Light leak or dev problem? Can anyone help? (photo attached)

[jimbo_jaggins]

http://imgur.com/gallery/icYfI Sorry for the general nature of the title, first post! Can anyone tell me what's causing this issue down the far right side of the image? Many thanks!

 

[michaelwj]

Can't see the photo Jimbo...

 

[jimbo_jaggins]

Sorry struggling to attach a successful image link!

 

[jimbo_jaggins]

OK successful, I'm noobing over here

 

[ferider]

Stand development ?

 

[BuzzyOne]

Need more info. What film, how did you develop, in what developer, agitation method, etc., etc. As much info as you can.

Was it put through an X-scanner at the airport? I had some film from Palm Springs get zipped. I think it was the extra attention my genitals got from the TSA screener. He had a very dexterous back of the hand.

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Looks to me like film sprocket holes shining through. Do you have a light leak in your camera, or is there something going on in the development phase?

 

[jimbo_jaggins]

Ok, thanks guys. So I've been shooting Tmax 400 for a while now, with a good condition Leica M6TTL. I've recently started home deving and before that used a lab in the UK. I have encountered this problem on a few rolls (sporadicly, maybe one in 7 or 10) with many shots on the roll coming out like this. This affect is more apparent on some frames then others obviously. I'm sure I've had a roll or two back from the lab like this as well as one or two that have been home dev'd so I want to first eliminate other possible causes before being angry at the lovely guys in Birmingham. These films like many of mine have gone through x-scanners potentiallly sometimes more then one trip, I'm too scatty to say exactly. I'm thinking maybe but I seem to doubt it, its because I'm leaving my films out on the desk in my flat for a week before processing. Other then that, the camera is in good nic I think, i had it serviced not long ago due to an issue with a light leak appearing on long exposures, I'm willing to (try) and attach an image of this if you deem it relevant)
Also if it looks like a dev issue then I shall provide info....
Thanks! Really appreciated!
Jim

 

[BillBingham2]

All frames on the roll? On the other roll(s)? Who developed the rolls that showed this issue? Always on the same side of the frame?

Please and thank you.

B2 (;->

 

[jimbo_jaggins]

Yes all frames in all four rolls, AG photographic dev'd two and I've dev'd two. Yes i beleive all on the same side. Thanks!

jim

 

[BuzzyOne]

Yes all frames in all four rolls, AG photographic dev'd two and I've dev'd two. Yes i beleive all on the same side. Thanks!

jim

Well that rules out development issues IMO.

Light leak or X rays.

 

[ferider]

Yes all frames in all four rolls, AG photographic dev'd two and I've dev'd two. Yes i beleive all on the same side. Thanks!

jim

OK, since these are different development recipes, must be a leak in the camera.

How did you hold the camera for this shot (top to the left or top to the right) ? Most likely a leak in the back-door, flash socket, or strap lug on the take-up spool side

Roland.

 

[jimbo_jaggins]

thanks again guys, just incase it ends up being a dev issue will this be caused by not enough agitation? But yes, i did notice the back door was slightly ...moveable, wobbly is the wrong word, I'm just able to push it in and out slightly, I assumed it would have been picked up on in the service if it had been an issue....

 

[BuzzyOne]

thanks again guys, just incase it ends up being a dev issue will this be caused by not enough agitation? But yes, i did notice the back door was slightly ...moveable, wobbly is the wrong word, I'm just able to push it in and out slightly, I assumed it would have been picked up on in the service if it had been an issue....

Not a development issue. Light leak. Listen to Roland.

 

[ferider]

Don't trust the service, leaks are tough to find.

When you shoot portrait format, is your trigger hand above your head (using index finger) or below your chin (using thumb) ? (there are two schools of thought on this ....)

 

[michaelwj]

Does the effect go beyond the image boundaries? If it is only in the image, then it is in camera, leak from the front. If it extends to the edge of the roll then it is either out of the camera or a leak from the back.

I think Roland is trying to gauge if the leak is from the top or the bottom of the camera with his question?

So this has happened for a few rolls? On the rolls that it does happen, is it related to how you hold the camera? As in, only vertical shots? Or is is more evenly spaced, say, every second frame, or a regular pattern? This type of pattern to me looks like the film has been exposed to light from one end while tightly wound. My daughter once opened a bulk roll of mine that came in the mail and exposed the top, the pattern looked like this where the light had got into the sprocket holes and exposed the surrounding area. It could happen to individual cassettes too I'd imagine and give a similar look.

On the other hand, it looks like contrast is increased around the area, so it may be development...

Edit: the back door on my M6 is like this, it can be pushed in a bit on the top. Never had a leak from it.

 

[jimbo_jaggins]

i shoot with the index finger above my head...
cheers!

 

[jimbo_jaggins]

Thanks Michael, I will have to check whether it extends beyond the image boundaries tomorrow...its getting late here in Spain. It doesn't seem to be related to orientation, both landscapes and portraits. The pattern I seem to remember runs through every frame. I can't think how it would have gotten exposed as you describe...I do keep my cassettes out and not covered or tucked away in a light flat, sometimes for a week. Sounds dumb now I'm writing this down, but I thought they were completely safe from intruding light? Really glad to hear your back door can be pushed too 😉 Cheers Jim

 

[ferider]

i shoot with the index finger above my head...
cheers!

(1) That means the leak is coming from the top of the camera (image is reversed). Unfortunately all the possible sources that I mentioned are still in play. Most likely source is top of door, strap lug, or a missing/loose plastic strap protector.

(2) Development can cause similar issues, bromide drag, not enough developer of fixer in the tank, not enough agitation, etc. See for example http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00SonL, which looks very similar to yours.

You can prove that it's (1) by doing a test-roll: with or without sun on top of the camera or similar. Use a case to exclude the door, etc. The door you could probably fix with felt yourself, but if it's the lug you might better give it back to whomever serviced it, including the test-roll.

Sorry,

Roland.

 

[Greyscale]

Shadow of the sprocket holes when scanning?