A strange enlarging issue - Any ideas?

[oxcanary]

I had been printing some Black and White FP4+ pictures (10x8) that I took in Paris last year. A few of these have what looks like weird curvature of field. One side (right side) looks noticeably softer than the left side. I assumed the lens was to blame (Voigtlander 35mm Ultron 1.7). But then I scanned the negative and opened this up on the computer. Astonished to discover the softness is NOT on the negatives.

so now I stumped! my enlarger set up has worked excellently for years and I have never seen this before. But what could it be? Enlarger lens (Nikon 50mm 2.8) not closed down enough is all I can think of - anyone else with possible ideas?

 

[ntenny]

Sounds like an enlarger alignment issue to me. Have you checked to see if you get the same problem with another negative?

-NT

 

[jeffreyg]

Check that negative and lens carriers are parallel to the baseboard and easel ? Negative is flat in the negative holder? Same problem with a different negative?

 

[Don_ih]

Only time it happened to me, the lensboard was not properly secured in the enlarger - it was on an angle.

 

[brian steinberger]

This was my first thought

Only time it happened to me, the lensboard was not properly secured in the enlarger - it was on an angle.

 

[Hilo]

Which enlarger do you use?

Other than the suggestions already given, make sure the condenser is correctly installed . . .

 

[Pieter12]

Which enlarger do you use?

Other than the suggestions already given, make sure the condenser is correctly installed . . .

I doubt it is the condenser, that is before the negative and would only affect the light to the image. Sounds like you need to check alignment: lens, lensboard, negative stage, baseboard.