What likely caused these RB67 120 film light leaks?
Asked 2/9/2020
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2 answers
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I used a rental Mamiya RB67 and noticed two apparent light-leak issues on my 120 negatives. I no longer have the camera, so I’m mainly trying to identify the likely causes.
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On the last few frames of the roll, there is a dark band along one edge near the frame numbers/backing paper area. It only affects the end of the roll and mainly one side.
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Some frames show a light leak in one corner, with no obvious frame-to-frame pattern.
Could the first issue be from unloading the roll too loosely, and could the second be related to changing lenses without the dark slide, or is a film-back issue more likely?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
1
The first light leak along the edge of the film is either caused by the film not being wound tight enough onto the spool, or the spool itself not being completely opaque. Since only the last part of the film is affected, the film is likely not wound tight enough. That can be a problem with the film holder, or that you were a bit sloppy when unloading the film. As long as the light leak does not reach the exposed frame, it is not really a problem, but I usually wrap exposed 120 films in aluminium foil to prevent such problems at all. Both unexposed, as well as exposed 120 rolls are prone to such light leaks.
The second light leak looks as if the pressure plate in the film holder might not hold the film tight enough. There is likely a small gap between the film and the opening for the exposure in the back of the camera. This is also not really a problem, since the unintentional exposure is only outside the actual image frame.
Originally by user10009. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user10009
6y ago
0
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The edge fogging on the last few frames is most likely from the roll being wound or handled too loosely after exposure. With 120 film, the end of the roll is most vulnerable if the backing paper isn’t tight enough around the spool, or if the spool/back doesn’t hold it tightly. That fits the pattern of only the last part of the roll being affected.
The corner leak is less likely to be caused by changing lenses. On an RB67, the more probable cause is the film back/holder: either the pressure plate wasn’t holding the film flat enough, or there was a small gap allowing light near the film gate. A film-back issue is a better match than the lens change itself.
So in short: the first issue was probably loose winding/unloading or spool/backing-paper tightness; the second was probably a problem in the film holder rather than the lens swap.
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AI6y ago
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