Balda Baldix: Problem with film detaching from backing inside camera

[The Standard Deviant]

I really wanted to try out something larger than 35mm, and a 120 folder seemed just the thing. I bought a Balda Baldix on eBay with a rangefinder, for a reasonable price. The lens is a coated 75mm f/3.5 Ennagon and it has a Prontor SVS shutter. It all seems to be in good condition, apart from having had to reglue one of the glass windows back in place.

Giving it a test yesterday, I loaded according to instructions in the manual, and went about shooting a roll, but there was a point where advancing the film was very stiff, which didn't seem right. After developing the film, I saw that it had bent back upon itself, there were a few exposures how they were meant to be and there were multiple exposures on one piece.

Today I decided to give it another go, making sure I was loading it straight. After closing the back and starting to advance towards the '1' in the window, I felt more resistance than the otherwise smooth winding, so I stopped and opened the back, to see that the tape holding the film onto the backing was stuck at the point of the left roller (when viewed from behind) and being pulled away as the knob was wound. This must have caused the film to detach from the backing and not get rolled back onto the takeup spool properly. The film is Lucky SHD100.

Does anyone have any ideas? Does it sound as if I am doing something wrong or could this be an issue with Lucky film? The camera really seems to be in good condition, so I don't suspect it for the moment.

I've tried lots of searching on here and on the web in general but can't seem to find any reports of a similar problem.

 

[Steve M.]

You are probably going to have to sacrifice a roll of film and try advancing the film w/ the back open in hopes you can see the problem. If your camera needs the back closed to work, you will find a small piece in the light channel, usually on the top or bottom, that needs to be held down w/ a screwdriver to make the camera think the back is closed. Make sure there isn't something dragging on the film. W/o seeing the camera it's hard to know what the issue is, but I'm pretty sure that if you try it w/ the back open that should reveal the problem. I'm still trying to understand why the first roll of film would have had multiple exposures. Once you figure out the problem let us know what's up w/ your camera.

You also might try Matt's site on the link below. I googled your camera and apparently it has an odd film advance regime, so see if this helps.
http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/balda_baldix.html

If all else fails get a camera w/ a simple red window in the back and no auto film advance mechanism. They're slower to operate, but their foolproof design (assuming I remember to advance the film after the shots) eliminates these kind of problems. Welcome to the wonderful world of MF folders. If you really want to see something nice, get a 6x9 camera. The huge negs are beautiful.

 

[The Standard Deviant]

Hello Steve, thanks for your reply, and the welcome to medium format.

I think the multiple exposures can be put down the the film getting stuck in place, sorry for the red herring there.

I'm giving your idea a go now, sacrificing the roll to find out. I think perhaps the fault is with the 'Lucky' film. Normally, how sticky is the piece of adhesive tape or paper that holds the start of the film? I think it must have dried out (!?) The piece used on this film has just come off and won't stick back!

 

[FallisPhoto]

Hello Steve, thanks for your reply, and the welcome to medium format.

I think the multiple exposures can be put down the the film getting stuck in place, sorry for the red herring there.

I'm giving your idea a go now, sacrificing the roll to find out. I think perhaps the fault is with the 'Lucky' film. Normally, how sticky is the piece of adhesive tape or paper that holds the start of the film? I think it must have dried out (!?) The piece used on this film has just come off and won't stick back!

don't know about "Lucky" film, but on most of the Kodak films I use, the tape seems very much like plain old masking tape. It's pretty sticky and it takes some effort to seperate it from the paper. My suggestion is that you might want to try going into a darkroom and replacing the tape that's on there with masking tape. that would salvage all the film you have left, if you have any left and want to save/use it.

 

[The Standard Deviant]

Thanks for your thoughts. Normally I'd try retaping them in a dark bag, but I think this time I'll see about a refund. I'm flying abroad on Saturday and was hoping to take the Baldix with me; I don't really fancy having to explain what all the opened packages are to an airport security guard, especially as they are 'weird' non-35mm film.

The Baldix is certainly a thing of beauty, feels well made, and is smaller than a Yashica Electro 35 when folded, so I'd have been disappointed to not try it out. I'll make sure to post back with my experiences, and any good photos.

Perhaps the thread should be renamed "Lucky film problem"!

 

[The Standard Deviant]

I just wanted to add that the problem was definitely the Lucky film; the shop where I bought it have even had reports of problems from other customers and have got in touch with the factory.

No problems whatsoever using Ilford HP5, Delta 100, or the Fuji Provia and Kodak Portra someone kindly gave to me! The common feature being very strong and sticky tape holding them together, rather than the address-label like stuff in the Lucky.

Oh, and I'll post up some photos - the Baldix is a great camera.

 

[Mablo]

Thanks for the update. I'll avoid Lucky 120 for sure. Photos from your Baldix would be great indeed.