Losing first exposure with Hasselblad A12 back

[Chris Livsey]

Since those arrows have not generally been used in decades, modern film may not be right.
- Leigh

Those arrows/loading line on the film backing paper are used every time a 120 back is loaded in a Hasselblad V series ( the H series does not require them) a Contax 645 and countless other 120 camera backs, the specifications for 120 film are defined in the ISO 732 standard, are you suggesting the current film from every maker is not meeting that standard which would I suggest be unlikely in the extreme?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Those arrows/loading line on the film backing paper are used every time a 120 back is loaded in a Hasselblad V series ( the H series does not require them) a Contax 645 and countless other 120 camera backs, the specifications for 120 film are defined in the ISO 732 standard, are you suggesting the current film from every maker is not meeting that standard which would I suggest be unlikely in the extreme?

I have experienced enough variation when only using one back to learn not to trust the location. It is close but there is no cigar. The location of the start of the film itself seems to vary. I have experience light strikes at the beginning when I loaded in subdued light. Go past the arrow mark and any light strikes miss the first frame. To be safe I learned that I need to move passed the arrow mark even with recently CLAed backs. There may be a standard, but the reality is that it cannot and should not be trusted. Anyone who cannot live with that should have those responsible for the standard make a personal visit to me.

 

[Chris Livsey]

Anyone who cannot live with that should have those responsible for the standard make a personal visit to me.

The variation of the mechanical backs is more likely a culprit than the film. As I said earlier the Hasselblad H series do not require lining up they advance automatically to the first frame, except out of 10 rolls recently one lost the first frame quite a lot and another missed by a small margin. All film from the same batch which I do not blame, despite the electronic wizardry I blame the mechanical system and perhaps the loading

 

[Leigh B]

are you suggesting the current film from every maker is not meeting that standard which would I suggest be unlikely in the extreme?

Can you suggest an alternate explanation?
My point is that the arrow on the backing paper is not of significance to most users of the film.
Consequently, the manufacturers may not emphasize its proper placement relative to film start.
It's just like the missing frame numbers.

There is no mechanical system in the A12 back that would vary the spacing from roll to roll.
I've serviced hundreds of these backs. The mechanical design and construction is quite robust.

- Leigh

 

[Sirius Glass]

The variation of the mechanical backs is more likely a culprit than the film. As I said earlier the Hasselblad H series do not require lining up they advance automatically to the first frame, except out of 10 rolls recently one lost the first frame quite a lot and another missed by a small margin. All film from the same batch which I do not blame, despite the electronic wizardry I blame the mechanical system and perhaps the loading

"except out of 10 rolls recently one lost the first frame quite a lot" is as you said is quite a lot.

 

[BrianShaw]

https://www.iso.org/committee/48420.html

Give 'em a call SiriusSteve. I'm sure they could benefit from your wisdom.

But, as I'm sure you know, it's not all about the standard and probably more about use and implementation of the standard. Aren't these film companies ISO9000 certified... or do you think that's a sham?

 

[Sirius Glass]

No, I think the implementation is sadly lacking.

 

[BrianShaw]

No, I think the implementation is sadly lacking.

Well then... That would be an interesting thing to investigate with the film companies then, and perhaps the camera manufacturers... rather than the standard developers...

 

[Leigh B]

As I said earlier the Hasselblad H series do not require lining up they advance automatically to the first frame

Totally irrelevant comment.

This thread is about the V-series A12 back, which has nothing to do with H-series equipment.

- Leigh