Blank negative..... who screwed up?

[malkmata]

I was very upset yesterday when the photo lab informed me that one of my 35mm color negatives came out blank.:bang:
This is the second time it happened, the first time was a few months ago. Both negatives were shot with the same camera, both Kodak Gold 200 film.
My camera is a Leica IIf, it was serviced early last year for a broken shutter. I tested it immediately after it came back and it was working fine. Yesterday, I shot a 24 exposure roll in about half an hour. I made sure I left the lens cap in my camera bag. I loaded the film properly, made sure the rewind knob was turning as I wind the film. As my exposures reach 25 I couldn't wind the film anymore.
So I don't think it was my error that the caused the blank film.
Last night, I checked if my shutter is working. They were. I was shooting between 1/100 and 1/200 shutter speeds at f8-f22. The film was completely blank and clear except for the first frame which was almost black. If my shutter was off it would have at least have some underexposed images.
My second roll of film shot from another camera came out fine.
I will test my IIF again.

 

[MC JC86]

Did you trim the leader when loading the camera? Or, alternatively, did you keep the shutter on B while loading the camera to make sure the film seated properly and that the shutter opened and closed correctly with film behind it? Since the camera works correctly without film it may be that the film was stuck in some place that prevented the shutter from firing correctly... It would be tricky though for this to be the case and have film that is apparently not at all exposed to light..

Load it with film, remove the lens and watch the shutter curtain move across the film as you fire it as well as check the rewind knob is spinning... Hope you solve your problem.

 

[MartinP]

Unfortunately it sounds like the first frame you see as 'black' on the neg was the recipient of all the photos. It's possible, in an imperfect camera, for the film to transport for a turn or so (hence you seeing the rewind knob turn) but then to slip, for example when the tension is relaxed slightly. That might especially be the case if the spring (under which you insert the trimmed film-leader) on the spool is not grippy, or if the clutch driving the take-up spool is a little loose. To narrow the problem down a bit, try taping the next test-film to the spool - that would prevent the leader coming off the spool for checking, but is inconvenient for general use of course.

 

[Tim Gray]

Are there frame numbers/markings on each frame? If so, the film was developed at least semi correctly, pointing to a camera fault or something.

 

[malkmata]

Thanks for the replies.
I did trimmed the film leader before loading it. I was thinking about the film slipping as I wind but winding stopped as I reached the 25th exposure, so the film seems to be advancing properly. The blank negative did show the frame numbers. I will try the B setting as I load the film on my next test as MC suggested.

 

[MC JC86]

Another note: When the shutter is opened and the film loaded, you should not be able to see the sprocket holes... If you can, the film is not seated correctly. It is possible the the camera is advancing the film but the placement of the film is preventing the shutter from moving, but still uncocking and cocking when you press the button the "wind on".