Blue Streaks from Fairlawn (Dwaynes?) AGAIN!

[kentbulza]

This recent situation was a DS8 and it is completely down one side of the film on the first half of the roll. Since it doesn't appear anywhere on the second half, it doesn't make sense to me that it was caused by my camera. I know that the development is done like 16mm and slit afterwards, so doesn't this indicate a lab problem? What is the problem?

I'm soooo upset because I really had some good shots on this film. And I feel so helpless because I know nobody will talk to me at Kodak (I tried on a problem on 16mm before) and it's not like I can send it to someone else. Dwayne directly??? What does that do.

It sounds like from this is not isolated. Can we get together and write a letter to either Kodak or Dwaynes asking for an explanation?

I'm going to add a poll to determine how bad this is.

[kentbulza]

I may be nuts (it wouldn't be the first time it's been suggested), but it

Has anybody seen this problem in other seasons?

Mine have all been shot around 80 degrees on a bright clear days. But that's most days in Los Angeles, so it's card for me to infer much.

[kentbulza]

It seems to me that intermittent streaks would likely be caused at the lab, and constant streaks are probably caused by the camera or cartridge.
Scott

Why do you think constant streaks are necessarily from the camera. Both times for me have been from cameras that have not had the same problem on rolls before or after the problem. Both times it's been constant streaking from one end to the other. Do you have any technical information that can help me out?

[kentbulza]

Has anyone had this happen with DR8, DS8, or 16mm?

My 2nd experience was a roll of DS8.

[monobath]

Dwayne's has an FAQ that talks about blue streaks:

Why do I have a line of blue streaks down one side of my film? The blue streak is a result of static fog. This film must be fogged before it enters the developer in the Kodachrome process to show this characteristic blue color. In the past the cause of this fog has been the super 8 cartridge. The cartridge does not allow the film to run smoothly through the camera and static is processed. The static produced a spark of light that fogs the film with blue light. When the film is developed the fogs is revealed as a blue line down one side of the film. I suggest using film with a different expiration date to avoid getting a bad cartridge.

I found this here dwaynes faq

[T-Scan]

I just got K-40 back from Dwayne's today. has the blue streak down the left side of the screen. I was wondering if it were related to the film/cart instead of processing.. which is basically a 50/50 chance. but it sucks no matter.. this footage will be edited into a trailer skettch for an indi flik, i hope i can work around it. all film was dated 8/05 and stored in the freezer or fridge, sealed in the foil then ziplocked. maybe this film sat in bulk somewhere bad for awhile?

[kentbulza]

Dwayne's has an FAQ that talks about blue streaks:

Why do I have a line of blue streaks down one side of my film? The blue streak is a result of static fog. This film must be fogged before it enters the developer in the Kodachrome process to show this characteristic blue color. In the past the cause of this fog has been the super 8 cartridge. The cartridge does not allow the film to run smoothly through the camera and static is processed. The static produced a spark of light that fogs the film with blue light. When the film is developed the fogs is revealed as a blue line down one side of the film. I suggest using film with a different expiration date to avoid getting a bad cartridge.

I found this here dwaynes faq

I'm believing this less and less. My most recent situation was with a DS8 roll, not a cartridge, and it only happened during the 1st trip through the camera. Knowing that the film goes through the processor at 16mm and is then split, it makes me wonder if there there was a problem at the lab.

[T-Scan]

...Good point. makes me think more, i haven't shot any strate 8.. IF, it was related to static.. both sides would get exposed to the static? anyone have the same experience with Fair lawn? maybe we can kill 2 mysteries with one stone.

[ninjamoon]

all blue streaks last year for me. but this year none. but i'm using a new camera. my 9008 scratched up film so i use a bauer royal. i attached the old camera to my scooter and it stays there now as design.
best camera is the bauers.
ninja

[FilmIs4Ever]

Who here has had blue streaks that can only be attributed to bad processing and not bad cameras or cartridges? If we can get a list of people who have experienced this, then I'm sure that D'Waynes needs to do some answering for it. I have a problem with you guys complaining and not taking any action though. The internet is full of people that bitch and moan but end up doing nothing. No one gives a shit about email complaints because email doesn't cost any money and they are probably bombarded with tons of spam anyway. Labs like D'Waynes will listen to snail-mail and irate phone calls because they take up time and cost money. It's the same thing as when someone does a movie on DV and no one takes it seriously and someone does a movie on 16 or 35mm and people do take it seriously. I'd be happy to call them up and see what's up, but I need a group of people behind me that know for sure that it is the lab's fault. I haven't had any streaking myself (at least that I can see just eyeballing or projecting the film), but I plan on using K40 for a long time to come and I don't want any of my future films damaged in this way. It'd be nice if we could mail them a tape with examples of streaked film or something along those lines to get them to change their "we didn't do it" stance. It'd be really good if we could find some rolls of film that were shot in the same camera but came out alternately streaked and unstreaked. Any other ideas?

Regards.

[DriveIn]

.......I have a problem with you guys complaining and not taking any action though. ........Any other ideas?......

Has anyone actually talked to someone at Kodak. If Dwaynes is blaming Kodak cartridges, I would think Kodak would like to address that issue. Someone somewhere must be in a position to answer questions on the matter, you just gotta keep digging through the chain of command at Kodak until you find the right person. 8O

[FilmIs4Ever]

Since it has been established that the problem is not limited to S8 cartridges and has also appeared in DS8, I think it is clear that the problem is at least partially the fault of D'Waynes. I don't think Kodak will be very forthcoming since they don't even officially acknowledge that they send it to D'Wayne's.

Regards.
~Karl

[LastQuark]

If this is static, as suggested by Dwayne's, could it be because the film is in contact with the plastic pressure plate of the cartridge causing the static charge?

If this is the case, it can be eliminated with the use of FrameMaster pressure plate made of conductive material. The metal plate will absorb and distribute the charge throughout its area minimizing the static charge occuring in a specific location. :roll:

Perhaps one can test the presence of blue streaks with and without a metal pressure plate?

I haven't eperienced this myself on over 100 rolls since starting with S8 and these were all sent to Fair Lawn.

 

[FilmIs4Ever]

This whole pressure plate theory doesn't explain streaking on any format other than S8. Double Super 8 is not enhoused within a cartridge, but is wound on a spool just as 16mm and DR8 are. What could cause static discharge on these? Wouldn't the problem also occur on other filmstocks if this theory of D'Waynes' were true? It just doesn't add up. There'd also be a problem overseas if this theory were true. Clearly there is a problem with D'Waynes' processing. I think we need to organize a video with examples of the problem using cameras that work fine with other filmstocks and even with other rolls of Kodachrome. There is something wrong with the processing.

Regards.
~Karl

[kentbulza]

I think we need to organize a video with examples of the problem using cameras that work fine with other filmstocks and even with other rolls of Kodachrome. There is something wrong with the processing.

Regards.
~Karl

Yes. I agree. And I agree with your prior post htat just bitching about it does nothing. I started this thread (and the poll specifically) so I could determine whether my problem was unique or not. I will transfer my film to video and assist in compiling the examples. I would like to have from people the dates, cameras, history, etc for each segment. I will then send copies to Kodak and Dwaynes.