Mystery artifact on neg: What is this?

[Argenticien]

Hi all. I hope the wizards here can help identify something. See below where I've got the vertically zig-zagging white(-ish) artifact running the length of this picture, near the right side (through the center of the right-most chair). The facts are these:

• This was the first test roll through a Rolleiflex 2.8E just back from CLA at Essex.
• The artifact runs from about frame 4 to frame 9 (of 12 on the roll), getting gradually more pronounced from 4 to 8, then disappearing in 9. (Below is No. 8). It does continue across the spaces between frames.
• On a second test roll, the same artifact is there, but on fewer frames, and less pronounced. Again it continues between frames.
• Both rolls are TMax 400. Developer was Ilfosol 3.
• I have only a small faux-Paterson tank, which can hold just one medium-format reel at a time. So for efficiency, I developed these two rolls together on one reel, by taping them together end to end and loading them as if a roll of 220.
• I had some trouble loading the reels (required 2 or 3 tries) but the negs are not buckled, crimped, or creased. The negs are smooth and flat.
• The negs have no visible scratches on the surfaces. I don't think the film gate or pressure plate were scratching the film anyway, because the pattern is not straight lines and does not continue for the whole length of the film.
• Frame 11 on the first roll, and another frame on the second roll, do not have the artifact, and both had the sun in-frame. So I suspect this is not a light leak. (Doesn't look like the right kind of pattern anyway.)

What's left that I'm overlooking? Thanks for any suggestions.


--Dave



img008 by Argenticien, on Flickr

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

It is a light leak. Either the camera or the developing tank leaks light.

 

[Avotius]

I agree, it looks like a light leak. Might this camera have a foam light seal that has deteriorated or maybe not replaced when it went for its CLA? Take a real close look inside the camera. Also if you have one, take a small led flashlight and stick it in your tank and while its on in a perfectly dark room to see if there might be a leak there, that how I found my double stack AP tank had a leak.

 

[maddoc]

Seal the Rolleiflex after loading film with gaffertape around the back and see if the artifacts still appear. I also would guess that it is a light leak somewhere...

 

[rogue_designer]

This looks to me like a leak in the tank - those vertical zig zags wold have been just inside the reel, at the top. Is it a ratchet reel? That would account for the zig zag motion. You weren't wearing a watch with glow in the dark arms or anything (been there done that)?

 

[jschrader]

I don't think it is the camera. The room You took the pictures is is not so very bright.
Does not the periodicity of the pattern fit to the circumference of the film on the roll?

 

[Pablito]

looks like you have two problems - a vertical one (more distinct) and a horizontal one ( more fuzzy).

Another way to tell if it's the tank would be obviously to have a roll developed at a custom lab

 

[Argenticien]

Thanks everyone for responses so far. I am really, really hoping this is not a light leak in the 'flex, since I just had it fixed. And in fact, despite a broken hinge and latch, it did not leak light before the CLA, so if they've now introduced a leak while fixing all that, my head is going to explode. I'll have to go shoot more rolls and see if the problem is reproduced, but thought I'd seek advice in the meantime since I probably can't get out and shoot before the weekend.

@Liam: I always intentionally doff my illuminated dial watch before going in the dark closet to transfer films to the tank, having years ago learned that one! 🙂 Good one though! I do think you could be onto something about the ratchet reel (and yes it is one). I'll have to give the tank a close look and see if it's leaky. But the thing is only three years old.

@Juergen: Intriguing. I should think the periodicity is less than the circumference on the roll. Maybe at the very center of the reel, it could get that small, but this being frame 8, it would not have been at the center. However, the length of each zig and zag does look like it could be the distance that the film 'walks' with each crank of the ratchet. Very suspicious! And the periodicity of the pattern is about the same on every frame that has it.

@Pablito -- I noticed the horizontal halo and presume that is flare from the candles (oil lamps, actually). It is on this frame only.

Thanks all. Anyone with any further ideas?
--Dave

 

[Argenticien]

Update: This bothered me so much that I worked the shortest day that I've done in a long time and managed to sneak in shooting two more test rolls: one (TMax again) for me to process at home in the same tank, and one (Ektar) to go to the local pro shop. The TMax roll is now hanging to dry in the shower and appears not to have the artifact that was on the rolls above, or anything else dodgy. (Pending examination by loupe, and scanning, tomorrow.) So I don't know what the hell I did to those two previous rolls! I've never shot color in this camera yet, so the Ektar roll (with Autumn leaf colors) now at the shop will be a fun thing to see even if it becomes superfluous to solving this mystery.

@Avotius: Per your suggestion, before processing the latest TMax tonight, I chucked a lit Mag Solitaire in my developing tank, closed it (with spindle in, but no film reel, so the light could rattle all around the tank freely), and went into the dark closet. With much effort, I was able to shake the penlight into a few particular positions where I could see very faint light emanating from the top of the tank, but all around its circumference, which makes me think it's a design flaw, not damage. To be fair, the tank is not designed to stop light coming out of it. Sure enough, with the tank cover off the tank, and shining the light from the outside (top) face of the cover, I could not see any light at the inside (bottom) face of the cover. But I'm left wondering, because if light can travel a path in one direction (out of the tank), it should be able to travel the same path in the other direction (in). Yet the roll I developed tonight is fine. 😕

--Dave