frame spacing

[dfoo]

I just got a "new to me" Zeiss ZM. I developed the first two rolls. The first roll was entirely blank, although I could have sworn I checked the rewind lever to make sure the film was advancing. The second roll wasn't, so perhaps I made a mistake. However, what I notice is that the frame spacing is not right. With my leicas, the spacing is always bang on. Here I notice the spacing is a bit random. In one instance, three frames completely overlap. Any ideas?

 

[jslash6]

I've noticed this too. I've actually overlapped the edges of frames, towards the end of the roll, if I advance the film with careless, excessive force.

The leader hooks securely enough in the notch and on the little hook. As the film wraps around the take up spool I suspect there is either a little slack or it shapes more of an oval than a circle.

Maybe the film door could have used one of those silver rollers as found in most cameras with motor drives. Regardless, I try to be smooth when advancing.

 

[jonmanjiro]

check out this post.

accidentally pressing the rewind button mid-roll with my little finder on my right hand has caused me overlapping frames several times.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Also take a look at this thread started by Assaf in Israel. I sent Assaf's ZI to Cosina to be repaired, but the factory replied that there was nothing wrong with the film transport mechanism, and included a note about being careful not to accidentally depress the rewinde button mid-roll. Apparently Cosina receives quite a few ZIs misdiagnosed as having film advance problems, but the cause is almost always user error.

 

[dfoo]

Interesting hypothesis. I'll shoot another roll being very careful to ensure that I don't depress the rewind. All the same, I find it hard to believe that I was doing that. My fingers don't seem to be anywhere near the rewind mechanism.

I note that my Nikon SLR cameras have the rewind button on the bottom btw 🙂

 

[Sparrow]

Interesting hypothesis. I'll shoot another roll being very careful to ensure that I don't depress the rewind. All the same, I find it hard to believe that I was doing that. My fingers don't seem to be anywhere near the rewind mechanism.

I note that my Nikon SLR cameras have the rewind button on the bottom btw 🙂

Under the motodrive? 😀😀

 

[dfoo]

So it looks like the consensus is that this is most likely user error. There are three common sources:
- Too brutal on the frame advance.
- Not completely advancing the frame.
- Accidently partially depressing the rewind button.

That about right? 🙂

 

[dfoo]

I have FM2 and FE2. The rewind is on the bottom of those two 🙂

I shot 6 more rolls of film with the Ikon. I have a suspicion I misloaded the roll with the spacing issues. I'll know more when I dev the film tomorrow.

 

[JustPlainBill]

Hi dfoo,

Another way to check that the film is advancing as it should is to hold your camera to your ear while winding the film.
Cheers,
JustPlainBill

 

[Nikon Bob]

Another vote for the probability of accidentally depressing the rewind button. I did that with an FM2n once and wondered about the over lapping frames. I take a little more care now and that camera has not done that again.

Bob