How is my Nikon F2 scratching the film like this?

[kennylovrin]

Hey

I have a Nikon F2 that I got/borrowed from a friend that I really enjoy using, but it has a tendency to scratch my film. The amount of scratching varies from shot to shot, from nothing to just a little to basically two straight lines across the whole frame.

Because it's always so straight I had a look at the different edges around the film gate (is that what it is called?) but couldn't see anything obvious. Also, I can't gauge what size of "unevenness" I should look for, can I even see it without a loupe?

If anyone knows where in the camera these scratches might be cause I'd appreciate some pointers. 🙂

Here's two examples, two frames straight after each other. Like I said, sometimes it doesn't happen at all, I think my last roll off CineStill was totally fine, but that film might be thinner as it has been washed of the remjet?

Thanks!

Kenny

 

[Mackinaw]

Do you load your own film cartridges? Or are these factory cassettes?

Jim B.

 

[kennylovrin]

These are factory canisters, and I've had it happen to Superia, CineStill, TMAX & TRIX, so I'm pretty sure it's happening in the camera as it is so consistent. I did suspect personal misbehavior the first time it happened though, but now I do suspect the camera.

I tend to tighten the film pretty tight though by rewinding it after loading, and sometimes between frames as well, do you think that by doing so I am over tightening it somehow so it goes against some edges too tight? I've done that in all my film cameras without issues on the other hand.

 

[literiter]

-Do you process your own film?
If others process your film look there.

-If you have eliminated the processing check the pressure plate on the camera with your fingers.

-Check anywhere there may be friction in the film transport area.

-"I think my last roll off CineStill was totally fine". If the scratches only appear on the back of the film, and it appears
it might because you have no trouble with the remjet film, I'd really suspect the pressure plate and anywhere something touches the back of the film.

 

[kennylovrin]

I actually haven't checked which side the scratches are on, will do that.

I double checked the CineStill scans, it also has scratches, just not as much.

I do process my own film yes, but it has never happened to any films that were shot with another camera. I am 99% sure the problem is the camera in this case.

I was looking at the pressure plate the other day but couldn't see anything suspicious, or feel for that matter.

Should I be able to see/feel whatever makes a scratch of this size? (given I can get to it at all of course)

 

[kennylovrin]

What does burnishing mean? 😉

 

[De_Corday]

is it across the entire roll, or just select frames? I would also suspect the pressure plate. I've found the film transport sprockets on my F2's to hid a lot of dust... have you blown the sprockets clean?

 

[kennylovrin]

To be quite honest, I haven't done much at all, just loaded it with film and shot, then doing it again knowing it scratches the film.. What does that make me? 😉

On top of that I have loaded film in it currently so I can't even open it to check while having this conversation.

It just was for fun, until a few days ago when I more or less decided to give up digital and go analog. Then all of the sudden the scratches became more of a real problem for me. 😉

I'll go through it more closely when I've shot the current film and try to match it up on the actual negatives.

@De Corday, it is not on every frame, but it is quite frequent, not sure how to describe it. Perhaps even I'd consider the possibility that it ends up on the frames I wind unusually fast or something like that.

 

[kennylovrin]

Here's another example, this might be the worst of them all.

By the way, thanks for all the input so far!

EDIT: I just realized, if this was on the emulsion side, wouldn't the scratches be black then in the scans?

 

[tunalegs]

If the F2 uses a reverse curl take up, it could also be dust or something in the take up chamber. In theory the film should never rub against the chamber, but it's worth checking.

Also I would not pull up slack on the film. It can scratch the emulsion (although the scratches will be very short and random, so not the problem here).

 

[farlymac]

Finally figured out why Kenny's photos don't show when I look at this thread. Chrome says Dropbox is not private, and that an attacker could compromise my system if I attempted to access the site. In the site address header, instead of http, I get btts in red slashed through. I run across this a lot anymore, and wonder if it's just Google, or that there really are many commonly used sites out there that are not very secure.

PF

 

[mburns]

It's just Google deprecating sites that have not changed their certificates, this being in order to make a new security protocol effective.

 

[farlymac]

It's just Google deprecating sites that have not changed their certificates, this being in order to make a new security protocol effective.

That figures. Technology will not march on until the drum captain says so!

PF

 

[rbsinto]

Every once in a while I get scratches on my slides from my F2.
I remove the back, and body cap and lock the shutter open (so I don't accidently put a finger through it), and then thoroughly wipe down the pressure plate, and film guide rails, the film cartridge well, and the perimeter of the shutter opening with a cloth dipped in alcohol. I'm usually surprised at the amount of dirt that appears on the rag after. I also run my finger carefully over the surfaces to feel for irregularities caused by caked dirt. This is usually enough to eliminate the problem until the next time.
I also carefully check the perimeter of the shutter box looking for tiny wisps of lint or hair that stick into the 24 x 36mm opening, which will appear on the shots if not removed with a tweezers.

 

[Highway 61]

Every once in a while I get scratches on my slides from my F2.
I remove the back, and body cap and lock the shutter open (so I don't accidently put a finger through it), and then thoroughly wipe down the pressure plate, and film guide rails, the film cartridge well, and the perimeter of the shutter opening with a cloth dipped in alcohol. I'm usually surprised at the amount of dirt that appears on the rag after. I also run my finger carefully over the surfaces to feel for irregularities caused by caked dirt. This is usually enough to eliminate the problem until the next time.
I also carefully check the perimeter of the shutter box looking for tiny wisps of lint or hair that stick into the 24 x 36mm opening, which will appear on the shots if not removed with a tweezers.

Keeping all those areas free of dust, dirt and film debris by regularly cleaning them with a dry soft martle paintbrush as often as possible (i.e., each time you reload at home or even outdoors if you aren't in a hurry) is very likely to have the same results, with less hassle at the end of the day.

I have several F2 bodies and none scratched my films ever. But I keep their innards clean.

Last tip : when it's time to rewind, rewind slowly. Rewinding very quickly (or motor rewind) sometimes cause static electricity sparkles around the film cartridge felt lips, and black lines/spots on the negatives...