Fat rolled my Fuji 690III

[Huss]

I just fat rolled a roll of Provia in my Fuji 690III. Disappointed to say the least, and this has never happened before.
I'm thinking it happened because this roll of film was loaded Sep 28 and only used today (about 2 months later), so it lost tension in the camera. Does this make sense? Next time I'll only load it if I know I am going to shoot the roll in the near future.

(for those who have not heard the expression 'fat rolled', it is when the completed roll of 120/220 film is not nice and tight, but loose and open and so fatter than it should be and thus not light tight)

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Good you explained the expression... I had no idea about it, even though I did shoot medium format once in my life.

The one thing I was never too crazy about 120-220 film was precisely that it's evident that "fat rolling" may happen easily. But then, that's probably why these rolls are relatively short and must be used quickly.

Let's hope the images in your Provia roll were not terribly valuable.

 

[Huss]

Thanks for the comment Francisco. Nothing terribly valuable per se, I just caught some good light after the first real rain storm in Los Angeles this year.
Just want to make sure this is user error, not an issue with the camera.

 

[benji77]

Yes its a user error during loading of the reel. I had this twice, and it was a 'p*** off'. It all begins when the tip of the paper reel is not inserted firmly during the first turn.

You will have to ensure that the paper tip sits firmly, with no play at all.

 

[JChrome]

I've shot dozens of rolls through the Fuji and never had the issue. I take a lot of care that my rolls are very tight when I lick Em and stick em (or tape them as the case may be).

 

[Huss]

Yes its a user error during loading of the reel. I had this twice, and it was a 'p*** off'. It all begins when the tip of the paper reel is not inserted firmly during the first turn.

You will have to ensure that the paper tip sits firmly, with no play at all.

I appreciate you reminding me to do that properly. This is the bane of having multiple cameras, the correct operating procedure may be forgotten!

So, there is no way that the tension on the roll can be lost from sitting for so long?

 

[Moto-Uno]

I use quite a selection of older ( and semi-recent ) medium format cameras and the
film has sat idle for a number of months in them without the problem you mention. One
other thing to check is if the feed roll is under some spring tension when installed, a bit of drag is a good thing. Peter

 

[CMur12]

I shoot mostly 120, in a variety of TLRs, and I have never had this happen. I tend to be a bit compulsive, however, so I always load my cameras carefully and make sure that the leader is taught.

(I didn't know what "fat rolling" meant, either. Glad you explained it.)

- Murray

 

[sevo]

There is nothing in the mechanism that is likely to cause a delayed loss of tension - roll film has no rewind, and even if it had, the cover paper sits light tight on the spool, so that roll film will not unwind by itself (unless it has been fat rolled by the user to start with).

 

[Huss]

I loaded a roll of FP125. Kept it super tight (hand on left spool providing resistance as I loaded). Will shoot it tomorrow, hopefully that is the end of my fat rolling!

 

[Pioneer]

I do get the occasional "fat roll" from one of my folding cameras but I have never discovered the cause. In my case I have always suspected that the tension spring that is supposed to hold the film tight is a bit worn out.

However, it is quite possible that failing to get the roll tight at the beginning could also be the cause. I'll have to pay a bit more attention next time.

I usually put my 120 rolls in a light tight case or bag when they are finished so even the occasional fat roll seems to develop with minimal light leak around the edges.

 

[rlouzan]

120 roll film should be used in one session, in order to avoid film flatness/sharpness problems.

 

[Dan Daniel]

120 roll film should be used in one session, in order to avoid film flatness/sharpness problems.

The straight film path of the Fuji should negate this issue, yes? Not like a TLR or SLR where the film makes sharp turns right before and/or after the film gate?

OP: I'll second what others have said- in a hundred rolls through a GW690 I got a 'fat roll' (new term to me) once. It was because I didn't start it right. I make certain to put tension on the film-feeding spool as I load to make certain that the film is taut on the take-up reel. Light finger pressure on the feed spool is enough.

 

[Prest_400]

The straight film path of the Fuji should negate this issue, yes? Not like a TLR or SLR where the film makes sharp turns right before and/or after the film gate?

OP: I'll second what others have said- in a hundred rolls through a GW690 I got a 'fat roll' (new term to me) once. It was because I didn't start it right. I make certain to put tension on the film-feeding spool as I load to make certain that the film is taut on the take-up reel. Light finger pressure on the feed spool is enough.

I am a quite slow shooter and a roll lasts me quite a while. I've had a roll sitting for a few months on my GW690III and no problem.
I'm a bit curious on the flatness issue.
Frankly, I think that for normal use it is OK to advance and then shoot, rather than do the opposite. Aside of shutter staying cocked for a while, it avoids the film sitting in and not being "optimally flat".

The manual of the Fuji together with the experience of some people is that it is important to load with tension and keep it taut. Copied from the manual found online:

(Avoiding film slack)

To prevent the film from slackening, press down the leader paper near the supply side lightly with your finger so that it won't buckle,and wind the film advance lever firmly.

To prevent the film from becoming loose again when the cameraback is being closed, use the film advance lever to keep the leader paper taut until you snap the camera back into place.

While doing some research before getting this camera, IIRC the main problems when this isn't done are overlapping frames and fat rolls might arise; I saw a couple examples online with light leaks probably because of a fat roll.

 

[robert blu]

It happened me a couple of times, not in a fuji but in my Holga ! I placed than a small piece of sponge under the roll in order to give it more tensions when shooting. And try to be careful when I take it out of the camera.
robert

 

[Spanik]

I regulary have 120 film months in a camera and (so far) this never happened. This includes Fuji's 690's and 670's. Overlapping frames I had, and that was user error.

With some cameras it is hard to get the roll out easily and it has happened once that the roll got away while shaking the camera to get it out. Was the RF645 IIRC.

 

[Huss]

"To prevent the film from becoming loose again when the camera back is being closed, use the film advance lever to keep the leader paper taut until you snap the camera back into place."

I think I missed this step... Hopefully I'm ok.

 

[V-12]

Keeping the film tight when first winding it onto the take up reel is very important with any roll film camera but with the Fuji it is also important to wind the film on in long consistent strokes of the lever, so full strokes not like (the possible bad habit) you can do with a 35mm camera advancing the film in small increments.

V

 

[FrankS]

Cool. Now there are 3 separate and distinct meanings for "rolled a fatty".

 

[Huss]

Cool. Now there are 3 separate and distinct meanings for "rolled a fatty".

Two of which are bad!
IMO..