autocord scratches negatives

[bukaj]

My Minolta Autocord has been scratching my negatives. It has been getting worse over time and is more apparent on color film and in the darks. I'm pretty sure color film is thicker than black and white so this could explain why. The scratches come out blue on color film and black on black and white and can be seen on the negatives themselves if looked at closely.

I have already loosened the springs on the backing plate and that did not help. I'm probably going to send it out soon, but wanted to get opinions before doing so.

Here is an example of what's going on. This is Ektar 100.

-jakub

 

[hanskerensky]

How do you know that it comes from the camera ? Also the film development laboratory could have a problem with its equipment.

On a camera check the rollers (are they smoothly running, are they not oxidised) and the edges of the filmchamber and pressure plate.
Also sand , salt or metal particles could cause problems.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Based on the sample, I would try another lab before doing much with the camera. Those do not look like typical scratches from a camera that I have seen. Usually the scratches will be longer.

Well, check the rollers. I guess if one was hanging up it could cause such an erratic pattern.

Karl Bryan is an excellent Autocord repair guy. And a helpful person. Send him an email and sample image and he might know exactly what to do. If it needs work, he's the guy to use. <karl.kathy@frontier.com>

 

[colyn]

That's a processing error. If you were getting scratches from the camera they would be straight lines throughout the negative..

 

[sig]

Make sure the rollers roll freely....... Had a similar problem in a diacord, no scratches after the rollers were cleaned and lubed.

 

[MCTuomey]

Karl Bryan is an excellent Autocord repair guy. And a helpful person. Send him an email and sample image and he might know exactly what to do. If it needs work, he's the guy to use. <karl.kathy@frontier.com>

+1 Karl's responsiveness is first-rate. He turned 2 cameras around for me in one business day after inspecting them (repaired in the morning, shipped in the afternoon). Very detailed communications and his service fees are modest to a fault. Great fellow!

 

[bukaj]

I'm sure that it's the camera because I get the same marks on lab developed color film and self developed black and white. They're just not as evident on the black and white film.

Karl Bryan actually CLA'd this camera when I first got it and I have been in touch with him, but he said he has not seen an autocord make marks like this. One of the rollers (bottom of the film gate) isn't as smooth as the others so that could be the issue. I plan on sending the camera to Karl soon, but wanted to see if anyone else had some other ideas or had something similar happen.

Thanks for the feedback from everyone.

 

[Jack Conrad]

Check the rollers really well under magnification. There may be some sort of buildup from the roller dragging across the
emulsion?

 

[Dan Daniel]

You can also check if the rollers may have been bent or bumped. Sight along the length and compare the position to the black metal pieces at the top and bottom of the film gate. The black metal pieces should be at or just below the side wall height, and the rollers should be at or just above the film gate. If the rollers are bent down and the film is riding too hard against the metal pieces, maybe that would cause this?

And yeah, wipe the rollers down with some naphtha.

 

[bukaj]

I looked at the rollers more closely and they are not smooth so I'm pretty sure this is the cause of my problems. Luckily seems like it won't be very difficult to get fixed.