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Thread: Light spots on film.

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Northern Indiana
    Posts
    28

    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
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P-136.jpg   P-135.jpg  

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Posts
    991

    Re: Light spots on film.

    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?

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Oregon now (formerly Austria)
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    3,397

    Re: Light spots on film.

    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

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Northern Indiana
    Posts
    28

    Re: Light spots on film.

    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.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    North Dakota
    Posts
    1,327

    Re: Light spots on film.

    Does this happen when using more than one lens?
    ” Never attribute to inspiration that which can be adequately explained by delusion”.

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