Static Discharge on film in camera

Vaughn · Mar 13, 2018

The first workshop I took was back in 1984...a LF workshop out in the desert. Several participants worked in the computer field in SF. They measured the static charge created when drawing out the darkslide from the holder. I can't remember numbers, but the faster you pull, the greater the charge built up. Ever since it is slow and easy for me!

Poisson Du Jour · Mar 13, 2018

Vaughn said:
The first workshop I took was back in 1984...a LF workshop out in the desert. Several participants worked in the computer field in SF. They measured the static charge created when drawing out the darkslide from the holder. I can't remember numbers, but the faster you pull, the greater the charge built up. Ever since it is slow and easy for me!

I imagine that loading/unloading holders on carpet would be fraught with the risk of static affecting the films. In a desert situation I am more concerned with not flaking out in the heat!

In my studio I stand on a rubber mat when working with the cameras to reduce static build up, because around the place there are rugs, carpet, soft furniture -- an endless array of potential static sources.

Vaughn · Mar 13, 2018

My favorite way was to cover my truck shell's windows, lay out a clean sheet in front of me on the bed and change film. In the cool and dark of the night, of course, and since I tend to camp out a ways, usually no lights. I have a van now -- too many dang windows! Perhaps one of those custom car covers is what I need -- does not need tp go all the way to the ground. I just looked up the price -- $160...almost a cheap as some darkcloths!

RalphLambrecht · Mar 14, 2018

AgX said:
One does not rewind rollfilm.

(But with type 135 that is an issue. Though we never discussed that.)

Well, we are doing it now.

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 14, 2018

I wrote to Siggi Rohde at Noblex Canada, and he says he's never seen this problem, so he forwarded it to his friend at The Lab in Vancouver, who guesses that it's the film. I'm not sure if that means he thinks it's a manufacturing defect or just that the film doesn't have antistatic treatment, but in any case, it confirms that it's a fairly rare phenomenon, even with Noblex cameras.

E. von Hoegh · Mar 14, 2018

Vaughn said:
The first workshop I took was back in 1984...a LF workshop out in the desert. Several participants worked in the computer field in SF. They measured the static charge created when drawing out the darkslide from the holder. I can't remember numbers, but the faster you pull, the greater the charge built up. Ever since it is slow and easy for me!

I had two sheets damaged one winter, using wood filmholders in a wood camera. No lightning bolts, but blobs surrounding a very dense spot. So I learned to draw the slide slowly, also use an antistatic wipe when loading film.

Static Discharge on film in camera

Vaughn

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