Scratched film in Autocord

Vijay · Apr 5, 2014

I am using a recently acquired Minolta Autocord with TMAX 400 120 film, processing at home in a Jobo, and scanning on an Epson v700.

My most recent roll has lots of scratches. Crop from small portion of negative is attached.

The scratches are on the emulsion side. My best guess is grit or deformations on the rollers are the culprit. Since I am new to processing 120, I won't rule out improper handling as I load the reels, or the reels themselves but I'm guessing this is a remote possibility.

Do you think it's the rollers? Other ideas?

Thanks,
Vijay

Peltigera · Apr 5, 2014

I think it is the rollers. If it was the reels, the scratches would only be on the edges of the film and I think you would have to be really rough to scratch the film like that yourself.

Dan Daniel · Apr 5, 2014

Wow, I've never seen a TLR scratch like that. The short start-stop is confusing, as is that they don't appear to be aligned as you would expect from a burr (or five hundred burrs) in the film path.

Take a cotton ball and lightly rub around the film path. Burrs and such should snap the cotton. 1500 grit sandpaper taped to a solid block can be used to lap off any burrs. A very small drop of fine oil at the end of each roller can be helpful if the rollers are not actually rolling. Also check if the rollers are positioned properly. They should be even with or ever so slightly above the edges of the film gate metal rather.

If you had previous rolls without such scratching, I'd be certain to consider other sources along with the camera body. Bad film? Do you squeegee your film after developing?

Vijay · Apr 5, 2014

Thank you Peltigera and Dan.

The rollers are rolling and I will check for positioning. I don't squeegee the film after developing. I never considered that the film itself could be bad. It's the first roll of this type that I am trying.

Dan Daniel · Apr 5, 2014

I found TMax 400 to go through TLRs differently than most other films I've used. It seemed thicker, harder to wind. I'm not certain what was going on (I am not a film slut, so there are only a couple of other films I run through a TLR regularly- Neopan ACROS, Delta 400 mainly). But even with this feel of being thicker I've never gotten that kind of scratching on TMax 400 with an Autocord, Yashica-Mat, Rolleiflex, or Rolleicord.

The reason I mention the film stock is the one time I've seen anything close to what you show is with some Fomapan 400 (or was it 100??) that was known to be either be scratched or prone to scratching in many cameras.

gone · Apr 5, 2014

Wow, that's the worst I have ever seen. I would clean the rollers thoroughly w/ a solvent like lighter fluid, and clean the inside of the camera as well. Wipe it out w/ a clean, damp cloth, use a bristle brush afterwards, and blow it out w/ compressed air. It's a sealed unit, so whatever is in there tends to migrate to the emulsion. Then run a roll of film through it that you bought from a different source.

Vijay · Apr 5, 2014

Thanks momus. Will try the cleaning.

Dan Daniel · Apr 5, 2014

Question- now that I look at the image again- wouldn't scratches be black, not white? A scratch is where the emulsion gets removed, leaving a clear area that would print/scan as black?

dnk512 · Apr 5, 2014

Place a new/expired/cheap roll in the camera. Shoot a frame, open the camera, do not remove the film, and mark on the film the location of the rollers. Take the film out and inspect with a loupe. Repeat if needed. You will figure out the exact location of the scratches source.

Peltigera · Apr 6, 2014

Dan Daniel said:
Question- now that I look at the image again- wouldn't scratches be black, not white? A scratch is where the emulsion gets removed, leaving a clear area that would print/scan as black?

You are right, they would be black. It must be something opaque on the negatives to produce white lines.

Vijay, have you looked at the negatives with a magnifying lens? Any scratches should be visible. Being white on the finished picture, could they be marks on the scanner - perhaps from poor cleaning?

AgX · Apr 6, 2014

Dan Daniel said:
Question- now that I look at the image again- wouldn't scratches be black, not white? A scratch is where the emulsion gets removed, leaving a clear area that would print/scan as black?

Yes. Abrasive scratching would yield black marks in the positive. White marks though could be the result of fogging pressure "scratches".

Vijay · Apr 6, 2014

Dan, AgX,

You raised some interesting points. I developed another batch of rolls last night. Once I've had a chance to inspect them, I will update this thread.

dynachrome · Apr 6, 2014

My Autocord, like all the rest, is pretty old. Sometimes after the foam seals go they harden into odd shapes attached to anythng they were touching. If your Autocord takes both 120 and 220 film make sure your pressure plate is in the right position.

Vijay · Jan 6, 2019

I received an email from a forum member on whether I ever resolved this issue. I did have the Autocord CLA'd that included lubricating parts of the film transport system, which was a possible problem point identified by some posters on this thread. Since I did that CLA, I've put about 3 rolls through the Autocord and haven't seen this issue.

moto-uno · Jan 6, 2019

^ Thanks for getting back on this issue , too often it's left hanging with absolutely nothing resolved . Peter

thuggins · Jan 8, 2019

My Voigtlander Brilliant showed similar scratches. It was from dirt and oxidation on the lower roller.

Scratched film in Autocord

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