Weird exposure on 120 film borders

[Robert Taetzel]

Hello,

I just shot a roll of TMY @ 800 (expiry may 2027) the other day to test a newly bought used A12 Hasselblad magazine.
Developed in XT-3 1+1 at 20C for 9:15min, with first minute of agitation and afterwards every 30s 2 agitations.

The negatives themselves look fine. But there are these weird exposed wave parts on the borders of the film. They seem to be more pronounced towards the end of the roll (right).

Might this be a light leak on the roll itself? That I did not wrap it tightly enough when taking out the film?

Thanks for the help

 

[koraks]

Might this be a light leak on the roll itself? That I did not wrap it tightly enough when taking out the film?

Yes, that's possible. In fact, I'd consider that the most likely cause. Also, light piping due to direct exposure of the rolled-up film can play a role.

It's not something that would worry me as long as it doesn't extend into the image frame.

Oh, welcome to Photrio!

 

[John Salim]

Slightly loose roll.
As Koraks says, it's not really a problem, but make sure the roll is tightly taken up, and kept hold of when removing exposed rolls.

 

[loccdor]

The looseness of the roll can be affected by the springs next to the spools. Sometimes it helps to bend them slightly toward the spool if they've relaxed over time.

 

[MCB18]

This is perfectly normal. The edges of 120 film are not 100% light tight in all cases. Especially if you constantly switch manufacturers of 120, as backing paper/spools are not 100% the same size. As an example I’ve personally seen, If you shoot Kodak after you shoot Ilford (meaning that the roll of Kodak is rerolled after exposure on an Ilford spool) there is a very slight difference in the width of the spool and/or backing paper that leads to a very small gap between the paper and spool that lets a small amount of light hit the edge of the film. It shouldn’t affect the negatives.

 

[Robert Taetzel]

Yes, that's possible. In fact, I'd consider that the most likely cause. Also, light piping due to direct exposure of the rolled-up film can play a role.


Oh, welcome to Photrio!

Thanks

The looseness of the roll can be affected by the springs next to the spools. Sometimes it helps to bend them slightly toward the spool if they've relaxed over time.

I'll check, as soon as the current roll is out. Also got myself a copy of the Hasselblad magazine service manual. Thanks for the tip!

This is perfectly normal. The edges of 120 film are not 100% light tight in all cases. Especially if you constantly switch manufacturers of 120, as backing paper/spools are not 100% the same size. As an example I’ve personally seen, If you shoot Kodak after you shoot Ilford (meaning that the roll of Kodak is rerolled after exposure on an Ilford spool) there is a very slight difference in the width of the spool and/or backing paper that leads to a very small gap between the paper and spool that lets a small amount of light hit the edge of the film. It shouldn’t affect the negatives.

Interesting. I was not aware of that. Appears like the previous owner shot a roll of Ilford HP5+ last.

 

[brian steinberger]

Try to change film in subdued light. If in bright sunlight I will change film with my back to the sun working in my own shade. I also carry 120 canisters and put the exposed film immediately into one of them. If a rolled unexposed or exposed roll of 120 is exposed to bright sunlight this can happen.

 

[MCB18]

Maybe I’ll finally have an excuse to get some 120 canisters this summer if I can get enough interest in the new film in 120, then I can finally stop being paranoid and shoving them deep in my pockets

 

[BrianShaw]

An equally good option to 120 canisters are squares of aluminium foil. Wrap the exposed film and, bam…

 

[Disconnekt]

That has happened to me too, mostly from rolls not getting tightly wound after shooting in my kodak folding camera & from rerolling 120 film onto 620 spools (and back onto 120 spools)

 

[MCB18]

An equally good option to 120 canisters are squares of aluminium foil. Wrap the exposed film and, bam…

I tried that on my recent trip, they got crumpled up and we’re basically useless.

 

[Dr. no]

Harmless. And if you scan the edges it shows you’re actually using film and not some hipster frame add-on.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Yes, that's possible. In fact, I'd consider that the most likely cause. Also, light piping due to direct exposure of the rolled-up film can play a role.

It's not something that would worry me as long as it doesn't extend into the image frame.

Oh, welcome to Photrio!

I agree, but there might be another issue. It looks to me as if the roll was not wound parallel (the film wandering to one side of the spool). That could be an issue with the new back and needs to be monitored.

 

[Robert Taetzel]

Just developed another roll of TMY, using the spool of the previous one -- no exposures on the borders, so that might have been the issue.
Will keep this in mind, esp. since I'm planning on using more Ilford film in the future

I agree, but there might be another issue. It looks to me as if the roll was not wound parallel (the film wandering to one side of the spool). That could be an issue with the new back and needs to be monitored.

Don't see any drift on freshly developed film.
Maybe the photo above gives this impression due to perspective and the grey blockers?

 

[ChrisGalway]

......Especially if you constantly switch manufacturers of 120, as backing paper/spools are not 100% the same size. As an example I’ve personally seen, If you shoot Kodak after you shoot Ilford (meaning that the roll of Kodak is rerolled after exposure on an Ilford spool) there is a very slight difference in the width of the spool and/or backing paper that leads to a very small gap between the paper and spool that lets a small amount of light hit the edge of the film. It shouldn’t affect the negatives.

That's a good point ... not all 120 spools are the same! I use Fuji Provia a lot and always make sure that the take up spool is also Fuji ... in my opinion, Fuji spools are "the best", they put some thought into the design. And as a plus, the bold printing on their backing paper is very legible, unlike some other manufacturers.