Contax II and mark on negatives

[ThreeToedSlothLuke]

I'm embarrassed to admit I hadn't noticed that there's a mark (a scratch?) on negatives from my Contax II. I think it's been there since I bought the camera but it only shows in "light". It's not seen if that area is dark. And it's not a consistent shape. Doesn't matter which lens I use, the mark is there. The only consistency is its relative position.

About 3/4 of the way down on the right side. A line that comes out of the grass and into the road. (The vignetting is caused by the hood I was using). Biogon 35mm.

Roughly the same position. Sonnar F2.

Lastly

It's out of focus (I was building a Warré bee hive) but the mark is nonetheless more distinct. Only now it appears to curve up at the end inside the photo rather than down as in the first two. Sonnar 1.5.

I've checked the camera for a stray hair, not that I have many to spare these days, and found nothing. There's a metal piece that holds the take up spool in position but if that was scratching the negative I'd expect it to be across the entire frame. No idea what could be causing this.
Any thoughts/suggestions are welcome.

Colin

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Colin,
Remove the lens, remove the back, set shutter to B, release shutter and keep pressing the button, look through the open shutter. Ther should be a hair sticking out at upper left hand side, if you are looking from the back.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Oops, I have just noticed, that you have checked for a stray hair. I still think it is a hair somehow connected to either one of the curtains, or to left ribbon. Try firing shutter at slower speeds, while looking at left side.

 

[Grytpype]

Must be a hair rather than a scratch. It's very thin - could be difficult to spot.

 

[ThreeToedSlothLuke]

Thanks guys.
I had checked the upper left side of the film/shutter area using 'B' but didn't see anything. Then again, I have trouble with close focusing.

I'll check again when I'm home.

Colin

 

[Dwig]

Thanks guys.
I had checked the upper left side of the film/shutter area using 'B' but didn't see anything. Then again, I have trouble with close focusing.

I'll check again when I'm home.

Colin

You may find that a lupe held against the film rails will help. That or some +3 reading glasses from the drug/dollar store. The latter is one of my pet things for such detail work these days. I simply stack them over my normal glasses.

Either way, it is definitely a hair or thread that is casting a shadow on the film and hence reproduces black in the positive print. Since it is not touching the film itself its sharpness and exact location will change somewhat with different lenses and focusing distances.

 

[oftheherd]

You may find that a lupe held against the film rails will help. That or some +3 reading glasses from the drug/dollar store. The latter is one of my pet things for such detail work these days. I simply stack them over my normal glasses.

Either way, it is definitely a hair or thread that is casting a shadow on the film and hence reproduces black in the positive print. Since it is not touching the film itself its sharpness and exact location will change somewhat with different lenses and focusing distances.

Since it is relatively well defined, I am thinking some sort of thread for sure. Also not too long for the small bit that is sticking out from the side of the negative. Perhaps some Yak hair threads? 😀 I have used black yarn to seal the back on my Kiev. 😛

Let us know when you figure it out.

 

[ThreeToedSlothLuke]

I used a "Five Joy" Head mount magnifier which I had forgotten I had. (I bought it not for cameras but for my beekeeping). With its light, yep, there's a teeny-tiny hair, a gray hair darn it*, trapped in the top left of the shutter runner.

Thanks to all for the helpful advice.

Colin.

*As a teen I would tease my parents about gray hair. Karma has come around.