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A question about 120 film. Does anybody out there have a problem with light leaks in their film? I get it often and I'm not sure why. Is it the camera or is it the film (perhaps when loading and unloading?) Any thoughts on this?

Roll film is inherently less secure than 35mm because it is not sealed in a cassette. Probably everyone has had trouble with it - I certainly have.

The first thing I did when I got an MF camera was to balls up the loading and winding. So the second thing I did was to get a pack of 5 past-end-by film from my local pro store (they gave it to me for nothing actually), and I practised loading, winding and unloading with that until I was good at it.

To avoid light strike when you are loading or unloading, try to keep the film tightly rolled. It also helps to keep out of direct light. Stand with your back to the sun, if nothing else.

Light leaks can of course occur in the camera, but these will often produce a regular pattern of light strike, though they can be intermittent. If you can shoot several rolls without a problem, the camera is fine and it is your loading technique that needs a bit of work.

irregular light leaks in the middle of a frame on a folder or twin lens camera are often a bellows perforation or a flat or missing section of the light chamber seals around the lens mount or focus carrier mechanisms. the most common light leaks on rollfilm occur at the edges where the spools might fit sloppy, or the edges of the paper get wrinkled or torn. occasionally you will see a problem becasue of the little red windows on the back of the camera especially if it is an older folding camera. these can be covered with tape when you are shooting with your camera on a tripod and the camera back and those little frame number windows are exposed to direct light.

the bellows leaks on folders are the most frustrating to me because they are inconsistent and often difficult to identify and even harder to repair. I had one that only showed up when the sun was directly overhead and slightly behind the camera, it was shining through a pinhole in the bellows and reflecting off the back of the shiny brass retainer clips that held the bellows to the front standard on the inside of the camera. it showed up as 2 V shaped spots at the top of the frame.

the easiest insurance is learn to load the camera blindfolded and get yourself a changing bag for use in the field. you could also carry a jacket with you and if it is not too cold to take it off, use that to cover the camera while loading in the field. also invest in a package of black plastic bags. the kind you can get for keeping darkroom materials in. i keep them in my camera bag for any rollfilm that is not in it's foil wrapper.

Or... you could get a holga, they charge extra for artisitc light leaks. ;o)

2cents@large.

I've never had a problem.. but then again I did what Richard above suggested which is to turn from the light.. and take your time so not to let it unwind loosely to let light in...

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