What is causing it? - I'm getting a vertical line on the last frame of every roll

[Kirks518]

The last 3 rolls (maybe 4) that I've shot/developed have had a vertical line running through the last frame, and only the last frame. Film is Kodak SO-370 Traffic Flow Recording Film, shot at 64 ASA/EI.

The first roll I shot of this did not have the vertical line, and was ran through a Canon 630. The second roll, was through a Rollei 35, and did not have the line either. The last 3-4 rolls have been shot through a Nikon F4s, and all have had the vertical line. This of course leads me to think it's the camera, but wouldn't there be a line on all the frames then?

The line is not consistently in the same location, but has been only on the last frame, and on the left side of the frame, anywhere from just to the left of center, all the way to just about the left most edge of the frame.

One thing I've noticed with the Nikon, is I get 38 exposures out of the roll of 36, and the last frame is <1/2" from the spool edge when I cut it from the spool, whereas with the other bodies there was more 'room' at the end of the roll. The trailing edge of the film on the spool is secured with masking tape, and upon examining the old spools, there is a bit of a 'ledge' or bump in the tape where it overlaps itself.

Any ideas of what the cause of the line is, whether it be body or film?

Here is a sample of the line -

 

[snapguy]

ghost

It is the Ghost of Kodak Past telling you that "when we say 36, we mean 36."

 

[Kirks518]

ROFLMAO!!!

 

[shutterfinger]

I always get 37 exposures from a 36 exposure roll of film in my F4s, it has to do with the camera not needing a large quantity of leader on the takeup to operate properly.

Is the streak on the film?
Yes-camera or processing.
No- scanner.
Does the end of the film touch the film in the turn below it when loaded on the processing reel?
Yes-chemical fogging. Even a slight touch to a .001 inch gap will cause chemical fogging as chemicals will not be able to pass freely through the gap.
No-switch cameras and keep every thing else consistent.

 

[Kirks518]

I always get 37 exposures from a 36 exposure roll of film in my F4s, it has to do with the camera not needing a large quantity of leader on the takeup to operate properly.

Is the streak on the film?
Yes-camera or processing.
No- scanner.
Does the end of the film touch the film in the turn below it when loaded on the processing reel?
Yes-chemical fogging. Even a slight touch to a .001 inch gap will cause chemical fogging as chemicals will not be able to pass freely through the gap.
No-switch cameras and keep every thing else consistent.

Q #1 - Yes, it's on the film
Q #2 - No. I initially thought that was the problem, but because it's the last frame to go on the reel, there is nothing touching it, or after it on the reel.

I'm really thinking it has something to do with the little 'ledge' of masking tape on the spool. While I can't say for sure that the ledge lines up with the line, it seems to me to be the most likely. The film has been resting on that ledge since 1977/78, and I could guess that something is happening because of it.

I can't understand how it could be the camera if it's only on the last frame.

 

[bdial]

Does this happen with factory rolls or only your bulk loaded rolls?
Also, does the line extend outside of the image area?

 

[trythis]

I am guessing its bulk loaded film and that's an artifact from the rolling process . My bulk rolls are like that only totally bloen out exposed on the last shot.

 

[Kirks518]

It's not bulk loaded rolls. They're individually boxed straight out of factory sealed bricks from 1977/78.

Here's another 2 examples from other rolls. See how the line location varies?



I have figured it out.

It does have something to do with the masking tape. On the negatives of the last two images, I can see a faint black line that goes outside of the frame, into the rebate. The line is only showing on the "bottom" rebate (on these two). On the negative of the wife in the pool, the dark line goes down to just into the rebate, then takes a 90° turn to the right, across the sprocket holes and then off the negative.

I guess that 35+ year old masking tape adhesive has a detrimental effect on film.

 

[MattKing]

I think it is your wife. When she realized what angle you shot that shot from, I'll bet she decided to cast a spell on your film.:munch:

 

[trythis]

I wasnt gonna say anything, but yeah...that.

 

[mopar_guy]

The real question would be "If you know what is going to happen, why do you act perplexed when it happens again?"

 

[shutterfinger]

The F4 may be pulling the film tighter in the cassette than the Cannon was.