Light leak or lab failures

mimashita said:

Although developing bw film by myself, I rely totally on minilab services for color film development. The last film I got from the lab has significant color stains. Since I have not so much knowledge about color process, it is hard for me to determine whether they come from a failed development or from a light leak in the camera.

Link to the pictures photographed:
https://mimashita.tumblr.com/post/169299227803/problems

The stains are blue and red in prints, and yellow and green on the film. They also cover more than just one frame. Unfortunately have no scanner at hand to produce decent evidence. However the stains are big enough to see from the phone camera pics.

Would be really lovely to know what caused the stains. Hopefully not the lab, as there is no nearby alternative But the gut feeling tells the opposite...

Thank you for advice!

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trendland said:

Is the spare between the leaked frames with the same seperation?
And is the leak on the film beginning much less and then becoming more and more?

with regards

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mimashita said:

The spare is everywhere the same. There are altogether 5 affected areas on the film. The first one is minimal and concfined to the perforation only, yellow in color. All further affected areas are separated by an even enterval. The affecred area is increasing towards the last one. The last one is the biggest. So it is like you suggest, I think.

Common sense tells the leak might occur while the film was in the can, or in similar conditions when the film was rolled.

Thats why I do not think it was the camera...

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trendland said:

Yes you are right - your camera should be fine.
But let me ask : "Is it a possible case you opened your camera for a short time with this loaded film?
Pls. try to remember......

with regards

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mimashita said:

Hahaha! I wish it were that easy I actually realise it still can be a leak when the film was on the taking spool in the camera, right? Have to check this part of the back lid. I bought this minolta xd with the seals already replaced by the seller. (I guess it was also him who opened the camera with the film loaded

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Sirius Glass said:

It looks like a light leak to me.

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trendland said:

I
PS : with 120 films it is much more complicate .....

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Sirius Glass said:

Just think of all the ways so screw up 4"x5" film which are not possible with 35mm and 120.

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mimashita said:

The spare is everywhere the same. There are altogether 5 affected areas on the film. The first one is minimal and concfined to the perforation only, yellow in color. All further affected areas are separated by an even enterval. The affecred area is increasing towards the last one. The last one is the biggest. So it is like you suggest, I think.

Common sense tells the leak might occur while the film was in the can, or in similar conditions when the film was rolled.

Thats why I do not think it was the camera...

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Chan Tran said:

I think it's the camera. I think it's the light seal on the right side of the camera is leaking. The side where the take up spool is. If you're in the shade the leak may not be noticeable.Most of processors now have a continuous processor so if there is light leak it would spread quite even overall because the film is traveling pretty much the same speed throughout unlike in the camera it wind then stop.

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