Film Holder Light Leak or...?

Kirks518 · Jun 21, 2015

There is obvious light leakage in this shot, but I'm not sure if it's a light leak from the holder, or could it possibly be sunlight reflecting into the film area from the dark slide? The shot was facing the sun, so when I pulled the dark slide, I'm wondering if it's possible that the direct sunlight bounced off the dark slide as it was coming out of the holder. Shot was in portrait orientation on the Calumet, with a Fidelity holder, and the slide was pulled up (into the sunlight). The shot on the other side of the holder had no light leakage.

ic-racer · Jun 21, 2015

It is always better to see the negative. Since you don't show it I can only pass wild guesses. Assuming the tree is hanging down, I'm guessing you put the film holder into the top of the ground glass back (instead of the bottom) In that case your light leak is at the 'flap' end of the holder. More likely you have a leak in the camera or at the holder/film-back interface.

Kirks518 · Jun 21, 2015

Your orientation assumptions are correct.

And now that you made me think, what you're saying makes sense, that it's at the flap end. I'm still getting used to the whole 'up-side-down' thing.

This was shot number 4 of 4 tests shots I took yesterday, using 2 backs. This is the only one that shows any signs of light leakage. The shot on the other side of this holder was fine (see below). Does that mean I should just not use this particular holder, or could there be some oddball cause? Or should I test again with the holder?

I'll try and grab a shot of the neg using my tablet as a light table.

shutterfinger · Jun 21, 2015

With the darkslide slot at the top, the darkslide not pulled fully out of the slot, the weight of the darkslide kept the light trap open and light piped down 3/4 of the image area. Test again fully removing the darkslide and keeping the slot out of direct sun.

Wayne · Jun 21, 2015

Kirks518 said:
The shot was facing the sun, so when I pulled the dark slide, I'm wondering if it's possible that the direct sunlight bounced off the dark slide as it was coming out of the holder.

Light doesn't bounce so well off of black. I'm with shutterfinger, this looks like a back leak. It appears to be coming from both top and side

shutterfinger · Jun 22, 2015

Wayne, darkslides are semi gloss not flat black. Light reflects off shinny surfaces. A darkslide pulled out enough to clear the film plane but left in the holder when in the vertical position will fall reward or forward which compresses the felt in the light trap allowing light to enter. Light will pipe down flat black surfaces as well as shinny black surfaces. The only difference is the intensity of the light that gets through. In Kirks518 case he would have been better off to have pulled the darkslide completely.

Wayne · Jun 22, 2015

Good point, although my Lisco slides are more flat than semi-gloss. I still don't think this is a darkslide reflection error.

Kirks518 · Jun 22, 2015

The good thing is, I know which DS it was. With luck, I'll try and do a light test on it tonight. Additionally, the negative shows light at the rebate on both sides near the top (use the above image for orientation), which would be the bottom of the DS. There is also a chance that I didn't close the flap properly when I loaded the film, as this is all new to me, but I'm pretty sure I checked it was closed before removing from the bag, but who knows.

gone · Jun 22, 2015

I would reshoot it, but put the focusing cloth over the camera and film holder before pulling the dark slide out, then shoot the next shot by pulling the dark slide out w/o doing that. But you're right, before doing that, put the camera into a dark room or closet, take the lens and board out, and shine a bright, directional light into the bellows and see if anything is leaking at the back/film holder/dark slide. As you know, Florida summer sun can bounce off, and through, just about anything in the known universe. Boy its hot for June!

shutterfinger · Jun 22, 2015

Double check the film holder area of the camera back. Dirt could be built up in the corners preventing the film holder from seating fully.

Film Holder Light Leak or...?

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