camera. The chances are it is caused by a bad light seal around the film door hinge.

 

[koraks]

I find it hard to tell what's going on here. I can't conclusively say it's either the camera or the LabBox. @beemermark can we see some shots of the actual film strip held up to the light?

This feature here seems significant to me:

Note the patterned edge. It should be possible to correlate this to a part of the camera or the LabBox.

 

[Ian Grant]

I'm inclined to think it's not the camera, the pattern @koraks highlights are just not a camera light leak.

Ian

 

[retina_restoration]

OK, haven't used my Lab-Box in quite awhile but tonight I developed a roll of film from my Leica R7 and got this. Stripe is on almost every frame, same spot different widths.

If this flaw is in the exact same place in frames at both the beginning and the end of the roll, I'm inclined to think it's something happening in-camera.

 

[beemermark]

The bulk roll film that I processed previously was Ilford HP5+ pushed one stop. A film I rarely use because it's always "sunny 22" here. So to rule out that I exposed the roll of HP5+ to daylight in the bulk loader loaded a roll of Arista 100 from a different loader. Shot 4 frames, then taped off the film door hinge and shot 6 more, then taped off the film door window and shot six more. I'll develop it tonight and see what turns up.

 

[koraks]

Great; let's see how that comes out.
Note that the hint @retina_restoration gives here is pretty significant and you can check it with the roll that's affected:

If this flaw is in the exact same place in frames at both the beginning and the end of the roll

So check if the light leak occurs at equal spacing along the entire roll. If so, it's camera-related, virtually 100% certain. If not, the options are a little broader.

 

[beemermark]

The winner is (or loser) the bulk film loader containing the HP5+. Developed the roll and had no light leaks with the Arista loaded in a different bulk film loader. Sort of a bummer since it's close to a new 100ft roll. Must not have closed the gate all the way the last time I used it . A little back story. The strap on the R7 broke last summer and I didn't quite catch it before it hit the sidewalk. Not a scratch on the camera but it was acting wonky. So I sent it to DAG to be repaired. I jumped to the conclusion that the camera must have sprung a leak but was hoping I loaded the Lab-box wrong.

 

[MattKing]

Your issue might be limited to the first few feet/cm of film on the outside of the roll.

 

[beemermark]

Your issue might be limited to the first few feet/cm of film on the outside of the roll.

Based on experience or second knowledge? Just wonder if any one else has this (left the gate slightly opened) and what their experience was. I'd love to think it was limited but also hate the idea of shooting and developing roll after roll......

 

[MattKing]

Some experience with similar stuff.
Light sneaking in is quite directional, and the reflectivity of the inside of bulk loaders is usually low.
The ambient light conditions where and when the leak happened are also important.
And you may find that after the first bit of film on the outside, the only fogging is in parts of the rebate, not the image area itself.
Unexposed film actually makes a good light blocker for film below it.

 

[beemermark]

Thanks for that explanation Matt, makes sense. Given the price of film I hate to pitch an almost new roll. Guess it won't hurt (i.e. cheap) to shoot a few more rolls and develop. The gate must have been open like 1/16" given the narrow band on the processed film.

 

[mshchem]

Simple enough to shoot a test roll of cheap* color negative film and have develop and scan from Walmart. If it's somehow the camera would be good to know sooner than later.

If you think it's the bulk loader, right after you have fixed the cassette to the bulk film, turn off the lights and spool the new roll in the dark.

It's exactly as Matt King describes, film makes a great light shield. Consider how old standard 8mm, 16mm and some older 35mm movie cameras were loaded. Metal spool protected the edge of the film roll, the film itself shielded the inner windings.

* (Less than a fill up of gasoline)

 

[beemermark]

mschem I used to live North (straight North about 100 miles) of Iowa City. Great place. Great camera store down town, probably gone. My daughter, a LEO, worked at Hoover's Library for years. Miss Iowa but don't miss the snow and cold.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

OK, haven't used my Lab-Box in quite awhile but tonight I developed a roll of film from my Leica R7 and got this. Stripe is on almost every frame, same spot different widths.

looks like a lack of developer volume in the Labbox. Did you use enough to make sure the film was fully submerged? and was the tank standing level?

 

[beemermark]

looks like a lack of developer volume in the Labbox. Did you use enough to make sure the film was fully submerged? and was the tank standing level?

16 oz

 

[mshchem]

mschem I used to live North (straight North about 100 miles) of Iowa City. Great place. Great camera store down town, probably gone. My daughter, a LEO, worked at Hoover's Library for years. Miss Iowa but don't miss the snow and cold.

I walk a couple miles most every day, it was -29°C windchill today around noon.

The camera store in Iowa City was University Camera, owner, Roger Christian, retired, alive and well, we have lunch a couple times a month, great guy. University Camera closed up before the pandemic.

Then lost Photo Pro in Cedar Rapids around 2020, mostly with Photo Pro, the land lord wanted a long term lease and it was a good time for Dave Johnson to retire from 40 years of photo retail.

 

[MattKing]

Thanks for that explanation Matt, makes sense. Given the price of film I hate to pitch an almost new roll. Guess it won't hurt (i.e. cheap) to shoot a few more rolls and develop. The gate must have been open like 1/16" given the narrow band on the processed film.

1) Roll off four rolls that are the length you like to use, and carefully mark them in order - 1st off, 2nd off, 3rd off, 4th off, with the 4th off one being the farthest along from the partially roll you initially showed us.
2) expose and develop the 4th off roll, and see what you get.
3) if it is fine, the rest of the film remaining on the bulk roll is fine, and you can use it normally.
4) the other three rolls - 1st off, 2nd off and 3rd off - can be tested in the same way, or set aside and used for non-critical purposes, or you can take your chances and use them normally. It is up to you and how risk adverse you are.

 

[beemermark]

MattKing you where on the money. Shot a 36 frame roll and no signs of a light leak. Can't believe it!!

 

[beemermark]

I walk a couple miles most every day, it was -29°C windchill today around noon.

The camera store in Iowa City was University Camera, owner, Roger Christian, retired, alive and well, we have lunch a couple times a month, great guy. University Camera closed up before the pandemic.

Then lost Photo Pro in Cedar Rapids around 2020, mostly with Photo Pro, the land lord wanted a long term lease and it was a good time for Dave Johnson to retire from 40 years of photo retail.

See if Roger remembers me - Mark Bergman. Used to do the camera show route back in the day. Roger was a great guy.

 

[MattKing]

MattKing you where on the money. Shot a 36 frame roll and no signs of a light leak. Can't believe it!!

Good news!
There is never a guarantee, but there usually is a good chance that the damage is localized to the outer layer(s)