Polaroid 664 problems

[ethylphenethylamine]

I shot the first few frames from my new polaroid back (Mamiya RB67 with the Mamiya Polaroid back) with strange results.

Is this uneven development or fogged film or...?

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Thanks for any help!!

 

[Pinholemaster]

Are the rolls in the Polaroid back clean?

 

[ethylphenethylamine]

I had cleaned them with iso alcohol before using, but I will examine them closer...

 

[Alex Hawley]

Also check you "pulling" technique. I needs to be steady with any hesitation to ensure even development.

 

[Pinholemaster]

OK if the rollers are clean and you are pulling the 'roid in a steady, clean pull, so perhaps there is a light leak? That's the next test to see if there is a light leak.

 

[ethylphenethylamine]

I suppose it could be my pulling tech...

Should it be a slow steady pull? I have been doing quick, but fairly steady, i think...

 

[Alex Hawley]

Should it be a slow steady pull? I have been doing quick, but fairly steady, i think...

Yep, that may be your problem. Slow and steady is the necessity. Saying "Polaroid" as you pull, and time the pull with the saying of the word, has been recommended for a long time in the Polaroid directions.

 

[ethylphenethylamine]

alright, i'll give it a shot.

thanks for all the replies.

most things do come down to user error, don't they?

 

[vanspaendonck]

It's the same patern on both positives, and I have never seen anything like this being caused by outdated film, wrong pulling technique, etc.
My bet it's a light leak in your Polaroid back. Try to develop an unexposed Polaroid that has been sitting in the back (camera out in the sun preferably, dark slide pulled) for a couple of hours. If it produces the same type of fogging, it is the back allright.

 

[radiantdarkroom]

Looks like a light leak to me.

 

[ethylphenethylamine]

vanspaendonck: do you mean to leave the dark slide in? if there is a light leak, wouldn't it fog with the dark slide in if it were the back?

also i am fairly unfamiliar with how the polaroid back works, if there was a light leak would it fog all sheets of film or it would need to be fogged each time once it came to the top?

thanks

 

[vanspaendonck]

vanspaendonck: do you mean to leave the dark slide in? if there is a light leak, wouldn't it fog with the dark slide in if it were the back?

also i am fairly unfamiliar with how the polaroid back works, if there was a light leak would it fog all sheets of film or it would need to be fogged each time once it came to the top?

thanks

Sorry, I was busy the last few days. I meant you should leave the dark slide out for this experiment. In other words: have the body plus back as if you are about to make an exposure, just don't operate the shutter and see if the light reaches the film from elswhere than through the lens alone. Of course, I am curious to learn if my hunch is correct. If this doesn't produce the pattern that shows in the pics you posted, I would investigate internal reflections in the body or in the back (though not very likely: a Mamiya is not a Lubitel)

 

[ethylphenethylamine]

Just wanted to give an update. Last night i tried leaving the darkslide out for a few minutes with the polaroid back attached without firing the shutter. I ended up with a smallish white spot towards the middle of the image. I check the back again, made sure all was fitted properly and snapped a picture and all came out well, so I'm not sure what was happening. I will shoot more and see if anything else comes up.

Thanks for the replies...

 

[ethylphenethylamine]

Well, new pack of film and the problem is back. Different pattern tho. The first three had the pattern so I decided to pull one with the dark slide in just to make sure the film wasn't fogged or messed up to begin with. So it is happening after I pull the darkslide so I'm guessing that means I need to change the seal on the back? Anyone know where to get a new seal for a Mamiya Polaroid back? This is the type that I attached by removing the rotating back adapter and the polaroid back attaches directly to the camera...Or maybe the problem is somewhere else? I have never had fogging problems with any of the backs that attach to the rotating back...

Thanks for any help

 

[ethylphenethylamine]

strange after shooting the black frame #4, the next 5 6 and 7 have been good...hmmm....i did take off the back and mess with it a bit. i'm guessing a seal replacemen should still be in order...