Contax T3 scratching film!

A

awalkinthestreet

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Nov 18, 2015
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25
Hello,

My Contax T3 is scratching my film in 4 lines, I've checked everything and its definitely the camera that's doing it. It's appearing in two lines right next to each other, so once when capturing and then once again when rewinding.

I've tried cleaning the film plate but it doesn't appear to have any grain or dust there... where else should I be looking for grains or dust in the camera?

Alternatively is there anybody who knows a service shop in Bangkok that would take a look at it?
 
The plate is rarely the culprit - that would cause scratches to the (much harder) rear. But most scratches are on the emulsion side. The film gate and the edges towards the spool bays are what you should inspect more closely.
 
It's happened on about 25 rolls, at first I thought it was my scanner but after using a loupe on the negs it appears on the non-emulsion side...

I'll try cleaning around the rollers too, it tends to happen mostly at the end of the roll more...
 
My T3 was scratching film like this soon after I bought it new in 2001 (a very early one). It required warranty service. I can't remember what the cause of the scratches was, but I think a part was replaced. Good luck. If you do find someone to service it with factory parts, and you have a one-tooth film-take-up spool, I suggest having that replaced with the later two-tooth version. The single tooth tends to break off (mine did after a few years).

Brilliant camera. Mine has been flawless for 10+ years since those two small fixes.
 
Do You spann the Film right on the take up Spool? My pal had the same trouble with a SLR. Film was rubbing take up Room.
 
Mine has been doing the same thing since I have owned it, which has to be around 3-4 years. I was a near new Black one with the double take up spool if that matters. Ive just been letting it go, but now Im interested in fixing it. If I come across something that works Ill come back and let you know.

Mine usually scratches towards the end of the roll too.
 
I don't have the T3 , but I would probably mark the lines with marker and place piece of cut off film inside the frame window and see where those marks touch,then check the surface, maybe a paint flake or sharp edge? Just a suggestion. Good luck
 
Just started shooting my T3 again and realized why I stopped shooting it, because of the scratching.

Taking a closer look it looks like it lines up perfectly with the tensioner next to the take up spool. Its those 2 rollers that leave the marks. Im not surprised since the tension on the spring seems very high and makes even more sense that it happens more towards the end of the roll where the tension on that spring would be at the highest. Im guessing if I took it apart and bend it a little to release the tension that it fix this. Not sure taking it apart is worth while though.
 
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