Too few negatives with Mamiya m645

[Siggybottom]

Hi!
Since I've started developing, it's one thing that annoyed the crap out of me.

I only get 11 ½ negative on a 16 roll film. The only film I've used is Kodak T-Max 400, developed in a paterson tank on paterson spools.

The missing negatives are sometimes visible under very, very bright light - but they're un-scannable.

My tiny little research says that the Mamiya m645 1000s is a 6x4,5cm and that should give me 15 or 16 exposures.

What am I doing wrong or am I doing something wrong?

Is it maybe the spooling of the film?

Or the inserting of the film in the camera that's wrong? I can't see this being the cause since I think I'm doing it right. Yeah, I spool it to the arrow.

Thanks!

Sorry for my sloppy english.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

You can see all 16 frames, but sometimes they're really underexposed? Or you have 11 -12 frames, with really big gaps between them? If it is big gaps between every frame, it's probably a problem with the film insert and/or the gearing in the advance mechanism. If it's random underexposures, then it's probably an issue with your shutter.

 

[Siggybottom]

It's always the last exposures. The first 11 is fully visible.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

But, there are exposures there, just really faint? If that is the case, I have no idea. If the film just winds off after 11 exposures, then I would check the insert or the gearing in your camera counting mechanism.

 

[fschifano]

So you get good results from the first 11 or so exposures and the rest are faint? Doesn't sound like a camera problem to me. Sounds like a development problem.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

I don't see an on camera problem causing that other than extreme underexposure. If it's on every roll you run through it's either got to be in handling the film or processing.

 

[MattKing]

This is a wild guess.

Are you using a power winder with your camera? Do you note any difference in it's behaviour toward the end of the roll?

Matt

 

[Ian Grant]

Eliminate the possibility of processing errors, get some one else to process a film, It is just possible you're not loading the reel properly and the last frames are overlapping.

Mamiya 645's do suffer from winding mechanism problems as they wear, and it's possible the shutter isn't re-setting properly on the last frames. The 645S is quite an old camera and they do go wrong, mines been serviced twice since I bought it second-hand in the early 80's.

Ian

 

[Siggybottom]

Hi!
Thank you for your suggestions!
No, I don't use a power winder and the film doesn't wind off.
I will try to send a film in to a photoshack to get it developed there instead. Maybe it's the frames overlapping.
And if that doesn't work, I'll get someone to look it over.

Thanks.

Siggybottom.

 

[Rolleijoe]

I was having the same problem with my M645pro. Lost a lot of frames during a wedding shoot. A new back solved the problem. Only $53 from KEH.

Give this a whirl, and save yourself some hassles.

 

[Ian Grant]

Err the 1000S has a fixed back

So that means a new camera . . . . . . . . . . .

Ian

 

[VaryaV]

Hi Siggy - My main camera is an M645 and I get 16-18 negs per roll. Ilford is my main film but have used Adox and Fuji with the same results. I have noticed some slight variation of widths in between each frame but not a great as you are having - and it isn't a constant. My guess is that is a wind up problem in the mechanism - perhaps the sprockets aren't catching, as sometimes it feels like it misses one or two. As this is my favorite camera of choice, please post what the final outcome is once discovered. Cheers.

 

[RobertV]

The M645 should give you 15 exposures on a 120 roll film. It sounds like you have a bad 120 insert. Due to the price of a new one an overhaul of the insert is not worthwhile anymore. Just swab out the 120 insert and your problem should be solved.

 

[Rolleijoe]

Err the 1000S has a fixed back

So that means a new camera . . . . . . . . . . .

Ian

Ah, sorry, I misread your original post. You're quite right.

 

[Rolleijoe]

The M645 should give you 15 exposures on a 120 roll film. It sounds like you have a bad 120 insert. Due to the price of a new one an overhaul of the insert is not worthwhile anymore. Just swab out the 120 insert and your problem should be solved.

Hey there Robert! Long time, no hear! I tried 5 different inserts with the M645, and it happened with all. A new back from KEH solved the problem, and all inserts are now functioning fine.

 

[RobertV]

Well the M645 Super, Pro and Pro TL you can change the whole back. For a 1000S it has not a changeble back only inserts. In most cases there is a problem with the insert but that's not a 100% remote diagnose.

 

[Ian Grant]

Just feel lucky your not in the UK the importer/official repair service is about the worst you can find anywhere !!! definitely NOT recommended.

Ian

 

[RobertV]

Well the Dutch Mamiya repair service (in Uden) I can recommend. Very professional and reasonable prices.