Well, I think we've exhausted all the inside-the-box options, so outside is all that's left. The scratch seems to be too fine for a light or ESD source, though. I did have a look inside the back of camera last night though, just to see of there was a gremlin in there reaching out to scratch the film. I think you mentioned doing something similar in an earlier post.I have started to think 'outside the box' for the source. Of course the source can't be on the paper side, but wait. X-rays can pass through the paper, so it is not IMPOSSIBLE. Perhaps a static discharge can originate behind the paper. Also, I had a Rolleiflex 2000F with some contaminant on the roller. It made a series of black spots (on the the print) with every revolution of the roller.
That would be great! Thanks. I would suggest starting with the film path areas at the top and bottom (hinge end) in the area of the small rollers with the insert not installed. If you see anything that seems like it might have a bearing on the problem, please let us know your thoughts. Are there also differences between the older and newer inserts?I have an older 6060 film back, with the rubbery coating. I will try to take some shots of the interior--let me know if there are particular details you want. I know there are difference with the current model.
Thanks for the pictures. I don't see any differences that might explain why newer film backs would create scratches. It does look like the casting is different, but I don't see any significant differences in features.Here you go. I hope this shows what you want. Note that both the top and bottom rollers are black, but smooth so they reflect and look polished. Also, there is no tape anywhere. The flange (?) below the bottom roller is also reflecting light so it looks lighter. It is black metal. There is no tape at the top, but two indents cast into that part. Also, a quick examination with a 4x loupe of the only roll that has been run through this back by me shows no scratches. The inserts all look the same to me.
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I have not posted here for a while. The COVID surge has not allowed me much time to use my camera in the year since I got it.
I will say that the last thing I did to my film back was to carefully sand the rollers with 600 sandpaper. My last few rolls were a combination of TMY and HP5 and it appeared to minimize or solve the scratch issue. Maybe an occasional tiny scratch between frames, but no ruined frames.
My next step was to use gunmetal blue to blacken them again, after the sanding.
The oddest thing I have observed is that when the film is drying, after the surface water is gone but the emulsion is still waterlogged, I can see a groove in the emulsion. When the emulsion is completely dry, I can't see the groove any more. Sometimes a BLACK line remains on the film, but sometimes not.
I have wanted one a Hy6 ever since I first heard of it. I was kind of waiting for my Rolleiflex 6008i to break down or wear out but that never happened. With COVID I was concerned DW Photo (current manufacturer of Hy6) would go under. So, when I found out that new 2020 cameras were available I snatched one up.
I remember 30 years ago when I got my Rolleiflex 3003, it was a little bigger than I thought (based on pictures and never seeing one in person).
It's a shame the medium format cameras and I have more popular. To me, seem to be the afternoon compromise between the flexibility of 35mm cameras and the image quality of large format cameras. Well, as long as I keep my Hasselblads and their Carl Zeiss lenses well-maintained, I should be OK for the rest of my life time.
The Hy6 was the opposite. It was SMAlLER than I expected based on the pictures!
For those not familiar with these cameras, the Hy6 is on the LEFT and it is 6x6cm format. The 3003 is on the right and it is 35mm format.
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I'm just going to make a statement here as this thread shows how polarized things can get, especially when something like this Hy6, that goes for just south of 10 grand for basic kit, is the hero and the enemy all at once.
I do not own it, nor will I ever, have no idea what it handles like and what quirks it has (and surely it does, like every other camera).
When a company, any company, decides to market a product that is priced for successful "dentists", it MUST have zero problems right out of the box. If I wanted to charge that much for something that can easily be matched function/image quality wise for far less, I'd go out of my way to ensure each one is tested, then again, and then one more time before it is boxed up. Then, if for some unbeknown reasons, a lemon slips by this multilevel QC department, I get mad at myself, look for a reason why and how it could have possibly happened, all while communicate with the unfortunate owner, kiss his feet and do whatever to make it right.
Reading this story it really makes me pause for how have we all gotten this low with manufacturing & customer service, that all that primarily counts is profit. Why is it now all about how we sell something and not what we sell?
And I'll finish with this cliché : camera doe snot make winning images, never has, never will. If it does indeed, one who aimed it should never be credited with making that "winning" one. In other words, I view it as worst salesman pitch to praise a camera because there was a great image made with it. Then again, we're talking successful "dentist" buying one, so it does not matter what we sell, but how.
I definitely regret coming back to this thread and will once again unsubscribe. I suggest anyone interested in the Rolleiflex SLR system to ignore it as well. Just one big FUD fest at this point which forum posts tend to be. I'll remember to deal some of my equipment vendors that I'm buying my next piece of lab gear in escrow and getting lawyers involved...I'm sure that'll go over well!
Here are some images I made with the amazing 180mm 2.8 PQ on RDP100. If I recall correctly I just used aperture program and shot away. The camera tends to nail exposures on chrome even in difficult lighting. The Schneider lenses are IMHO the reason to get into a 600x or Hy6 camera.
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The same applies to RVs.Talk to people who own expensive cars about how problem-free they are is all I have to say about that. The more expensive and low volume something is, the more likely you're going to have one issue or another, even out of the box.
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