Help: I have crooked frames

[sreed2006]

Preface: I cross-posted similar questions on the Flickr "Yashica TLR Unlimited" group, so sorry if the cross-posting offends anyone. I don't know how many people read both groups.


crooked_frames by sreed2006, on Flickr

The negatives above were taken with a Yashica 124G that I have not used much before . When I scanned the negatives, I noticed three problems:
1. The frames are rotated counter-clockwise on the negative strips.
2. The spacing between the frames is inconsistent.
3. None of the pictures came out with sharp details anywhere in the frame.

The rotation of the frames can be seen easily on the left of the picture above where the bottom of the upper frame meets with the top of the lower frame. The frames are not square on the strip. When scanning, each frame is tilted so that either I have to crop (to about 90% of the picture), or scan big enough to get all four corners and then rotate the image in an editing program, then crop it back to square.

The variation in spacing can easily be seen in the differences of gaps between the two left frames and the two right frames.

For scanning, I am using an "Epson Perfection V500 Photo" with the stock negative carrier. I tried emulsion side down and emulsion side up, and there's just no fine detail anywhere to be found in the pictures. I expected better.

Any ideas on what is going wrong here?

 

[Dan Daniel]

Check the silver roller bar on the feed spool side. It can be installed skewed and might not be parallel to the film gate lane? Look at the upper roller, also, in case it has been bent or such.

For frame spacing, the cog and ratchet system is probably dirty, needs cleaning and lube. Or is going bad, worn or broken teeth.

 

[sreed2006]

The feed side roller is skewed just a hair. It is ever so slightly lower on the right than on the left. The take-up side roller looks straight. Both rollers have some play in all directions. Not a lot, but some.

This is the only Yashica 124G I've ever seen. Do they make a ratchet sound when the crank is turned to wind the film?

Now that I turn the crank some more, without film loaded, it doesn't turn smoothly. I think it does have something wrong with it.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Dan Daniel]

The feed side roller has slots at each screw, making it adjustable. The take-up roller is locked in place. If you are comfortable working on the camera, you can loosen the feed roller screws and use a flat plate and shims tp get a true surface for alignment- match the height of the take-up roller, and tighten back down.

As to the roughness when winding, do you have a spool in the take-up section? If so, the spool will be riding against the small-toothed silver gear on the left side, and the unevenness of the spool will make things rough.

I just noticed the little line/tab of exposed film in the upper left corner. That is from the plate that holds the roller, which also defines the edge of the image. If/when you realign that plate and the roller, see if it can be evened up.

Check the lens wide open and with a light for oil on the center element causing softness- common with Yashica-Mats.

 

[sreed2006]

Hey, Dan, thanks for all the tips.

I think we're talking on two forums - both here and at Flickr. That's my fault for cross-posting. But I am learning new things!

 

[sreed2006]

Dan,

I took the spool out of the take-up side, and the winding quit being rough. That's one worry solved.

And, indeed, the lens does have haze/fog between the elements, as well as bits of dust.

Thank you for the great tips.