Please help - 120 film issue

Hi - please can someone tell me what i am doing wrong. I am shooting on Ilford HP5+ 120 film. My last 3 rolls have had a similar issue. Any ideas please.

 

Looks like a light leak to me. Especially if it's consistent and more or less same-shaped in all cases. Which camera is it?

Looks like a light leak or developer spilled on the film before being fully immersed in chemical. Is the defect found on all frames? Need to know what camera and developing equipment were used.

If the blotch is on the same spot on all the negatives and generally the same shape and size, it's definitely a light leak.

what camera was it?

Possible other causes are a crease in the film created during loading on the reel, or drying marks. More information is needed.

Thanks all -camera is a hasselblad 503 CX - blotch is on the same spot across most negs - if it is a light leak - where would i check? Edited April 1, 2018 by andrewcopeland

I have a Yashica 12 and there's a knob at the bottom that locks the film door closed. Either I didn't lock it, or turn it far enough, or somehow knocked it loose because when I went to unload the film I noticed the film door was closed quite all the way. This resulted in the following:

 

 

 

So I'd look at the light seals around the door/film back. Or maybe something is slightly bent and not sealing tightly

There is exactly one light seal in a Hasselblad back-it is in the dark slide slot.

 

I suspected that this might be a Hasselblad for a couple of reasons, but the apparent light leak is also consistent with a failed light seal.

 

Fortunately, seals are easy to change yourself. They're $10 or so on Ebay. They come in two parts-a piece of foam and then a piece of mylar that surrounds it. The trickiest part is getting the foam "tucked" into the mylar. All said and done, it's probably a 20 minute job.

 

I picked up a couple of backs not too long ago, and I changed the seals in them before putting them into service. It's simple and cheap preventative maintenance-and certainly at least as cheap as shooting a roll of film.

Thanks Ben - ordered the seals - this should help - latest roll has a similar problem

Thanks Ben - ordered the seals - this should help - latest roll has a similar problem

 

Hopefully that will help.

 

When you open the back, you'll likely find that the foam has lost its "sponginess." With the light leaks you have, it wouldn't surprise me if you find torn mylar also.

 

IF the mylar is torn, I'd suggest also taking a careful look at the dark slide and seeing if there are any bends or burrs on the end that are damaging the seal. Actually, this isn't a bad idea in general. Run your finger along the leading edge and it should be smooth. If there's only a light burr or other problem, you may be able to polish it out, but ultimately replacing the darkslide also is good insurance. I think David Odess says on his website that he replaces nearly every one on every back he services for this very reason.

 

BTW, I'm glad to see that my Hassy isn't the only one that gives "tilted" images on the film :) . That was one of the other things that made me think you might be using one.

The Light leak would do well in an art show. I know you do not like the light leak but I think the light leak gives it something. The composition is very good to begin with and the technical is spot on.

The Light leak would do well in an art show. I know you do not like the light leak but I think the light leak gives it something. The composition is very good to begin with and the technical is spot on.

Thanks Eddy