Negative Scratching

[ChipMcD]

Has anyone had a consistent problem with scratched negatives on the non-emulsion (back) side in an M? I have an M6 that seems to consistently scratch negs near the top of the frame and near the bottom of the frame. This happens with lab and home developed films from different batches and different emulsions. They are not hand rolled film either. The scratches are consistent across the frame. I can see nothing on the pressure plate doing this and am about to send the camera off for inspection/service. My M3 doesn't do this.

 

[Darshan]

I noticed a couple of parallel scratches on the leader on my last roll, I haven't developed it yet so I don't know if it's there on the entire roll or not.

So if you have scratches on the non-emulsion side, do you get scratches on the developed film? Does it transfer onto actual photographs?

 

[ChipMcD]

I noticed a couple of parallel scratches on the leader on my last roll, I haven't developed it yet so I don't know if it's there on the entire roll or not.

So if you have scratches on the non-emulsion side, do you get scratches on the developed film? Does it transfer onto actual photographs?

The scratches get picked up big time in scans, but are white, I guess because of refraction, not black, as would happen if the emulsion got scratched.

 

[jordanstarr]

...the effect will depend on how deep the scratches are. Film has a thin protective layer before the actual image that will allow for light scratches, but deep ones will show up. You might want to take an eraser or something and go around the problematic area of the plate or even look into other areas of the inside of the camera that might cause the scratching.