Scratched negatives from EOS1N

I use an EOS1N typically with Kodak MAX 400 film. I live and work in Cambodia. There is only C41 processing available here. WIth the dust and dirt count in Phnom Penh, it is a nightmare for shop owners to keep their develop / print machines clean.

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I processes several rolls of film this past week. On some of the prints, lines are seen across the picture horizontally. They also appear on the negatives as scratches. I am assuming that the problem is either the printer's machine or my camera.

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If the scratches appeared along the entire roll, it could be my camera. But the scratches appear in maybe 3 or 4 images but not all, and they are not consistently in the middle or at either end of a roll.

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Can you please shed some light on this somewhat "Scratchy" situation?

Thanks,

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Dave in Paradise

IF in fact the fault is with the camera back, then I would

suggest the following: Aside from periodically inspecting and

cleaning the camera's pressure plate as well as the camera back in

general, it is also important to try to inspect the "lips" of each

film cassette's slit-like opening for any debris prior to loading. In

addition, get in the habit of inspecting, blowing-off (with canned

gas) and if needed, gently pulling (wiping) the film leader through a

section of soft, clean cloth before committing the film to loading.

If, after taking these measures, you happen to overlook a bit of

potentially film-damaging (scratchy) debris that is positioned to

possibly scratch the "front" side of the film (that is, the surface of

the film facing the shutter curtain--is this the emulsion side?), then

it MAY be more likely for that debris to actually scratch the film if

you are using HIGH SPEED rewind. Why? Because high-speed rewind

tends to pull the film quite taut during rewind, possibly resulting in

much greater contact between the film and any "burrs". Avoid

high-speed rewind whenever possible.

Like the other poster said, check and clean if necessary the film

path: pressure plate, film rails, etc. However, I suspect that the lab

may have scratched your film. I shoot mostly chromes and rarely have

problems with scratches. But when I shoot negs and process at local

mini labs I frequently get scratches on the negs, especially if I ask

for reprints. It seems the more they handle your film the more likely

the chance of scratching it (not to mention fingerprints). I've had

better luck with Kodak Premium service but I hate removing the

"protective negative tape" when I want to scan.

I once thought I had problems with my camera (Elan II) scratching the

film until I started developing my own black & white negatives; no

scratches. Now I use a different lab for color films. No more

scratches.