First 4x5's - light streaks - help diagnose pls

**Maretzo** · 6-May-2009, 09:26

It happened to me with a "used" holder. Check the possible leaks with a flashlight with the darkslide on.
Serge

**mandoman7** · 19-May-2009, 01:49

Originally Posted by Maretzo

It happened to me with a "used" holder. Check the possible leaks with a flashlight with the darkslide on.
Serge

All of my holders are used

But I agree with your suggestion that the holder may be at fault. When its all up at the end like that where the dark slide opening is.
If it was a seating or loading problem, the flaring would have a broader shape.

**csant** · 19-May-2009, 04:33

Similar light leaks have happened to me with some very early attempts to use my (back then) new LF camera - and I failed to push the film holder in far enough...

**rtsizemore** · 19-May-2009, 05:12

Thanks for the suggestions re: the film holder. However, each of the negatives were in different holders (actually two per holder - one on each side) and the 'effect - flare' was in each and every of of ten shots

.

I'm thinking that my pulling of the film cover (technique) was faulty. That somehow I pulled BACK on the spring loaded holder. I know for a fact that I did not use my other hand to put pressure on the spring holding mechanism.

Thanks to all for the wonderful suggestions! The road to knowledge is certainly full of rocks...

Tom

**mandoman7** · 19-May-2009, 12:18

I think your conclusion is right. That when you're pulling the darkslide out, you're pulling towards you slightly and giving a momentary exposure. It is rare that all negatives would have such a similar flaring.

**William McEwen** · 21-May-2009, 09:06

Yes, I'm in agreement that the filmholder was exposed a bit when the darkslide was pulled. Tom have you had a chance to shoot more since posting (and correcting) this problem? - William

**Steve Sample** · 22-May-2009, 18:00

When I first used my Canham 4 x 5, I didn't properly seat the rear of my bellows when I roatated my film back to vertical positon. It is easy to do where the corner tabs hold the edge of the bellows if you get careless. I got a light leak that ruined three otherwise great photos. When I saw the problem, I was surprised that the result wasn't worse.