Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/03/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jim, My original Leica, which I still have, was a IIIa. I shot numerous rolls of bulk film, but I loaded the film into Kodak cartridges, which were fairly simple to separate and reassemble. I don't recall ever seeing anything like your example, which shows the fogging goes to the edge of the film stock. I have never used Leica cartridges, but seem to recall they have a felt seal. I think the problem stems from the cartridge. Perhaps a loose felt strip that only bends back on occasion. Just my two cents. PS: Does the "leak" always show up in the same spot relative to the frame, or is the placement more random? Jim Nichols Tullahoma, TN USA On 3/11/2014 6:44 PM, Jim Shulman wrote: > Well, I've been shooting with my IIIb/SCNOO ensemble for a few weeks, and > love it. > > > > With one exception: > > > > The other day I was merrily shooting away with Kodak 5222 loaded into > several of the Leica metal FILCA cartridges for the IIIb/SCNOO > combination. After processing, I noticed that several of the frames seemed > to have a strange fogging, almost like a crescent dagger from the bottom of > the frame (bottom, as in what was in the bottom of the camera) about every > so often, maybe five frames total out of 40. These came when I was > shooting in regular daylight--some bright sun, some shade, and did my film > loading in subdued light (or indoors). I've attached an image file showing > the offending "dagger" fogging. > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/focusit/filca+fog.jpg.html > > > > > > Seemed strange. So I ran a side-by-side test at end of day, first shooting > a roll of FILCA-loaded Kodak 5222, then a roll of Fuji Acros 100 in the > standard Fuji metal cartridge. Both came out fine with no dagger-like > fogging. The sun was out, but not brightly. > > > > I thought I might have misloaded the FILCAs for some reason, so I loaded > another and went out shooting in regular bright daylight. Again, every so > often there was the dagger-like fog at the bottom of the occasional frame > (and no pattern to the "daggers"; they appeared irregularly.) > > > > Yesterday, I ran another test: I shot a roll of very old Plus-X, in the > standard Kodak cartridge, in bright sunlight. I took off the lens and > aimed the camera at the bright sun; I shot in brightly lit areas, I shot in > dim areas. No fogging whatsoever on the film. > > > > Any idea what's happening? If it were a camera light leak, it would have > happened on all types of film cartridges, both standard and Leica FILCA. > If it were a FILCA problem alone, it would have leaked when I shot toward > the end of day (in the double-blind test). If it were a darkroom loading > problem, it would have happened to all my film. > > > > One suggestion I've received is that there's a tiny light leak near the > take-up spool, based on the sharp definition of the leak pattern. If > that's the case, though, why not on both FILCA and non-FILCA loads? After > all, the take up spool has nothing to do with the type of film cartridge. > > > > As the King said, "It is a puzzlement". > > > > Thanks, > > Jim Shulman > > Wynnewood, PA > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >