[pure-silver] Death Valley Days..... film problems

Hi all,

Nice to be back in a cooler climate, 80°F, but Death Valley was an extraordinary experience, photographically and otherwise. Granted it was hot, 120°F everyday, but manageable what with all the suggestions from fellow members of this group. Didn't even get a sun tan although the tip of my nose was slightly reddish :) I spent last week recovery from the experience since I found it very demanding physically and mentally. Also developed all my film, a mixture of Tri-x 320 (220 and 120) shot at 200iso, developed in D-76 1:1 and AgfaPan 25 shot at 25 iso and developed in Rodinal 1:100. Next week, I do the contacts and then start editing in preparation for printing.

I have one question concerning a problem that occurred with the 220 Tri-x. First off, I was shooting the 220 in a Yashica-Mat 124G. What a relief not to have to change rolls after 12 exposures. Anyway, when I developed the film , I noticed that all the 220 rolls had a light streak that was exactly in the space between the images on the negative. None of the images were affected and this did not happen to the rolls of 120 Tri-X nor the 2 rolls of APX 25 that went through the 124G. If you look at the back of the camera, the film advances from the bottom to the top take-up spool and the images numbers are on the left side. The streaks originate on the right side, where the film advance crank is. What do the streaks look like? they vary in length, from the thickness of the edge of the film (1-2mm) to 2-3 cm, and are shaped like a dagger, thick at the edge of the film and tapering off to a point as the streak goes down the space between images. In two cases, the streak is wide enough that it impinges on the images (1mm) but nothing that a little cropping can't fix.

Several observations: This only happened with the 220 film which doesn't have a paper backing the length of the 24 images. The 120 film, (Tri-x and APX) with a paper backing, doesn't have this problem which leads me to consider that perhaps there is a light leak on the right side of the camera back. Because of the paper backing, the 120 film of protected from the light leak; the 220 has no backing and receives the light leak.

What I find curious is that the light leak is very regular; it only manifests itself, in various lengths, in the space between the images, so the leak is either at the top or bottom of the back, on the right side, on the side of the crank. I did notice that when I close the camera back, I have to put extra pressure on the right side in order to close the camera back and keeping applying pressure in order to turn the wheel at the bottom of the camera to lock the back in place. Maybe the problem is there???? Even when locked, there is something that might be pushing the right corner away from the front of the camera, enough to cause that slight light leak. Do light seals have to be changed???

Anyway, the images aren't affected but it is a nuisance.

Anybody have any ideas as to what is going on to cause this phenomenon. Anybody with a Yashica-Mat 124G ever have this problem using 220 film. If you have a 124G, does the back close easily?

Any input would be appreciated, as I want to bring the 124G with me to Anza Borrego when I go there in August.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers from rainy Montreal,
Bogdan








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________________________________________________________________
 Bogdan Karasek
 Montréal, Québec                     bogdan(at)bogdanphoto.com
 Canada                               www.bogdanphoto.com

                    "I bear witness"
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