Unknown flare

[Kristonatron]

Hi all,
I have been getting this flare on 90% of my images and I'm stumped to why its happening.
I've tested the bellows for leaks, and there doesn't seem to be any.
It happens with different lenses.
Any suggestions appreciated!
Thanks!

[Kino]

A basic run-down of your equipment would help.

What is your camera?

Which lenses did you use?

Can you briefly describe a typical sequence you use to expose a sheet of film?

The "circle" appears to be forming a secondary image, which is very strange indeed.

[djdister]

I wouldn't call that a lens flare, I would call it a light leak or direct exposure of the film. Lens flare does not look like that. You should tell us about the handling of the film from start to finish.

[notorius]

Check the camera again. The leak is consistent no matter if you shoot landscape/portrait orientation. So either the bellows or the back of the camera does it.

[xkaes]

You've got a major malfunction. You need to post a photo of this camera and lens. We're operating in the dark.

[dave_whatever]

Looks like a subsidiary image being projected onto the film. On all of them you're getting part of the main image overlayed onto the primary image (hence looks bright as it's overexposed) and at the same scale as the main image. Very weird! It a least tells us the light forming the subsidiary image is coming through the lens, not a bellows or lensboard leak. My money would be on something internal which is reflecting the image back onto the rear of the lens, which is in turn reflecting a circular image back onto the film...maybe...? I can almost convince myself that makes sense.

[Kristonatron]

Looks like a subsidiary image being projected onto the film. On all of them you're getting part of the main image overlayed onto the primary image (hence looks bright as it's overexposed) and at the same scale as the main image. Very weird! It a least tells us the light forming the subsidiary image is coming through the lens, not a bellows or lensboard leak. My money would be on something internal which is reflecting the image back onto the rear of the lens, which is in turn reflecting a circular image back onto the film...maybe...? I can almost convince myself that makes sense.

Thanks Dave. Yes, it's like an overexposed mini image in the main image, so strange.

I'm shooting a Super Speed Graphic with Rodenstock1:5,6 270mm & schneider Angolan 1:6,8 90mm but it happens with both these lenses.
I've attached photos of the body and both lenses if that helps.

I did another leak check last night in complete darkness and waited a bit for my eyes to adjust and I found a couple small leaks on both lens boards, so tiny I didn't see on my first check.
I've covered them up and will check again tonight.

I'm just hoping to get it figured out before my trip to Crater Lake Monday.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

[paulbarden]

Thanks Dave. Yes, it's like an overexposed mini image in the main image, so strange.

I'm shooting a Super Speed Graphic with Rodenstock1:5,6 270mm & schneider Angolan 1:6,8 90mm but it happens with both these lenses.

I did another leak check last night in complete darkness and waited a bit for my eyes to adjust and I found a couple small leaks on both lens boards, so tiny I didn't see on my first check.
I've covered them up and will check again tonight.

I'm just hoping to get it figured out before my trip to Crater Lake Monday.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

If you have a hole/holes in your lens boards, they may be acting as pinhole "lenses", casting a vague image on your film while the dark slide is out. In effect you may have a hybrid pinhole/lens camera!

[dave_whatever]

If you have a hole/holes in your lens boards, they may be acting as pinhole "lenses", casting a vague image on your film while the dark slide is out. In effect you may have a hybrid pinhole/lens camera!

This is a good point. Would explain the double image being the same magnification as the lens image on the 90mm shots especially. Weird that it's limited to a circular image though - deep pinhole?

[djdister]

There are multiple problems going on here which make it difficult to readily diagnose. In addition to the off-centered circular over- or double-exposure areas, the film does not look like it was loaded properly in the film holders in all shots. Also, there is possibly a processing problem (in shot #1 there is a sharp line near the bottom below which there is still some image, but much darker. These issues suggest that there could be film handling, exposing and processing problems all going on in these shots. If you got the circular overexposed areas when using 2 different lenses on two different lens boards, then it is unlikely that there are pinholes in both lensboards in the same general locations leading to the same bright circles.

Some questions:
- did you use the film right out of a new box?
- have you practiced loading the film holders to ensure that the film is being held under the guide rails?
- where is the film being processed - at a professional lab?

This is where you would normally buddy-up with a knowledgeable large format shooter to observe your process from start to finish, in addition to examining all of your equipment for defects.