Help! Is this flare?

[pau3]

Hello everybody,

I'm a usual visitor of this forum, although I don't contribute that much.
Now, I have a problem with some exposures that I would like to share,
in search of a solution.

As you can see in this image

the top part is veiled with an additional exposure. This is a scan of a 9x12
HP5+ negative, but I have other examples with 4x5 Trix (which, by the way,
I think that rules out a defective back). I have other examples showing the
same problem: a large part of the top of the image fogged. All the pictures
were taken with a Linhoff Master Technika and a 150mm apo symmar, around f22
and with an important front rise. Other pictures taken the same days with
the same hardware came out fine. The negatives were developed in a Combiplan
tank, and in the same batch there were correctly developed pictures, which rules
out development problems (I think).

Up to now I'm guessing that the problem is the following: the 150 apo symmar
is mounted in a recessed board whose back is slightly shinny. This is more visible
with a front rise. Under certain conditions, the light bounces back from the
surface of the negative onto the board and, then, back again on the negative.
The front rise sends the light to the bottom of the negative, which is the fogged
part.

Anyway, has someone seen a similar problem before? Am I right with my guess
or should I consider something different?

Best,
Pau

[Robert Hughes]

That looks more like a light leak than flare.

[GPS]

It is virtually impossible to get this kind of effect by the means you're suggesting (multiple reflections inside the bellows)...

[johnielvis]

you should be able to see that flare on the ground glass if it's flare I'm thinking....it certainly do look like a well defined light leak---flare, as far as i've ever seen--is all over the place evenly hazed around the highlights----maybe your dev tank is bad--what does the edges of the film look like?

[pau3]

First of all, thank you for your suggestions, which, by the way,
were correct. After reading your comments, I've inspected the
bellows with a torchlight and have found a quite large light leak.
It's more obvious when front standard is rised, because then the light
goes directly to the lens board and it's reflected there. Without the
front rise, the light just hits the bottom of the bellows, and it's not
scattered, or at least, the scattering is less obvious.

Now I need to find a bellows replacement. Any suggestions?

Thanks again,
Pau

[GPS]

...

Now I need to find a bellows replacement. Any suggestions?

Thanks again,
Pau

The Search function of this site...

[johnielvis]

START with TAPE or glue---try to repair--then you can shoot and shop for replacements at your leasure

meantime---put the dark cloth around the bellows---works all the time for studio type work...outside......well...bright sun does get in everywhere, but it's possible.

[pau3]

I have already contacted a Linhof repair service. We happen to have one,
here in Barcelona (what a coincidence, by the way). They will give me an
estimate of the cost next week, but I will replace the bellows anyway.

In the meantime, I may try some of John's suggestions.

[E. von Hoegh]

START with TAPE or glue---try to repair--then you can shoot and shop for replacements at your leasure

meantime---put the dark cloth around the bellows---works all the time for studio type work...outside......well...bright sun does get in everywhere, but it's possible.

+1 on the tape or glue. I've mended rips with bookbinder's tape, the kind that comes with the glue already applied.Not ideal, and not really permanent.

If all you can find is glueless tape, use any flexible contact cement such as Pliobond. White tape can be made black tape by the application of black magic marker.

[Brian Ellis]

As an aside, there shouldn't be any need to use a recessed lens board with a 150mm lens on a Master Technika. I used a 90mm lens on a Technika with no recessed board and no problems.