White line/dot in film?

[Antti Haavisto]

When i got this film back from Germany, and projected it very first time on the Eiki nt-2 projector, it had this white line/dot. This is also ny very first time shooting with Bolex h16 non Reflex. So was it human error (my fault) or the camera/lenses not functioning correctly? What went wrong? Thanks, A. 😁

[Dirk DeJonghe]

Was there a sun reflection in the window, giving a vastly overexposed round area in the negative?

The vertical part could also be an indication of ghosting, where the film pulldown and shutter opening are out of sync.

There could also be missing screw in the camera, letting light fall on a small area, you can check this by putting a small flashlight inside the camera and looking in complete darkness for light coming out of the camera, if light can come out, it will come in.

[Gregory Irwin]

Did you leave the eyepiece open and uncovered?

[Antti Haavisto]

1 hour ago, Dirk DeJonghe said:

Was there a sun reflection in the window, giving a vastly overexposed round area in the negative?

The vertical part could also be an indication of ghosting, where the film pulldown and shutter opening are out of sync.

There could also be missing screw in the camera, letting light fall on a small area, you can check this by putting a small flashlight inside the camera and looking in complete darkness for light coming out of the camera, if light can come out, it will come in.

There was no sun reflection on the window. The white dot/line was almost the whole 100ft. There was no sun at that time. Just cloudy, i think. There was also some moments where there was very shady, and then the white dot disappeared. And this was Fomapan R 100. I have shot only 20ft of new film now, so should I get it out? If so, how? Bc i wanna try that flashlight trick of your's. And btw, I filled the filmdoor's edges with black tape when I shot this film. Thanks, A. 

[Antti Haavisto]

50 minutes ago, Gregory Irwin said:

Did you leave the eyepiece open and uncovered?

If you mean the critical focus, i left it open, when i was shooting. I did not know it was supposed to be close, becouse I had nothing to cover it up? I you mean the "dogleg"? 

[Simon Wyss]

No light can enter the film chamber through the critical finder, either way from a lens or from above.

To me it looks that you’re getting light onto the film through one of the circular openings in the loop formers. From what I see on this photograph you have a dirty, non entertained camera. It would fit the impression, if the lid doesn’t close well or wasn’t put on correctly. Maybe a screw is missing with the front assembly.

[Antti Haavisto]

1 hour ago, Simon Wyss said:

No light can enter the film chamber through the critical finder, either way from a lens or from above.

To me it looks that you’re getting light onto the film through one of the circular openings in the loop formers. From what I see on this photograph you have a dirty, non entertained camera. It would fit the impression, if the lid doesn’t close well or wasn’t put on correctly. Maybe a screw is missing with the front assembly.

Copy that, but how there could be light going trough the circular openings? I had the camera's filmdoor sealed off with black thick tape, so the sun's light doesn’t get in... And when i was buying this Bolex, the seller sent me the test footage, it didn't have the white dot/line on his footage... But thanks anyway for the information, I appreacite it very much 🙂

[Dom Jaeger]

Looks to me like a missing screw letting a circle of light hit the film. Check inside the compartment for empty screw holes. 
Or were you using a lens with a reflex finder? 

[Simon Wyss]

We haven’t asked whether you have that spot only with this footage or with all films on the EIKI NT-2. A wrong lamp may be in use.

[Antti Haavisto]

1 hour ago, Simon Wyss said:

We haven’t asked whether you have that spot only with this footage or with all films on the EIKI NT-2. A wrong lamp may be in use.

When I examined the film propely, the white dot/line started when the film had passed the gate exactly 100cm (1m). You see that transparent line, just starts out of nowhere... Strange, I must say... So it must not be the projector, becouse all my films that I have shot on 16mm (Cine-Kodak model E), have turned out very well. 

[Antti Haavisto]

7 hours ago, Dom Jaeger said:

Looks to me like a missing screw letting a circle of light hit the film. Check inside the compartment for empty screw holes. 
Or were you using a lens with a reflex finder? 

This is non reflex, so I had to focus with the critical focus viewfinder, and then turn the lens-turret, so the focused lens is on the main slot. If that's what you mean. I have to remove the current film that is inside camera now. 

[Simon Wyss]

Great, thank you for the photo of the film.

One of the four screws that hold the aperture plate may be missing. When you swing the turret out of the middle position two of those screw bores get exposed to light, either the upper or the lower pair. That’s what happens when you use the critical finder. Turn the turret all to the outer side and take a photo of the front, please.

[Antti Haavisto]

2 hours ago, Simon Wyss said:

Great, thank you for the photo of the film.

One of the four screws that hold the aperture plate may be missing. When you swing the turret out of the middle position two of those screw bores get exposed to light, either the upper or the lower pair. That’s what happens when you use the critical finder. Turn the turret all to the outer side and take a photo of the front, please.

I appreacite this information you gave me, and I think you found the problem. There isn't a screw, and it's letting light in! I dont know how the screw got missing nor have noticed. How do I continue now? Where to get this spefic screw? 

[Simon Wyss]

How much did you pay for this camera?

Never mind, it’s not my business. I simply can’t refrain from uttering that only an ä£$&%?* removes that screw. An Austrian gentlemen has just contacted me for a part missing with the turret lever joint. Too many people wrench fine mechanics.

I can send you one.

[Antti Haavisto]

32 minutes ago, Simon Wyss said:

How much did you pay for this camera?

Never mind, it’s not my business. I simply can’t refrain from uttering that only an ä£$&%?* removes that screw. An Austrian gentlemen has just contacted me for a part missing with the turret lever joint. Too many people wrench fine mechanics.

I can send you one.

I paid for this camera about 500e. And I also put a email to Bolex International of they are selling those kind of screws. If they don't have, where are you located if you could send me one screw? Thanks, A. 

[Simon Wyss]

Bolex International is a mere corporate veil in spite of a website being kept up. There is no-one there who’d know anything technical at all. Most probably you won’t receive an answer.

€ 500 with the lenses I presume. That’s fair.

For information about me please see profile.

[Antti Haavisto]

On 7/25/2026 at 4:15 PM, Simon Wyss said:

How much did you pay for this camera?

Never mind, it’s not my business. I simply can’t refrain from uttering that only an ä£$&%?* removes that screw. An Austrian gentlemen has just contacted me for a part missing with the turret lever joint. Too many people wrench fine mechanics.

I can send you one.

I would be happy if you could send me one or two. What are your payment methods? Thanks.