Need help debugging a Hasselblad 2000 FCW issue.

[gezak22]

Hi folks,

I have a new-to-me 2000 FCW that exhibits a strange feature, and I was hoping to get some input from an expert on this system.

The issue I have is that one frame per roll has one or two horizontal lines through the frame, making it look like one part was exposed more than the other. I had initally assumed a light leak, so I replaced the back and the issue is still there. Next I replaced the battery, still there. I could try a different lens, but I have a hard time seeing how the lens could be the root cause for this. I see the issue at various shutter speeds. Sometimes at 1/180, sometimes at 1/2000. On two consecutive frames at 1/1000, only one of them showed this.

Two examples are attached. Please excuse the drying marks. Is this what a dying shutter looks like?

Thanks.

 

[reddesert]

Can you post a picture of the first image that is not inverted and allows us to see the rebate (area outside the frame)?

On the second image, I see a darker horizontal band that extends across the film and into the rebate. If this is what you are referring to, it is probably a light leak, not the shutter. Shutter problems stop at the frame's edge. Light leaks can come from a variety of places so swapping the back doesn't necessarily rule them out.

 

[ic-racer]

Agree, looks like multiple processing errors but a little confusing because one image appears with inverted grayscale.

 

[gezak22]

Sorry, the negative of the power pole was lost as I experimented with water spot removal techniques. I will stick to just posting negatives for now.

Here is the most recent roll. The bar certainly extends into the rebate (I had to boost the contrast for it to show up clearly). And speaking of the rebate, I see dark lines between frames.

So if this is a light leak, is there an obvious location given the camera model and the symptoms?

Or is this an issue with developing my own film? I admit I am a newbie, but I have not seen this issue with Delta 3200 from my GW690.

 

[Sirius Glass]

It does not look like the typical light leak from the dark slide opening [Light comes in from left to shine on the right side of the negative/slide and because the image is flipped over on the film plane shows up on the left side.] Look to see if there are any spaces around the camera and back interface. If all else fails contact Mike at Samy's Camera on Fairfax in Los Angeles.

 

[itsdoable]

The lines between the frames are from the other side of the roller in the film backs.

Usually nothing gets through here, but if you have a bright source there, you see feint lines. At least your spacing is good, otherwise those lines sometimes end up on the next frame.
(note: the film back is loaded with the backing paper reversed to highlight the gap)

You other problem is a light leak somewhere, maybe in your processing. It goes right across the entire film, so somewhere it's getting an exposure (not through the film gate, and thus not the shutter). Is it always on the last frame?

 

[gezak22]

It is not always on the first or last frame. Sometimes it is mid-roll.

While the interface between the back and the body won't win any beauty contests, it see no mechanical degradation, just some wear on the finish. Anyway, I surrounded it with a dark cloth and shot another test roll. Will try to report back later today.

But perhaps it is something in my developing process as two C41 rolls that were developed by the lab don't show an obvious issue to the naked eye. Will scan those asap to confirm.

 

[gezak22]

Update: Another test roll (Delta 100) with a cloth surrounding the body/back-interface shows the issue on the last frame, much like the last two rolls (Delta 400). That leaves one roll (Postdam Kino) where the defect happened on Frame 3.

Will scan one roll developed by the lab later today.

Edit: How can a light leak during post exposure handling have such a hard edge?
Edit2: Two rolls (160NS and XP2 Super) from same back/camera/lens/WLF but developed by a lab look fine, leaving the newbie film developer (me) as the most likely root cause for this issue.

 

[gezak22]

Another update: Two consecutive rolls now look perfectly fine. The only thing I did differently is to pay more attention with stray light in my darkroom (a large walk-in closet). In particular, I noticed severe residual glow from the lights in the closet after of being turned off, so I made sure that those lights had not been turned on all day.

Thanks again for all the insights.

 

[Eff64]

It sounds like you solved it. In your example12, I don’t see it as 2 lines. I see fogging beginning mid frame, extending outside the live area to the edge of the film.
To my eye, that density in the non-live area extends up to the end of the roll. In other words, the last 1-1/2 to 2” looks slightly fogged to me, as noted in my arrows.

 

[gezak22]

You are absolutely right. The mistake I made was assume that my developing technique was good as I had developed a roll of Delta 3200 without any of these issues, and this left the new camera as the only source of the issue. In reality, my developing technique was bad, and I had simply gotten lucky on that one roll of Delta 3200.

It sure feels nice knowing that I have a 2000FCW without shutter issues.