Graflex RB streaky film. Shutter?

Craig · Dec 19, 2017

I have a 1926 vintage 4x5 Graflex RB. I recently rebuilt the shutter by stripping off the old rubber coating and painting the cloth with artist acrylic paint. It seems to have worked well in terms of how the shutter runs. However, I recently took it on a trip and took a photo (below). You can see the streaks in the sky, and I'm wondering if there is something in the shutter that might cause it? Seems remote to me, but worth asking.

Exposure was 1/440 (1/8" slit, tension 2) and F11 on HP5. Lens is a Kodak Anastigmat 7.5" F4.5.

I had shot 6 other sheets that day on my regular 4x5 with leaf shutter lenses and developed all 7 sheets together in a Jobo expert tank with Pyro. None of the other sheets exhibited streaking, so my guess is it is something that relates to the Graflex.

Jim Jones · Dec 19, 2017

Perhaps the recoated shutter fabric is stiffer than the original, and causing the streaks at the narrowest shutter slits. The shutter might still be fine at low speeds.

monst · Dec 19, 2017

I reckon when the shutter closes the light is coming through the shutter material hitting the film as it is not protected by the mirror.

jim10219 · Dec 19, 2017

Was the camera sideways when you took this shot? Since the streaks go up and down, I'm having trouble understanding how the shutter could cause such a problem if the slit ran from top to bottom. If the shutter slit ran side to side (oriented against the photo you posted), then I could see a sticky shutter with an inconsistent speed causing a weird issue like this. If the shutter ran from top to bottom, then the only thing I could think of would be a dirty shutter slit, partially blocking the film. Like maybe some stray strings or other junk partially blocking the light path. If they were light streaks, instead of dark streaks, I might be inclined to think you have some pinholes in the shutter curtain overexposing certain areas.

Otherwise, I'm inclined to think this is a development issue. If you use too small of a pan and don't vary your agitation method enough, you can get standing waves which might look similar to that.

DBP · Dec 19, 2017

I can't think of a focal plane shutter problem that would cause this issue at right angle to the movement of the shutter. I'll second the development problem hypothesis.

shutterfinger · Dec 19, 2017

Craig said:
I had shot 6 other sheets that day on my regular 4x5 with leaf shutter lenses and developed all 7 sheets together in a Jobo expert tank with Pyro

Do you do a pre wash? Looks like the streaking one gets when they don't do a pre wash with Jobo tanks.

Craig said:
I recently rebuilt the shutter by stripping off the old rubber coating and painting the cloth with artist acrylic paint. It seems to have worked well in terms of how the shutter runs

Did you test the curtain for light leaks before reassembling?
Remove the lens board and film holder, wind to the 1/8 aperture, set the I/T selector to T, release the mirror, in total darkness shine a bright light in through the front standard while observing the curtain/film opening in the back. Run the curtain down one aperture at a time with the M lever to check each blocking panel of the curtain.

DBP a RB Graflex will expose a sheet of film in the landscape or portrait position with out changing body position. RB stands for Revolving Back. In landscape position the shutter runs from the bottom of the image to the top not right to left.

Craig · Dec 19, 2017

Yes, I did a pre wash. This was the Expert tank for 4x5 that has 10 positions, and I used 7 of them. Just seemed odd to me that this was the only sheet of the 7 to exhibit streaking, and I've never had that before using this particular tank.

Yes, I tested the curtain for light leaks before reassembling the camera. I have a bright Shop light that I put the curtain tight against and loved it along the light, and I did have a few pinholes that I recoated. The camera was in Landscape position, so the shutter was running vertically, not horizontally. That's what struck me as very odd about it!

I'll try the light test you mentioned. The streaks are less exposed on the film, so I had discounted light leaks in the holder.

Ian Grant · Dec 19, 2017

Hi Craig, those look like process streaks, a shutter curtain can't do that, it would be over exposed areas if there were issues with the curtain.

Ian.

Craig · Dec 19, 2017

Thanks Ian. I shall have to shoot a few more sheets and process them differently and see what I get.

shutterfinger · Dec 19, 2017

I have Jobo 25xx tanks and reels, I'm vaguely familiar with the Expert tank. I would check its passages for obstructions. Refixing the negative in a tray might help.
I have had sky turn out with strange splotches on days there was a haze that limited vision to a half mile from 500 feet upward.
Any chance its antihalation dye that didn't wash off?

Craig · Dec 19, 2017

It's certainly possible it's a fix/wash issue. I'll try rerfixing and washing and see what happens.

Graflex RB streaky film. Shutter?

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