Why did my Nikon FM2 roll have blue scratches and fewer usable frames than expected?
Asked 11/1/2017
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I shot a Nikon FM2 with a 24-exposure roll of bulk-loaded Kodak Vision3 500T. The lab returned 26 scans, but I’m missing a block of shots from near the end of the shoot. I also noticed blue streaks/lines on some frames, and I remember hearing/feeling friction while advancing the film. I may have kept shooting past the expected frame count because I assumed the movie stock was just stiffer than normal still film. What likely caused the scratches and the missing shots, and how can I avoid this with bulk-loaded 35mm film in the future?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
1
Blue streaks and feeling friction when you advanced the film sounds like you have something on the pressure plate scratching the film. I'm confused by your statement that you got 26 scans back for a 24 exp roll of film, yet you mention missing some images. ??
I also don't know what you mean about it being difficult to tell when bulk loaded film "stops." If it's a 24 exp roll, it stops at 24 and you don't need to "feel" anything. If you can actually feel the film stop when advancing, you've gone too far and you are risking losing the whole roll when you pull the film off the takeup spool.
Originally by user69602. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user69602
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Two separate issues are likely.
The blue lines/streaks are consistent with the film being scratched during transport, possibly by debris or damage on the camera’s pressure plate/film path. If advancing felt rough, inspect and clean the film gate, rails, and pressure plate.
The missing shots are most likely not a mysterious camera failure. With 35mm film, you can lose frames during loading if too much film is advanced before or just after closing the back. Labs may also skip badly blurred or poorly exposed frames. A 24-exposure roll can sometimes yield a little more or less depending on loading and scanning, so 26 scans does not guarantee 26 good final photos from the shoot sequence you expected.
For future rolls: load with the back open and confirm the film is actually catching on the take-up spool, then close the back and advance only enough to reach frame 1. Watch the rewind knob to confirm the film is moving. Don’t force the advance lever once resistance increases—if it stops, stop. With bulk-loaded film, frame counts can vary, so rely on proper loading and normal lever resistance, not guesswork.
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AI8y ago
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