Uneven Spacing S3

[Fraser]

Just noticed this tonight while scanning some S3 negs the spacing at the top and bottom is quite uneven meaning that my scanner crops a little bit off, you wouldn't notice this if you were wet printing. I wonder if this is quite common or is it the way my camera holds the film or the way I load it.
16fbpicUnevenS3_01 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr

 

[Huss]

Has this happened with all your rolls of film through your S3, or just this one?

 

[BillBingham2]

Mid like to see another three examples. Not sure it's a LARGE issue, but would like to see more.

B2 (;->

 

[Fraser]

Has this happened with all your rolls of film through your S3, or just this one?

Looking back seems its always like this, actually looking at other negs from other cameras I've noticed it. If you place a piece of film between the film guide there is actually quite a bit of play if you know what I mean, the same with Nikon Fs I wonder if its just the design as the camera base is holding the film as well compared to a film back with a hinge.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Looks pretty minor to me, and way better than every Rollei 35 and some Leicas I've owned. Next time after you've loaded a roll of film, try tensioning the film by rewinding it a bit to take up the slack. I've generally found frame spacing with vintage Nikon RF and SLR bodies to be much more consistent than other cameras of the same vintage.

 

[maddoc]

Looks pretty minor to me, and way better than every Rollei 35 and some Leicas I've owned. Next time after you've loaded a roll of film, try tensioning the film by rewinding it a bit to take up the slack. I've generally found frame spacing with vintage Nikon RF and SLR bodies to be much more consistent than other cameras of the same vintage.

I think the OP was thinking about the uneven space between top and bottom of the frame and sprocket holes, not the space between the frames.

I have never happen this with any camera except my IIIb when using standard film canister and no spacer. When loading FILCA cassettes also in case of my IIIb the frames are exactly centered in the middle of the film stripe.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I think the OP was thinking about the uneven space between top and bottom of the frame and sprocket holes, not the space between the frames.

Ah yes. my bad. Never seen that with any vintage Nikon camera I've used.

To the OP: is the spacing consistent from start to end of the roll?

Note to self: don't skim read and reply to threads from phone... :bang:

 

[ForestCap]

I've only noticed this issue on one of my Zorki-1 among various cameras. I think it was caused by the removable take spool that doesn't stay on the perfect place to make the spacing even, or it could be that I didn't pinch the film lead 100% straight when loading the film. But then I could notice it because the unevenness has a sloping, worse at the start of the roll, and almost gone near the end of the roll...Not sure if my info. can help.

 

[Huss]

Comparing this to my Nikon Fs, which load in the same way (the back comes off and it is pretty much the same camera mechanically), the only suggestion I can make is when you initially load it (before the first wind) try to pull the film down on the feeding sprocket so that it may give it a little more space.
But in all honesty, the gap is even, the frame spacing between shots looks perfect, so I'm not sure I'd mess with the camera.

 

[Highway 61]

Just noticed this tonight while scanning some S3 negs the spacing at the top and bottom is quite uneven meaning that my scanner crops a little bit off, you wouldn't notice this if you were wet printing. I wonder if this is quite common or is it the way my camera holds the film or the way I load it.

Just checked my negs shot with a 1958 Nikon S3 and they're absolutely identical to yours with a very large image not being 100% centered between the upper and lower film sprocket holes strips.

Never caused me any problem either for scanning (with a Nikon film scanner scanning a bit more than the 24x36 frame because I've filed down the SA-21 film gate) or for wet printing (the same, I've filed down the enlarger film carrier gate because I'm a "natural black frame telling you haven't cropped" nut).

 

[Fraser]

Just checked my negs shot with a 1958 Nikon S3 and they're absolutely identical to yours with a very large image not being 100% centered between the upper and lower film sprocket holes strips.

Never caused me any problem either for scanning (with a Nikon film scanner scanning a bit more than the 24x36 frame because I've filed down the SA-21 film gate) or for wet printing (the same, I've filed down the enlarger film carrier gate because I'm a "natural black frame telling you haven't cropped" nut).

It was actually when using sa21 i noticed it I have a spare sa21 so I may take a file to it!
cheers

 

[Fraser]

Just checked my negs shot with a 1958 Nikon S3 and they're absolutely identical to yours with a very large image not being 100% centered between the upper and lower film sprocket holes strips.

Never caused me any problem either for scanning (with a Nikon film scanner scanning a bit more than the 24x36 frame because I've filed down the SA-21 film gate) or for wet printing (the same, I've filed down the enlarger film carrier gate because I'm a "natural black frame telling you haven't cropped" nut).

After a bit of work on the sa21!
filenikon_02 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr