Zorki-S scratches film

[iliks]

Hello everybody!
I'm a new user here - and a newbie in photography as well. I shoot with '56 Zorki-S, which I like very much. Unfortunately, there's at least one serious problem with it - it makes serious scratches on film from time to time.

They are best visible here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=28061&cat=500&ppuser=4632
and here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=28062&cat=500&ppuser=4632

Notice the long colored line in the center throughout the whole image length. I tried to develop two different film in two different labs and both films have this defect, so this must be the camera, I guess. What's interesting is that scratches are most visible in photos with large sky areas! In indoor shots, the line at center is much less visible, if at all.

The problem is that Zorki-S is a bottom-loader, so it's very hard to inspect if there's some obstacle which makes scratches. I get the lens off, make the "Bulb" shutter speed and there's no visible things in the back of film channel which can make such scratches. So I guess there's something on the back side of curtains, but you see - I cannot observe that side without unscrewing the whole camera, that I don't want to perform at this stage.

Can you help me? Maybe some easy actions like using vacuum cleaner or inserting and moving a plastic card in film channel or smth like that will rectify the situation?

Thanks for your help and probably you would like to review my newbie efforts in my member gallery 🙂

 

[Evgeny S]

Privet.
Ask your question on http://club.foto.ru.
But examine the scratched film and know where the scratch is located: on the emuldion side or on the underside?

 

[darkkavenger]

Privet iliks!

Check well if there are no small pieces of film inside, it can happen.

max

 

[Alicouscous]

Maybe this could help you:
The second common problem is the apparition of big ugly scratches on film that can easily ruin your negatives (albeit in a less serious way than the light leaks can do). Again, common sense from the people at Yahoo groups comes to the rescue. In this case, the source of the problem was a bit more difficult to find. Finally, nonetheless, they did it, and who would think of it, the problem was related to the size of the film cartridge compartment. Basically, it seems it's too big to hold the 35 mm cassette, and hence it swings a bit when rewinding and the film ends scratching the camera back, producing that ugly scratches.
I also got the solution from Yahoo groups, simply cut a small piece of carton (from the film box, for example), and stick it to the film cartridge with sellotape, just over the zone where the film cassette is pressed by the chrome pressure piece of the back. The thick of the carton piece can be increased to the necessary size by bending it over itself, normally two times the thickness of film box carton should be enough but you may experiment a bit until you find your suitable size. I did it on my previous roll some months ago (before I built the eye piece), with another Ilford XP2 (Zenit film par excellence, he he) and results were perfect. My first film without scratches!



the complete page here : http://www.upcnet.es/~org/htm/main_z122.htm

 

[darkkavenger]

Intéressant, Ali 😉

 

[iliks]

Thanks for your help, guys! I've determined the camera leaves scratches on the emulsion side. I tried to clean the film channel with cardboard from film package. There definitely aren't pieces of old film, otherwise it would show.
Now I've loaded another film, let's try one more time. I will try to wind the shutter very slowly (rewinding as well).
I've noticed that during rewinding the film goes really hard, is this normal?

 

[pvdhaar]

I've noticed that during rewinding the film goes really hard, is this normal?

This may be what causes your problems. Often the cause of scratches is small particles of emulsion that are stripped off the film when it slides between the pressure plate and the film rails. These particles may become wedged in the light seal of the slot of the 35mm cannister and do their damaging deeds there.

 

[iliks]

Indeed, I noticed the pressure plate is way too tight. (at least for my unexperienced eye...). Is there a way to control its tension? (taking in account that Zorki-S is a bottom-loader...)

 

[berci]

Your camera scratches film?

Use stronger film. #:-]

 

[iliks]

Is there some chart of thicknesses of various films?

 

[berci]

Hi Iliks,

That was meant to be a joke. ;-)

Anyway, try to find the bit that causes the scratches and polish it somehow and try to make the rewinding part slide more easily.

I have a Zorkiy 4 that would not rewind at all and I always have to remove the film in a changing bag.

Rewinding sould be easy and resitanceless.

Best regards,
Berci

 

[Alicouscous]

Do you have only scratches with this type of film or do you have scratches with different films ?
Maybe your film could be scratched before use ?
You cant try this :
Take a film , don't put in the camera, just put it on a spiral and in the tank . Just a little flash in the room to fog it ( you must try to have, gray, dark clear areas ) - and you process it .
If you see scratches, you know your camera is safe .

 

[iliks]

No, it's not definitely the film itself. Yesterday I sacrificed one new roll of film to see through the open lens hole how the camera makes scratches. They appeared. I almost sure it's due to pressure plate being too tight. However, with a bottom-loader it's so hard to get what to do....

 

[iliks]

berci, you write that you remove the film in a changing bag. Can you explain this in more detail? Do you have to be in dark room (despite you use changing bag)? How to make this gracefully with a bottom-loader? What is the best way to push the film back to the cassette? Do we rotate cassette's inner roll during this or just push film inside by force?

 

[Alicouscous]

They appeared.

If they was on the film before, they would appear too !

Why don't you try a kodak or ilford film ?

 

[iliks]

Now I've loaded Kodak Profoto 100, let's see.
Ilford is only available using mail order here 🙁
(not even speaking about slide film....)

 

[Alicouscous]

And what's the result with a different film ?
Do you have scratches again ?

 

[iliks]

I've made only 12 shots out of 36 on that film. So, we have to wait a bit. I'll repost here when it is ready.