Is the film back the problem - vertical stripes on negatives (Horseman VH)

[pkr1979]

Hi all!

Can anyone shed some light on whats wrong here? I'm hoping its a user mistake, but I'm suspecting it might be the film back? Those vertical stripes occur on several of the frames but not all. Se attachement.

Cheers
Peter

 

[Hassasin]

What film back was it ?

 

[pkr1979]

It is a back like this: https://jshop.jp/camera/item.php?it=C2183

 

[John Wiegerink]

Hi all!

Can anyone shed some light on whats wrong here? I'm hoping its a user mistake, but I'm suspecting it might be the film back? Those vertical stripes occur on several of the frames but not all. Se attachement.

Cheers
Peter

Probably a dark slide light seal gone bad after time. I've seen it on my Hasselblad backs, but the worst backs I have are for the Zeiss Ikon Contarex and Contaflex cameras I have.
You can test your back for the dark slide light leak by putting the roll back on the camera(with no film loaded), racking your bellows back and shining a small flashlight close to the inside of the back and angled toward the dark slide slot. Of course you will be doing this in a dark room! Now look at where the dark slide enters the roll back. If there's a light leak you'll know.

 

[pkr1979]

Thanks @John Wiegerink
If that is what it is, is it easy to fix?

 

[John Wiegerink]

Thanks @John Wiegerink
If that is what it is, is it easy to fix?

I'm not familiar with that back, but I'm pretty sure it can be too complicated. Those seals weren't made to last forever and the manufactures knew that. They probably designed the back with that in mind, which means it should be a fairly easy task. That said, I don't exactly know where to source new light seals, but I'm sure somebody else here does.

 

[DWThomas]

That the stripe is very regular and extends into the rebates implies the film is being light struck outside the film gate, between the supply or take-up spool and the gate. If it were wider it might suggest a worn or missing seal in the shell that encloses the film holder but being so narrow I think John's thought is most likely the answer.

 

[Dan Daniel]

You can put the negative into the back as it was shot and the location of the leak will become obvious. Along with the dark slide seal, the Horseman backs have a seal at the hinge and at the latch. Given that the leak appears to be offset from the dark slide gate opening and runs the whole width of the film, I would check the latch and hinge foam.

There's a small leak at the bottom '3' and a bit to the right of the bottom 4, also. Check location for that. Maybe related to teh double stroke film advance, a small pause?

 

[pkr1979]

Thanks for this guys. Good advice. There is a small pause.

 

[ic-racer]

It is a little confusing because the negatives are presented up side down.

Anyway, if you have the dark slide to the right and the winder on the top rather than the bottom, then your hinge is leaking light.

 

[pkr1979]

Thanks @ic-racer

Indeed the dark slide is at the right and the winder at the top. If it is the hinge at the left (at the right side of the photo though) leaking light, shouldn't some black electric tape do? At least to check if thats the case?

Cheers

 

[abruzzi]

tape would be good for a test, but light seal foam is cheap, and in the case of the horseman back, it should be easy to cut and apply.

 

[ags2mikon]

I have had the same problems in the past. The foam seals in the back shell go south and they leak. Just like the RB-67 backs. Toothpicks, naphtha and new self stick foam from Japan does the trick.

 

[pkr1979]

Thanks again guys - this is much appreciated.