quick help on my negatives...

[yossarian123]

I'm wondering if anyone can help diagnose an issue I'm seeing - it's only happening when I use my Rollei 35SE. Basically there are overexposed/overdeveloped blobs on some frames - maybe 5-6 frames out of the 36. Usually the blobs are on the bottom or top of the frame but I also will occasionally get a bar across the side of the frame (see the second pic, frame 19A). Does anyone have an idea what might be causing this? I've seen it on all 3 rolls of film I've shot with it (Tri-X).

I use stainless tanks, hewes 35mm reels and typically agitate for the first 60s, then 3x every minute thereafter.

 

[benji77]

Could it be a fixer issue? Try refixing it.
Hmm..it seems some portions are also underdeveloped, even your sprockets are affected. Could it be a light leak? I dunno.

 

[yossarian123]

I can try that, it's still drying. The fixer I'm using is pretty fresh, think this roll was the second one.

 

[yanchep_mike]

Looks like Light leak to me, don't think is fixer or chemicals, is the back tight on or did you undo the latch?
Try another roll and see if it is the same.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Light leak. Most likely in the take-up reel area, so the film is getting struck while away from the actual film gate. Such leaks can be affected by direct sunlight or varying hand pressure on the back, leading to erratic leaks, rather than constant ones.

I don't know the actual camera. Look at the back door for missing foam or other material. To confirm, shoot a roll after taping up all back door joints with black electrical tape.

Another possibility can be missing screws or other small parts, allowing light to leak in. Look inside the camera to see if there are any small holes that could be letting light in (often screw hole are drilled and tapped all the way into the film chamber to make production easier).

Good luck! Sporadic light leaks are really annoying. Be very methodical.

 

[charjohncarter]

I'm not good on goofs, but some of the darkness extends into the border areas. This could be a problem with loading the reel, and having parts of the negatives touching or so close developer is not been agitated away or fixer not getting to those areas. The suggestion of refixing is an easy way to tell if inadequate fixing is the problem.

I've had plenty of light leaks and they are a problem to find. The only real success I've had is by taping off the back door of the camera and removing pieces of tape as the roll goes through. You have to take notes though.

 

[Dwig]

Without any question, it is a light leak that occurred while the film was rolled reasonably tightly, as on a takeup spool or the spool of a cassette. This is evidenced by the large dark blobs in one area extending out onto the sprocket area and, further down the strip, small dark patches matching the shape and size of a sprocket hole that would have been on a layer above when the fogging occurred.

 

[yossarian123]

Thanks for all of the help, it looks like light leak is the current suspect.

This is a Rollei 35, so the back door unhinges - I thought this would prevent most light leaks. I guess I'll tape up the back and run a roll through it. Could the collapsible lens be letting in stray light? Is that even possible?

 

[Sparrow]

... it may not be the camera, light from the front would stop at the edge of the frame mask, and on a rollei 35 I can't see how that pattern could happen with the back on, the pressure plate would mask the film in straight lines, not like that