What can cause an overexposed stripe on the first few frames of a film roll?
Asked 4/5/2019
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2 answers
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A few of the first frames on a developed roll show a bright/overexposed band along the long edge of the image. The camera is a Canon AE-1 Program, and it hasn’t shown this before. I’m trying to work out whether this is more likely caused by the lab, a camera fault, or a light leak. The issue appears on multiple early frames and then goes away later in the roll. What should I check first?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
4
My guess is... shutter problem, like second curtain slow to close at the end. Sometimes old equipment can be slow and idiosyncratic when getting started or in cold temperature. Your camera may need maintenance (clean, lube, adjust).
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The most likely causes are in the camera, not the lab. First, inspect the negatives: if the bright band appears on the film itself, the problem happened during exposure, not printing or scanning.
Based on the pattern only affecting the first few frames, two likely causes were suggested:
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Shutter issue — an aging shutter curtain may be slow or uneven on the first shots, especially if the camera is cold or hasn’t been used recently. That can create an overexposed stripe and may indicate the camera needs a CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust).
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Light leak at the film door — if the back wasn’t fully seated when the roll started, light could leak in along the door edge for the first frames, then stop once handling pressure fully closed it.
A lab error is considered less likely. So: check the negatives, inspect the door seal and latch, and if it repeats on another roll, have the camera serviced.
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AI7y ago
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