Enlarger or Enlarging Lens flare

[philldresser]

I noticed in a recent darkroom session that when I have the enlarger on I have a distinct light ring around the image roughly 3 times the diameter of the print.

I have a reasonable old DeVere 504 which I thought might be the culprit, so I have re-blackened all the inside surfaces and bellows, and the lens holders internal surface but to no avail.

All I can think of now is that this is lens flare but I get it on all 3 lenses, just different circle sizes.

Is this normal? I have never noticed this before as I used to work with the safelight on, but have since changed to expose in darkness.

Phill

 

[Ole]

Do your lenses have illuminated aperture scales? Some of mine do, and I notice the same light ring with those...

 

[philldresser]

Do your lenses have illuminated aperture scales? Some of mine do, and I notice the same light ring with those...

Ole,

yes all 3 lenses I have have the illuminated scales.

Phill

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Phil

could it be the condensors that are not being blocked out by the negative carrier that you are using?

 

[Sparky]

I'm thinking it's a reflection off the inner surface of the barrel - and should disappear as you stop down if that's the case. Is it?

 

[Ian Grant]

The problem is quite simple.

It's moisture in the lenses, this is why all 3 lenses were affected at the same time, we had very hot humid weather last week (here in the UK) and we forget that our darkrooms are usually cool and unventilated when not in use. I had a similar problem myself on Friday evening and again in the last hour. The secret is to keep the lenses inside your living areas and if necessary warm them up slowly and gently to remove the moisture.

Ian

 

[philldresser]

Ian
Thanks for the insight and the telephone conversation earlier this afternoon. I have brought my lenses inside and will monitor the progress

Phill

 

[mgonzale]

I noticed the ring of light around the image a few weeks ago and am glad to see a thread discussing it. I live in the Arizona desert, though, so there's very little humidity here. I did observe the dimming and thinning of the ring as I stopped down. My lens is also not the cleanest you could find. I'll have to think about a test that would show me how much contrast this robs from my prints. Any idea if this could be a matter of too much internal dust or just a ubiquitous issue that all enlarging lenses would have?

 

[ic-racer]

Most of my Schneiders do this, it is pretty inconsequential.

 

[Ian Grant]

Most of my Schneiders do this, it is pretty inconsequential.

No it's potentially very detrimental.

What happens is each time you get condensation which then dries out a very fine film of dust including fungal spores is left on the lens elements, sometimes this leaks into sealed cells and if it happens too often the lens will need an expensive disassembly & clean which would be more than the cost of a replacaement.

Sure if it happens just a handful of time perhaps it is inconsequential. My one Schneider had to be cleaned, luckily I was able to do it myself as the elements unscrewed, but others don't, particularly the later versions..

Ian