Nikon F100 might be scratching my film

rayonline_nz · Dec 30, 2014

The scratches are on the shiney side, just developed some b/w film. They were a 40yr old bulk roll of Kodak Plus X 125 given to me but they have scratches on the shiney side but not the dull side. They are not uniform long lines but random scratch like marks. CLA? Used replacement? Replacement door?

My other camera.
I am in the midst of shooting a roll again with my other FM2N because one C41 developed roll had marks - these were long horizontal lines who matched the marks on the FM2N's pressure plate. But then I was asked to clean the rollers and the back with a blower and a anti static cloth that dissapeared - so for this one fingers crossed.

Xmas · Dec 30, 2014

Camera scratches are normally like tramlines.

You may be doing the bulk scratches yourself or bulk roll bad.

Try a cheap eg store bought eg c41 film.

AgX · Dec 30, 2014

rayonline_nz said:
these were long horizontal lines who matched the marks on the FM2N's pressure plate.

What marks? Many pressure plates have dimples, but they would not produce scratches.

Colin Corneau · Dec 30, 2014

rayonline_nz said:
...They were a 40yr old bulk roll...

I think I see the problem.

gone · Dec 30, 2014

Lot of variables here. Could be a lot of things. Are you sending the film out for processing? If so, that would be my first suspect. The lab. If you had these issues w/ another camera, and cleaning the inside and rollers fixed the issue, then that variable is ruled out. It's all a matter of eliminating variables, one by one. If someone else loaded that film, or if you don't know what the history of that film is before you got it.......if someone else is doing the processing........

You have to take control over every step of the processes yourself to eliminate the variables and find the problem.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 30, 2014

I think it's best you do another "control" roll so as to eliminate some variables otherwise we're all just blindly speculating here. That said that is the heart and soul of a huge amount of threads here so you'll get lots of guesses. In the meantime the best advice is to put another, roll perhaps a store bought non-bulk roll, through the same camera and see if the scratches still occur or use another of the old bulk rolls in a different camera and see what results from that. Personally I suspect the bulk loader or the felt of that particular bulk roll caused the issue (see? even I cannot help blindly speculating!)

AgX · Dec 30, 2014

To check on the bulk loader as a cause for scratches just load a tiny lenght the way you used to do and check it together with a piece cut from the long-roll after it has been taken out of the loader completely.
There is no need to process those snippets, only to check them with a loupe.

msage · Dec 30, 2014

Cheak your cassettes, the felt will get dirty and can cause sratches.
The few rolls of mine that were sratched were bulk loaded film.

cliveh · Dec 30, 2014

Nikon F100 might be scratching my film

No, Nikon is a professional high end camera which does not scratch film.

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2014

Your problem is the bulk loaded film.

bdial · Dec 30, 2014

The camera would not usually create random scratches. If you've only used one or two rolls from this bulk roll, the scratches may have come during the 40 years it's been handled.
If it is the camera, the most likely source is the pressure plate or any rollers or guides that contact the film, and you should be able to detect any roughness.
But, as stated, other sources are far more likely, grit, dust or other debris in the bulk loader, grit in the cassette light traps, or handling in the darkroom and processing (probably the most likely).
Try a fresh factory load and see what happens. If things are good, try discarding a foot or two of the bulk roll, then load up a roll in a brand-new cassette.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 30, 2014

Lets see how many ways we can all pretty much say the same thing.

rayonline_nz · Jan 1, 2015

I've just pulled a small piece out of my loader and put it on fixer now drying to see if any scratches.

Re: the FM2N.
When I had the scratches it was with a roll of C41 Fuji Pro160S, I also developed a 2nd roll Kodak Gold 100. That one didn't have scratches...

Here is a difficult photo of the pressure plate.

Re: the F100
There are some scratches on the plate also. But I am not sure about it - there is a long horizontal line or two but what you might not be able to see is if you tilt it to the light you see kind of a kitchen scouring (steel wool) pot cleaner marks - as in circular rub marks.

I haven't shot much color film as I haven't been on travel. With the b/w film I have used my FM2N mainly and the negs haven't shown any scratches. But those were commercial bought individual rolls ranging from Delta 100, Tmax 100, Hp5+ 400 and Trix 400.

Will have to shoot more commercial rolls - one in each to check it.

The same person who gave m the partially used bulk roll of Plus-X, also gave me a roll of Fuji Neopan 100 SS. Just looking at the film there are scratches on it when I was loading it ...

