Light leaks on G617

ori_s · Mar 31, 2019

I usually develop my films by myself and never had light leaks from my Fuji g617 or the Yashica Mat i used the past weeks.
However i got lazy and send some films to the local lab and most of the films have some kind of light on them.
The lab said it's the camera but i think it's to rare that both cameras start to have leaks on the same time.
Does anyone knows how light leaks from failure in the development process should look like?
Here are some examples, what do you think?
On the Yashica the first three and last frames was kind of washed out

MattKing · Mar 31, 2019

Those leaks look like the ones that occur when 120 film is too loose on the take up spool when it is out in the light.
It may be that when you develop your own film you handle it with extra care and keep the not yet enrolled exposed film from strong light. In comparison, the lab may be handling your rolls in stronger light prior to transferring them to the dark for loading on to the reels or racks they use for processing.

shutterfinger · Mar 31, 2019

I also would find it strange that both cameras would develop light leaks at the same time.
1. Have you used this lab in the past? If yes were the results good?
2. How tight was the film on the take up spool when removed from the camera?
3. How secure was the glue strip that held the film sealed while in transport?
4. Tape the roll closed before mailing/taking the film to the lab.

John Koehrer · Mar 31, 2019

I'd suspect the lab is blowing smoke up your kilt.
If this is YOUR first experience with light struck film I'm pretty sure you know how to unload those cameras. Back to the kilt suggestion.

mshchem · Mar 31, 2019

John Koehrer said:
I'd suspect the lab is blowing smoke up your kilt.
If this is YOUR first experience with light struck film I'm pretty sure you know how to unload those cameras. Back to the kilt suggestion.

I agree. Two different cameras two different films. Common factor is You and the lab. If your lab has folks loading reels in a light box with sleeves that could be an issue. If you are very new to 120 and let the paper slip light can strike the films. I have never seen this with my films and I can be pretty fumble fingered. I had a roll of Ektachrome that didn't wind on correctly on a Fuji 690, that was light struck, but still limited to the outer film.

Hard to know for sure. I develop everything myself, there's one lab left near by me that does great C41 work.

j_landecker · Apr 1, 2019

I would agree with the loose roll assessment. Your first picture shows a roll of Ultra EDU 400, which I have found to always get some light leaks on the edges after unloading, no matter how tightly the film is rolled. Not as bad as your example, but often intruding into the image area. Now I try to leave it in the camera until I get home, or use it in a camera where I can carry a couple of backs. Your other rolls are Kodak though, so it looks like the main culprit here is film handling somewhere along the line...

itsdoable · Apr 1, 2019

Loose rolled film usually shows the light leaks at the end of the roll, from the edge in. The first image shows the main fogging at the end of the roll. The second image shows the fogging at the start of the roll. I don't think it's loosely rolled film.

Was the film machine processed or hand processed in a tank? On a Patterson tank if you forget the spindle, you get fogging from one end of the film to the 2nd or 3rd frame - don't ask how I know.

The last pano images show the characteristic edge fog from leakage on the end of a 120 roll, but that might just be coincidental, and additive.

My guess is it was not in the cameras.

Light leaks on G617

ori_s

MattKing

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John Koehrer

mshchem

j_landecker

itsdoable

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