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photoevangelist
1-Feb-2013, 18:58
Hello. I sometimes get these streaks of light or overexposure on my 4x5 films. Please help me identify what this is exactly.

The image is from a campsite in Deogyusan Mountain, South Korea on Tri-X 320 (@ 1200) in Diafine 4:4 in a 2521 on a CPP2.

You can see it's more noticeable in the shadow areas:


884208842188422

NER
1-Feb-2013, 19:27
Light bouncing off the slide slot side (bottom edge) of the film holder onto the film.

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com

Light Guru
1-Feb-2013, 19:28
Your going to need to give more info.
How are you developing?

Ken Lee
1-Feb-2013, 19:30
"Diafine 4:4 in a 2521 on a CPP2"

See this recent thread Diafine: Help Please for uneven development (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?98377-Diafine-Help-please-for-uneven-development)

In a nutshell, add a few drops of Photo Flo per liter of Solution A.

On a related note, you might find it helpful to read Sandy King's View Camera article on Diafine. His tests show that while Tri-X is significantly improved in Diafine, the recommendation of ISO 1200 may be a bit... optimistic.

I've tested TMY and HP5+ in Diafine and shoot them at 200 with pleasing results.

photoevangelist
1-Feb-2013, 19:49
Your going to need to give more info.
How are you developing?

Sorry, I thought I had written rotary.

No pre-wash
Diafine A 4 min
Diafine B 4 min
Water Stop 3 fill and dumps @ 2-3 min.
Ilford Hypan Fixer 1:4 @ 5 min
Water Wash (in CPP-2) about 10 fill and dumps for around 30min
Kodak Photoflo 1 min

photoevangelist
1-Feb-2013, 19:52
Light bouncing off the slide slot side (bottom edge) of the film holder onto the film.

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com

It's a plastic Lisco Regal II holder. Are those not good?

photoevangelist
1-Feb-2013, 20:14
Ken Lee,
Adding Photo Flo? Interesting! I'll read that thread!

Any idea where I can get a copy on Sandy King's View Camera article?

I find Diafine to be a really good standard developer for a lot of my 35mm movie films and have enlarged a 35mm Tri-X negative @ 1250 souped in Diafine 3:3 exposed with a 1950's Leica IIIf and 35mm Summaron to 20x24 and looks pretty darn good to my eyes. I figured for 4x5, why not? Those extra stops of exposure really help out on a view camera in low light settings.

NER
1-Feb-2013, 23:16
It's a plastic Lisco Regal II holder. Are those not good?

There is nothing wrong with Lisco holders. The problem here is caused by light bouncing off the slide slot opposite the flap. This can happen with any brand of holder. Chances are it is not occurring with all of your holders, but is associated with only one or a few of them (as you noted, the problem only occurs “sometimes”). Most likely what has happened is that the holder(s) causing the problem has/have been deflected in some manner. Identify which holder(s) cause/s the problem by tracking which negatives come from which holder, then carefully examine the inside of the holder(s) associated with the problem. Above the slide slot on LRII holders is plastic, below is a metal flange that holds the sheets flat. Carefully examine the metal flange. If the flange has been lifted up, press it back down. Also check to see whether the edge of the metal is exposed. If so apply a flat black paint to cover the bare metal. Examine the plastic above the slot. Roughen the surface of the plastic, both front and bottom, using a fine sandpaper. This will diffuse any light striking the plastic thereby reducing reflections back onto the film. Clean the holder thoroughly to remove all particles from sanding before using the holder again.

N. Riley
http://normanrileyphotography.com