Light spots on film.

Attached are two photos showing a problem that has haunted me for some time. As you can see there is a bright spot on the negative not always as bright or in the same spot.

Gear - I restored an 1910 Seneca 4x5 view camera, I have a 127 mm Wollensak lens, a 163 mm Wollensak lens, and some pinhole lenses I made.

Problem - All of these lenses produce this bright spot, but not always near the center and of various brightness. I would say about 1/3 of the time.

Efforts - I have checked, re-checked and re-re-checked for light leaks inside and out. The bellow, the box, the back, the lens shutters, the film holders and dark slides both on the camera and separately.

Shooting procedure - I set up the shot then cover the entire camera with the dark cloth only leaving enough room to pull the dark slide. I have even added a lens hood and painted or covered all the shiny surfaces black.

Best guess - At present I do not think there is a light leak in the camera, I do not think that both lens shutters and certainly not the pinhole would leak and the spot is not always in the center of the negative. The only other thing I can think of is light reflections inside the bellows. I also checked to be sure the frosted surface was facing the inside of the camera.

I can take the back of the camera apart to see the inside of the bellows but I am wondering if anyone has had this problem or has any suggestions.

I have attached two photos showing the problem.

Thanks

Have you tried more than one box of film?
Looking at the unexposed edges, there is fogging.
My first thought is old, fogged or light-struck film.
How is the film being processed?

Definitely light strikes. And, from the look of the film rebates it may have happened out-of-camera. "May" is the key word here, though. I'd start looking for light leaks in my camera, holders, tanks, changing bags, whatever. The old light-bulb-inside-the-camera-in-a-dark-room is what I'd try first.

Best,

Doremus

I have shot Arista EDU 200 and 400, perhaps 200 sheets. This light spot has been a random occurrence since the start. I have used Arista developer, Rodinal and now I an using HC-110.

I believe it is time of a look inside the camera.

Does this happen when using more than one lens?