Bessa I

Buster 6X6

Buster 6X6

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Joined
Nov 22, 2007
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I recenly bought Bessa I from Jurgen. I realy like the camera and the 6X9 format. First film went trough it, when I developed the film I noticed small round and oval bloches at the bottom of the negative. Light leak right ? I used my small LED light to check all around bellows and camera body. I found one small rivet in the front chamber where film spools on was missing. I replaced it. I checked again with the light ,no more light leaks.Second film proved I still get the bloches some frames more some less. I asked Jurgen about it but he really did not give me an answer.
Does anybody have an idea what it could be?I would appriciate any suggestions.

Thanks in advance Greg
 
It can be one of 2 things:
light leaks in bellows (check with flash light) or put film in the camera, and leave the camera open in the sun for a few minutes with fim in it

development problems

emulsion problems - Try a different film (Kodak or ilford are good in not having problems)
 
Does the back of the camera close well? One way to check for light leaks would be to cut a piece of photo paper the size of the back and put it in the camera. Then expose the camera to strong light for a while and develop the paper (don't forget to mark one of its corners, so that you know how it was positioned in the camera). If there are any light leaks, they will appear on the developed paper.

This might also be interesting.

Good luck.
 
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Buster 6X6 said:
I recenly bought Bessa I from Jurgen. I realy like the camera and the 6X9 format. First film went trough it, when I developed the film I noticed small round and oval bloches at the bottom of the negative. Light leak right ? I used my small LED light to check all around bellows and camera body. I found one small rivet in the front chamber where film spools on was missing. I replaced it. I checked again with the light ,no more light leaks.Second film proved I still get the bloches some frames more some less. I asked Jurgen about it but he really did not give me an answer.
Does anybody have an idea what it could be?I would appriciate any suggestions.

Thanks in advance Greg
Click to expand...

Check where the bellows are attached to the camera. It's possible there is a small gap there. If you got black bellows, odds are fairly good that it is a Kodak replacement bellows and some of them were meant to be secured with bolts, that go through the first fold. If it isn't glued down perfectly flat, or if it pulls loose even a little bit, it can leak light through the bolt hole.
 
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Bessa I

Thanks guy's for you responses. I can exclude developing problems. But trying with photo paper instead of film it is a good idea. I like the camera so much that I bought another one in a mean time till I can solve this problem. I'll post the results .

Greg
 
Bellows are black and I used my little LED light to check for light leaks.I can't see any but there is two places inside where bellows are glued to the camera it is separated about a mm. Maybe it is enough to let light in? Will have to incert photo paper and see if is going to leak light .

Greg
 
Just the update
I tried photo paper inserted where film suppose to be and nothing. Not even a trace of fog. The back closes properly. Some negatives have bigger bloches then the other? :bang:

Thanks Greg
 
Buster 6X6 said:
Just the update
I tried photo paper inserted where film suppose to be and nothing. Not even a trace of fog. The back closes properly. Some negatives have bigger bloches then the other? :bang:

Thanks Greg
Click to expand...
Try putting a roll of film in. Do not shoot frames. On frame one, put the camera (bellows extended) in bright light for an hour. On frame 2, same but 2 hours. Etc. for frames 3&4. Then shoot the last four frames normally. Process and see the results. If it's light, varying times of the film exposed to leaks should show different results of fogging on the film. If the last four are the only ones showing blotches.... well???? shutter and lens? If all the 8 frame show the same blotches in the same areas.... given the time changes on the first four frames, it would have to be film source or processing.
 
Another thought... loading film...
Keeping tension tight on roll. Also loading a Bessa I involves having one end of the roll up quite a ways. Load in very subdued light or darkness. That.s fun. However, unloading, tightening the roll and sealing can easily be done in the dark.
 
Buster 6X6 said:
Thanks for the reply.
I got to try something it's driving me up the wall. :bang:


Greg
Click to expand...

Any chance you could post a photo with these "round and oval blotches?" It will be a lot easier to diagnose if we can see them. Also, are they in the same place on each frame? Are they in every frame?
 
Hi Buster. Since you recently bought this camera from Jurgen, I would just send it back to him to make right, along with the scan of the negs showing what is happening.
 
Hi Frank
I already tried to ask him, he made some suggestions but did not say to send camera back to him. As I said before first film I put trough the camera had the same bloches plus a bar running across the negative. He suggested to use light to check where the light was coming in . This is how I found one of the rivets in the spool chamber missing. After I fixed it I said good no more leaks according to my test with LED light. the camera sat for some time ,not beeng used.When I tried it later the row of bloches proved I was wrong. I have a feeling the camera should have been checked by Jurgen before I received it. He CLA'd lens. I did not feel he was interested to fix the problem. I paid $220 for the camera and buying from him rather than from eBay I thought I was safe. I chose him after APUG forum members suggested he was the best.
I don't really want to spend any more money on something that should have worked in the first place.

Greg
 
I don't want to assume anything but:

I've taken my 120, C41 stuff to a local lab who is mainly processing 35mm stuff. They gave me back a few rolls with what looked like random light leaks. I was quite distressed to say the least. Even my Hassy stuff had problems.

It was the lab. They were not used to processing 120. Somehow they managed a light leak in the process. 35mm was ok.

The previous issue turned out to be the little red window. It leaked occasionally causing something you've described. I solved it by judicious application of the wooly side of black Velcro. This took a while to figure out.
Then I am sure I close the window immediately after I advance the film.

Good luck.
 
Buster 6X6 said:
Hi Frank
I already tried to ask him, he made some suggestions but did not say to send camera back to him. As I said before first film I put trough the camera had the same bloches plus a bar running across the negative. He suggested to use light to check where the light was coming in . This is how I found one of the rivets in the spool chamber missing. After I fixed it I said good no more leaks according to my test with LED light. the camera sat for some time ,not beeng used.When I tried it later the row of bloches proved I was wrong. I have a feeling the camera should have been checked by Jurgen before I received it. He CLA'd lens. I did not feel he was interested to fix the problem. I paid $220 for the camera and buying from him rather than from eBay I thought I was safe. I chose him after APUG forum members suggested he was the best.
I don't really want to spend any more money on something that should have worked in the first place.

Greg
Click to expand...

As to your problem - to me looks like bellows leak somewhere. WHat to do?
here:
Did you say you got Bessa I or Bessa II? Cause if it's Bessa I and you paid $220 - you got ripped off. I'm sorry to say this, but it's true. It's a simple camera that has no RF, just a scale focus. At that price he should have done new bellows, new lens, new shutter - well - everything! And even than it should be cheaper. I don't care what he or anyone else says - I have worked on folders and I too know what's what.
Ok, ok, buying from Certo6 may give you some comfort vs let's say Ebay. but still, at this price he should be very helpful and very willing to take it back to fix. Me - I'd request a refund, as at this price you can find a better camera.
As a sidenote - while Certo6 does know his cameras and often does a pretty good job at folders, I know several people that are/were very unhappy with his service/cameras. I never used him as he is wayyyy overpriced and oversells his stuff. He knows perfectly well what is good and what is not. He doesn't always relay that to customers. But than again - it's his business/income.
I don't want anyone to post how wonderful he is, etc. I just express my opinions. I too know some things about folders - I use them and sometimes fix them. And some things he says are far from the truth. Based on this - I'd treat him as any dealer - he sold you crap - return it!
 
A scan is worth a thousand words.

Either there wasn't enough developing solution - or - the film was not properly situated on the developing reel. It could also be a problem with the agitation technique.

Patrick is correct. Light leaks over expose negative film, which makes the negative darker in those areas rather than the lightish blotches seen on these negs.
 
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