Ugly test roll results...

A used Minolta or Nikon scanner should be good value for the money.
However I was very satisfied with an old Polaroid SprintScan 35+ but it has SCSI interface. And have heard good things of the cheaper Artek film scanners

ElectroWNED said:
Thanks for the suggestions and comments guys. When I return home I'll have the Provia developed and scanned, and maybe post some of the shots in this thread.

If the Provia shots come out looking nice, I'll probably be investing in a scanner right away.

Any suggestions for a decent scanner for around $200?
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Well, I got the color prints back.

21 of the 24 have multicolored leaks, random discolorations, white blobs, rainbow patterns. 3 total photos from my trip turned out perfectly.

Does anybody have any idea what the problem could be? I asked Ritz for a cd of the scans, and they made prints, so I can't post pics.

Here are two example of the random white lines, but also details the sharpness of the lens:

AintSheSweet.jpg
b6snf9.jpg


21jdsoh.jpg


so far, this has been a horrible foray into the word of film. at this rate, I may as well re-buy a 350D and go back to shooting macros of flowers and water droplets.
 
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Well, there are two possibilities. One is that the GSN has problems (light leaks, scratching the film, etc.). Two is that Ritz messed up the processing; the fact that they made prints when you asked for a CD is not very confidence-inspiring...

I'd try another (color) roll and have it processed at another place -- even if you have to travel further to drop it off. If that one is messed up too, then you know the GSN is the problem.

Film -IS- more hassle than digital; it's the nature of the beast. Workflow simplicity is not the reason to shoot film these days! But even if your GSN is the problem, don't let that immediately push you back to digital. There are a LOT of very affordable and very reliable film cameras out there these days. Around here (CA) at least, the camera stores are often not even willing to buy any more used film cameras because they have so many just sitting on their shelves not selling. Rather than ebay, that might be a better option, especially if your local store will let you run a roll or two through it before you buy (or give a return period).
 
Multicolor leaks?
rainbow patterns?
can you see them in the negatives (look thorugh a lopue or use a 50mm lens bakwards)
To me that sound closer to processing problems but let's assume the processing was perfect so let's check the camera

Let's start from the top:
- Did you check the light seals on your camera?
if they look like gunk they need to be replaced. Get a set from Jon Goodman and you can do it in 20 minutes.
- Check the film-transport roller, run your finger through them and check for grit/dust feeling.
- With the camera open put the speed in B and the f/stop in 1.7, trip the shutter and look through the lens to check if your lens is clean

If that all checks then use walmart developing with a cheap roll, load the camera and take a few pictures, then leave a couple emty frames. Then leave the camera in spot with lots of light for a day or so (check for light leaks), shoot 2 empty frames and finish the roll.


ElectroWNED said:
Well, I got the color prints back.

21 of the 24 have multicolored leaks, random discolorations, white blobs, rainbow patterns. 3 total photos from my trip turned out perfectly.

Does anybody have any idea what the problem could be? I asked Ritz for a cd of the scans, and they made prints, so I can't post pics.

Here are two example of the random white lines, but also details the sharpness of the lens:

AintSheSweet.jpg


GarageMirror_1.jpg




so far, this has been a horrible foray into the word of film. at this rate, I may as well re-buy a 350D and go back to shooting macros of flowers and water droplets.
Click to expand...
 
light seals look fine to me. the RFF user that I bought the camera from told me he replaced them.

film transport reel is clean

the negatives from Ritz have all kinds of lines and patterns on them. you can see the discolorations and such while just looking at them in good light.

does that sound like another problem with Ritz? Maybe I"ll try WalMart with a cheapo color film next (if Ritz is indeed the problem).
 
Seems easy to determine what the problem is - buy yourself a roll of FRESH color film, buy yourself some FRESH batteries, don't run the camera or the film through an x-ray machine, and after shooting just a 24 exposures roll of that film, bring it to a lab/shop that you KNOW is able to do a simple color processing. If you keep introducing different elements into the equation, there can be no simple solution. Start fresh as described, or send the camera back and get another. Damn, a Canonet would cost about $50 tops. I have 2.
 
titrisol said:
This is puzzling, the lines do not seem to be in the same place, thus light leak is hard to say
As per the white spots, that is dirt form processing most likely.

Give it one last chance
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yes, the lines are VERY random on the color roll. some are in the middle, some towards the borders.

In most of the pictures where the bright sky is visible, the picture is just fades to white...

Gonna run down to WALMART 🙄 and burn through a roll real quick.
 
Do the discolorations etc. extend outside the frames? If yes (such as around the sprocket holes) then I'd suspect a leak. But if not, then more likely it is a problem with the film or the processing.

Let us know how things turn out -- these are fine cameras.
 
another bizarre twist in the Yashica story...

2pq99j7.jpg


ran a roll of Superia, 1 hour development at Walmart, and they ALL came out perfect.

So, any ideas? And, if it was just Ritz or possibly the x-ray's, where else can I get XP2 or Tri-X developed locally?
 
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Well, the camera seems to be a keeper.

I guess the answer is to use fresh, cool, unxrayed film and avoid ritz for processing.
 
Looks wonderful. You should run down to the Ritz shop, show them the difference and at least ask for a free roll to replace the one they messed up. Maybe get your money back on the developing and burn, too. What, $10? Go for it. They screwed up.

Congrats on the new camera. Looks like it works perfectly.
 
januaryman said:
Looks wonderful. You should run down to the Ritz shop, show them the difference and at least ask for a free roll to replace the one they messed up. Maybe get your money back on the developing and burn, too. What, $10? Go for it. They screwed up.

Congrats on the new camera. Looks like it works perfectly.
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Thats what my mother said also 😛

Money is money; I'm more upset that my photos from Europe are basically destroyed. I have 4 more rolls, but I doubt they are going to come out (was it really Ritz' fault? or did the xray's screw things up?)
 
Given that you are new to all of this, and you consequently don't know what you are looking for, I think you need to take a couple of variables out of the mix. I'd start with the processing. Go with an outfit that does decent quality processing. Skip the scans for now; mini lab scans are atrocious and scanning your own has it's own set of challenges. Just get good quality prints.

I've always liked A&I for C41. You can get mailers for them from B&H. They are pricey, but you don't have to keep using them once you've determined if it's the processing or the camera. If the prints from A&I have problems, it's probably the camera. At that point, if you think you might be serious about film, go buy whatever student SLR Freestyle is selling these days. For a coupla hundred bucks you will get something with a warranty, and you won't have to deal with replacing light seals, calibrating rangefinders etc etc etc. There's plenty of time for that stuff later.

Good luck.
 
well, glad things turned out properly with the wally mally roll.

Superia is very good BTW.

Now XP2 can be processed in any 1-h photo lab, I do not know what you have around you have to test labs, and/or ask for recommendations 😉
Ritz can be either good or abismal depending on the techinicians they have in location. I was pretty lucky with the one in Raliegh NC. Never a problem.
 
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