Flare, Glare, Light leak, or Something Else?

[FilmOnly]

I have gotten back some prints and negs in the last several months that really frustrate me. I do not have a scanner, and so I will do my best to describe what I see. With my Nikon FE, which appears to be in very nice shape, on two frames on the roll, I get what looks like an overexposed discoloration on the left side of the print and neg, toward the bottom. I sent out the camera for an overhaul, and, after getting it back, I saw the same thing after shooting a few rolls. The receipt indicated a fix for a "light leak." Since I am just beyond the six month warranty on the overhaul, I have just put the camera aside.

I see a similar thing with a Minolta X-570 I own. On the prints and negs on three shots on the roll, there is some type of discoloration or "burn" on the left side. I checked both cameras, and the seals look fine (and on the FE they were replaced during the overhaul). This is very frustrating. If I make a mistake in a shot, I can live with that, but when the camera fails on a shot in which I know I did nothing wrong, it is very disappointing.

With regard to flare and glare, I gather this would normally apply to effects from the rays of the sun that may show up when shooting into the sun. I searched around, and saw a few examples of this, but they do not seem to match what I see in the prints and negs I have mentioned here. Thus, I am puzzled. Could a light leak be intermittent? This would not seem to make sense. Am I seeing some type of glare or flare? The shots were not directly into the sun, but were in that direction (into the bright southern sky). I do not think I have noticed this issue on indoor shots. With my outdoor shots, I always use a hood (in nearly all cases, the corresponding hood for the lens).

I welcome your comments on this.

 

[dpurdy]

Flare or glare would not be in the same spot every time. It would depend on where in your picture is the bright light or area that flares.
A light leak would always be in the same spot but vary in intensity depending on how much light got in.
If the discoloration is contained within frames it means it is inside the film gate behind the lens.
If it seems unrelated to frames and is in the edges and spaces then it is coming from probably outside the film gate which would seem to indicate a bent back or bad seal or something to let light in.

Dennis

 

[FilmOnly]

Thanks, Dennis...

I add that the overexposed area is whitish in color (on the print) on some, but orange-ish and purple-ish on two others (again, on the print).

I will check the negs again, but I think the discoloration is contained within the frames. Likewise, the discoloration does seem to appear in the same general area, but seems to cover a wider area in some cases.

Also, if it is not clear above, I note that I see this only in two or three frames per roll, and a few rolls have come back without any issues.

 

[MattKing]

Could it be a problem resulting from film storage issues?

 

[FilmOnly]

Interesting...I always keep all of my film in the 'fridge. I occasionally use a roll that is a few months over the expiration date.

I think one of the rolls had been in the camera for four months.

 

[MattKing]

I think one of the rolls had been in the camera for four months.

If that was the only roll that had a problem, I'd be less worried.

I'd bring the FE back out, and shoot it some more in bright conditions.

And I would check the hinge and latch areas for a weak connection.

 

[fstop]

Do all the above and try a different lab.

 

[Peltigera]

I was thinking it might be a development issue. Particularly as it involves more than one camera producing the same problem.

 

[FilmOnly]

I very much appreciate the replies.

I, too, have considered it to be a development issue. I have tried several labs, and whenever there is some type of error or issue, the lab has always replied with the question: "Is it on the negative?" In all cases, as I recall, it has been on the negative (and the print), and so the lab then immediately absolves itself of any error or mistakes.

I might try another mail order lab, but it would have to come with very solid recommendations, as I have tried five or six labs now.

 

[fstop]

Did you try Dale?

http://dalelabs.com

Are these frames in the same spot on the roll? are these frames the first 2-3 on the roll?

 

[FilmOnly]

One is on frames 5,6,7, and in the other case, it shows up toward the end of the roll (around frame 30). No, I have not tried Dale. I will check out the link you have supplied--thanks.

 

[FilmOnly]

I looked at Dale's Web site. I did not see any mention of accepting credit card payments, and so I would have to send a check? I gather you consider their work top-notch? Any issues?

 

[fstop]

They take Visa and Mastercard, personal checks.
Hit them for a mailer.
I'd say their work is good.Their service is good.Never had any problem.

 

[FilmOnly]

Thanks...

There are some mixed reviews of Dale's at photo.net. Thus, I just cannot take another chance. For the past few years, this has been a problem, and I will consider going in a different direction.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Have you seen this on film of the same brand? same age/expiration date? It seems like if you've tried different cameras and different labs you may have already ruled out those variables.

This popped into my head - any possibility of where the film is stored that you could have some sort of corner of the fridge with uneven temperature or moisture?? Sounds a bit farfetched, but am trying to think what else could be causing it.