Photos came back messed up -- How to fix?

[Jack Murphy]

Hello everyone, this is probably a super nooby question but I couldn't find any links online of how to fix it.

I shot my first two rolls of film a couple of weeks back, and recently got them back from TheDarkroom.com. When I went to view them, there were a couple visual artifacts that cut off/cropped most of the images. Wondering if this is a problem with the film stock, the camera, or some kind of user error. A lot of the images came back with no problem, but still lost a sizable percentage of my shots due to this issue.

Camera: Minolta X-700

Images:

Looking forward to getting any kind of help on this issue,
Thanks

 

[Derrel]

un-repairable
#1-and #4--same issue...is it with flash??? Or something blocking the lens, like a camera strap? Or is it a shutter failure? No way to get the black stuff back...just crop it out... no other fix...

#2: bad light leak...first shot on the roll?? The far right of the image--BADLY, badly over-exposed..making me think this is shot #1

#3--SLIGHT light leak.

 

[Jack Murphy]

un-repairable
#1-and #4--same issue...is it with flash??? Or something blocking the lens, like a camera strap? Or is it a shutter failure? No way to get the black stuff back...just crop it out... no other fix...

#2: bad light leak

#3--SLIGHT light leak.

Wasn’t using flash, don’t think the lens was blocked. Maybe the film is having trouble advancing?

 

[Derrel]

#1 and #4..film is advancing OK I think...but the shutter is NOT exposing the black areas correctly, hence why they are...black...all 4 frames are the same, correct width..with an advance issue, usually frames are overlapped or irregularly-spaced

 

[dxqcanada]

The second image could possibly be your first frame that was partially exposed, or you opened the back.
The first and last show signs that you have a problem with the shutter curtains ... which would require repair ... or probably cheaper to buy a replacement camera.

 

[Soocom1]

Shutter problem.
The X700 had this issue if I remember back in the day.

What it looks like to me is an out of time shutter and a massive fogging issue.
Possibly as Derrel stated an open door or such.

Non repairable, but you can always try to save the image by playing with the scanned images in photoshop and do some creative editing.

The camera itself may be out of time, or a slow shutter spring.

It is serviceable but you'll have to find a shop that works the older Minoltas.

 

[Derrel]

I did not see the camera listed when I first replied but as I recall the Minolta X 700 Came out about around 1986 or 87, so you have a camera that is about a third of a century old. I have a feeling that there is a problem with the focal plane shutter, and I cannot remember whether it is a rubberized cloth or metal design. It looks to me as if it is a horizontal travel focal plane design. Basically the focal plane shutter works like this: the first curtain races across the film, and the second curtain closes behind it. You can see Quite easily at the slow speeds like one second or 1/2 second. As the speeds get faster, what you have is a moving slit that travels across the focal plane. What might be happening is that the first curtain is slowing down anf the second curtain it's catching up to it, and is not allowing the film to be exposed on the right hand side. You could probably diagnose the problem yourself, by setting the lens to F2, opening the back, and pointing the camera at a bright light source, and running the camera through a series of faster and faster shutter speeds, beginning at one second and progress up to 1/250 of a second.

 

[Derrel]

I have never owned a Minolta X 700, but I used to sell them when they were new and current models. I believe that the camera requires a battery to power the shutter.

It is possible that the shutter needs to be repaired. Of course this might be more expensive than buying another working X 700.

 

[Soocom1]

When I had a chance to get a X700 the first Maxxums came out.

The one issue I vaugly remember that the X700 was very reliable but the shutter liked to stick. Its an old style cloth type and was replaced with the dragon scale style shutter. If I remember correctly.

 

[Designer]

Wondering if this is a problem with the film stock, the camera, or some kind of user error.

It is your camera. Take it to a repair shop. Take the photographs along to show the repair technician.

 

[Nestor Toussaint]

You might have to consult a professional photogrpher close to you

 

[wfooshee]

I had a camera with the opposite problem, I had a bright band near the center of the image. That would be caused by both curtains slowing down as they crossed the frame, but the second curtain slowing down earlier in the frame. Your black area is caused by the second curtain catching up to the first curtain.

Not knowing the speeds you used, this is conjecture only, but the problem may be worse at some shutter speeds than it is on others, probably worse with faster speeds.

Basically, the camera is not working correctly and needs to be repaired, and it's up to you to decide if the repair cost is worth it. eBay is loaded with cheaply available, perfectly functional film SLRs.