How can I stop a Ricoh AF-70 from scratching my film?
Asked 12/7/2016
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2 answers
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I bought a thrifted Ricoh AF-70 and, after one test roll, found straight scratches on the negatives that show up white in scans. The scratches can be felt on the film. I use the same lab for my other film cameras, so I’m confident this camera is the cause. I’d like to diagnose where inside the camera the film is being scratched and know whether this is something I can fix myself.
Originally by user59026. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user59026
9y ago
2 Answers
1
Don't rule out the pressure plate prematurely. Otherwise, while you're looking at everything else, you might find that the pressure plate is at fault. In particular, running film through the rollers with the door open should increase the likelihood that the pressure plate is involved, unless the camera has a completely different design from what I found while searching for the camera model you mention. The solution is the same regardless.
- Identify the side that the scratches appear on, front or back.
- Use an air compressor to blow foreign particles out of the camera.
- Run a fingernail along all parts of the camera that have contact with the film.
- Check everything, but especially focus on the areas that correspond to the side of the film on which the scratches occur.
- If you have poor sensation in your hands, find someone else to do it for you.
- If you don't find a source of the scratches, it might have been a loose piece of grit that got blown out. Shoot another roll of film to check.
- If you do find a camera defect that could cause the scratches, get a set of knife sharpening plates. Use the finer plates to sand away the cause of the scratches. In my case, I have 200, 500, and 800 grit plates. Unless the defect is very large, I would start with the 500 plate, then finish with the 800 plate. (Higher number is finer.) Try to sand perpendicular to the direction the film will travel and away from other surfaces that will contact the film.
- Use the air compressor to blow the camera out again. Then use a damp paper towel to wipe everything down.
- Shoot another roll of film to see if you've fixed the problem.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, this is often fixable, but first identify exactly where the scratch is happening. Determine whether the scratches are on the emulsion side (front) or base side (back) of the film. That tells you which camera surfaces to inspect.
Don’t rule out the pressure plate yet. If film was moved through the camera with the door open, the pressure plate may actually be more likely to be involved. Inspect all film-contact points, especially the ones matching the scratched side of the film.
What to do:
- Blow out the film chamber with clean compressed air to remove grit or debris.
- Carefully inspect rails, rollers, guides, and the pressure plate.
- Gently run a fingernail over any surface that touches film; a burr or stuck particle may catch your nail.
- Focus on any point that lines up with the straight scratch position on the negative.
If you find debris, clean it away carefully. If you find a raised burr or damaged surface, that’s likely the cause. Minor contamination is a DIY fix; damaged parts may need service or replacement. Test with a sacrificial roll after cleaning.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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