help!

[cp_ste.croix]

So I jst got my negs back from my 'cord III and the negs are messed up. I think they might be scratched.

There are semi-regularly spaced parallel lines running up/down the negs, it looks sort of like 'banding' you might see on a crappy tv and runs into the unexposed areas as well (where they show up as dark lines...

I've looked inside the camera and it looks clean, and my photofinishers think that something might be pressing the film down really hard to cause such uniform and pervasive scratching...

Any Ideas? I love the camera and the negs look great otherwise...i'm kind of bummed none of them are worth scanning/printing.

I'm going offline for a bit so if i don't respond right away it's not because I'm ignoring this post...

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[cp_ste.croix]

no one has any ideas? simmilar stories even?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

It's hard to judge without looking at a sample or two. It could be a number of things. It could be that the lab technician messed up; or it could be that the film canister indeed scratched the film as it was being spooled out as you were taking pictures, it could be the pressure plate (if your camera has one)...

I am sorry for you; I know just how bad that can make you feel. I've been through most everything. Depending on the lab, they will hardly ever admit fault, or they will give you some store credit, but that does not replace your damaged photos.

I guess the only option you have at this point is a pot of coffee and lots of time with Photoshop...

 

[FrankS]

Chris, can you post a picture so we can see with our own eyesies?

 

[cp_ste.croix]

i'll get a scan done tommorrow of one of the negs, and reupdate. I think they are unphotoshopable as there would be almost no where to clone from...if it was the lab, they did it to two rolls...durnitall.

ah well...the fact that they're scratched makes me think that they are probably better than they are, like all those amazing pictures i never took.

Thanks guys.

 

[Pherdinand]

So are they really scratched? You say you THINK they are... Can you see scratch or only dark/light lines?

Gabriel, there's no film canister in this case so it must be stg else.

Another question: On which side are the scratches? If they are on the film emulsion side, that was moving on the rollers and film gate, maybe there something sticks out, maybe the roller(s) don't roll?
If the scratches are on the other side (backside) of the film however, where the pressure plate is, it CANNOT come from the rolleicord, since while in the cmaera, the film had a paper backing. I don't think something could have scratched through the paper, that would be serious damage.

FInally:you can try by sacrificing a fresh roll, maybe an outdated one, to see what's goin on. Don't give it to the lab, run through the camera and examine it incl the paper backing.

 

[Pherdinand]

If they are lines but you can't see scratch as damage to the surface, it can be light leak. Is the 'cord 3 with red window? Do you see any damage on the camera back?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I had a Kodak Retina IIa that did this to a roll of film, right away I new it was the camera and not the processor as the entire roll was scratched and it did not stop. You could see how the lines got deeper/shallower as the film was advanced. The pressure plate had some pockmarks in it. I changed it with one from a parts camera and problem solved.

To eliminate the lab as a problem, sacrifice a roll of film (yea, what Pherdi said as I was typing and drinking my 5:30AM coffee). Put it through the camera, take it out, and look for scratches. If you found scratches, you should find some abrasions/dirt within the camera. No scratches: could be the Labs fault, or a bad roll of film. The latter does happen, but is rare.

 

[taffer]

Ouch, sorry to hear that Chris !

That said, I remember having similar problems with a roll on my rolleicord Va as well, only that without doubt that time it was the lab 🙁 as it's been the one and only roll with that problem, plus it came out with really horrible washed out colors.

Depending on your 'cord model, check the pressure plate on the back, it should have two positions, IIRC, one for 120 film and the other for 35mm when using the Rolleikin.

Btw, this sounds dumb and excuse me in advanced for suggesting it... you're not running the film UNDER the rollers but OVER them, right ? I remember somebody at PN doing so on his Automat, as he confused the roller 'feeling' the start of the emulsion with the other two... ouch ! Must be said that after a couple shots he could barely move the wind knob due to film tension 😱

But what you describe remind me a lot of that roll I mention above, so my first suspect in this case is the lab...