250swb · Jan 1, 2015

Some film will scratch easily and some won't. So if you want to determine if the camera is doing the scratching don't keep switching films, keep to the one you know gets scratched and work through the possibilities with that.

Steve

rayonline_nz · Jan 1, 2015

I have just looked at my film from storage.

For B/W - I have only used the FM2N. I use a spreadsheet to collate the info manually.
All the B/W have been scratch free. So myself loading the film and developing it hasn't been an issue. I have only used bullk now for the first time, so all these scratch free rolls have been individual commercial rolls.

Here is attached that old filmg given to me - looks like it is too random but I will shoot a commercial individual roll of B/W to check.

Re: the F100. I have used this with color film. I don't think I can shoot a roll of color film here and check b/c I don't trust them. In New Zealand in the capital city it's not as a metro city as Auckland. There is only 1 or 2 labs that process C41 and the 1 lab that used to be a Kodak Q Lab (for slides), I've told they have gave up and send them 10hrs away but they didn't use the Kodak Q Lab opting for a small shop lab. Doesn't surprise us that a single roll of slides here for 135 cost $35US and $17US for development (unmounted).

The F100 - I shoot most slides but - every single roll of C41 for the last year and a bit (7 rolls), have horizontal scratches on them from frame 1 to frame 36. The previous 8th roll seems fine. Given the few labs here for C41, they were all done at the same lab.

Given the cost for slides development I have to send them to the USA (Dwayannes) and the scratches. But I haven't sent the last batch over yet, still in the freezer.

Will report back - after I run a roll of commercial B/W thru them.....

bdial · Jan 1, 2015

What you show in the picture looks more likely to be from general handling than something caused directly by the camera.
When you load film in the cameras do you cinch the film tightly, loosely, or not at all? That is yet another way of getting scratches (cinching too tightly).

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 1, 2015

I agree. That's from handling of the film at some point, not from the cameras.

Xmas · Jan 1, 2015

rayonline_nz said:
I've just pulled a small piece out of my loader and put it on fixer now drying to see if any scratches.

Re: the FM2N.
When I had the scratches it was with a roll of C41 Fuji Pro160S, I also developed a 2nd roll Kodak Gold 100. That one didn't have scratches...

Here is a difficult photo of the pressure plate.
View attachment 100443

Re: the F100
There are some scratches on the plate also. But I am not sure about it - there is a long horizontal line or two but what you might not be able to see is if you tilt it to the light you see kind of a kitchen scouring (steel wool) pot cleaner marks - as in circular rub marks.

View attachment 100444

I haven't shot much color film as I haven't been on travel. With the b/w film I have used my FM2N mainly and the negs haven't shown any scratches. But those were commercial bought individual rolls ranging from Delta 100, Tmax 100, Hp5+ 400 and Trix 400.

Will have to shoot more commercial rolls - one in each to check it.

The same person who gave m the partially used bulk roll of Plus-X, also gave me a roll of Fuji Neopan 100 SS. Just looking at the film there are scratches on it when I was loading it ...

You don't need to fix.
In darkroom remove 80 inches of film from loader carefully.
Then inspect both sides with magnifying glass.
If the film is perfect remove the bulk roll in dark and substitute your perfect 80 inches and load a cassette.
Pull out the film and inspect...
If it is still perfect wind it back and try shooting it in the camera.
Inspect again.

rayonline_nz · Jan 1, 2015

I pulled a piece out of the loader in daylight so it went thru that tight gap in the loader. I looked at the film couldn't see the scratches as I got before. I then put it in some fixer so I could look at it easier - again not like before. If any, it was the odd sand size "speckle".

Re: how tight I load the film in the camera. The F100 is auto loading, so I just insert some film in the slot and shut the door. The FM2N, I stick the tongue of the film into that small gap and turn the plastic dial to bring in the film. Then I close the lid. I don't fiddle around (tighten / rotate) with the spool half way thru shooting. I leave it.

The above scratches here were on the F100.

I am going to shoot a roll of commercial packed, Tri-X 400 on the F100 and on the FM2N and check ... will post again.

rayonline_nz · Jan 9, 2015

Just reporting back. The F100 loaded fresh roll of film (single packaged roll), not one scratch. Home developed ID-11 Tri-X 400. I won't be using my lab now. I guess have to do them oveseas get a good lab or send overseas. Only 1 or 2 labs here in my area. The only 1 E6 lab now chooses to outsource 10hrs away but they chose a little shop lab than the other Pro Lab probably to save money.

Nikon F100 might be scratching my film

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