Help Taking Rolleiflex Pictures (Rolleiflex Automat)

msr2172 · Aug 7, 2016

Hello, I am new to using the Rolleiflex Automat 1 Model 3 and metering manually. I have been using the Light Meter app using my Android phone to meter my photos and reflected light metering. I also have been using a 75mm lens, Tri-X 400, and Ifosol 3. The photos appear strange when I develop them, this is very unlike the crisp look I have been getting with my Nikon FM 35mm camera and Tri-X. The sky and light areas appear to be blown out. The focus seems a little less crisp than many of the photos I have seen other people have taken using a rolleiflex automat on flickr. I have been metering the sky, the ground, and the subject and trying to average a shutter speed using f8 and f16 as my apertures. I am attaching the examples of the photos I took with the camera with the flickr link below. Let me know how I can fix this and take better photos with my new camera Thanks!
Dead Link Removed

Kirks518 · Aug 7, 2016

Looks like you may have a light leak, or you're using very expired/fogged film, or there is a problem with your developing. I'm leaning towards a light leak issue with the camera.

Vaughn · Aug 7, 2016

A photo of your negs would be helpful -- esp. if it is a light-leak problem

msr2172 · Aug 7, 2016

I just uploaded the negatives. Thanks! Also how do I get the light leak issue fixed?
Dead Link Removed

msr2172 · Aug 7, 2016

The film is new and I used Ifosol 3 developed at 7.5 minutes at 20 C.

Vaughn · Aug 7, 2016

Sorry, I meant the whole negative -- including the rebate (frame numbers, etc). We can better problem-solve that way.

Handle the exposed film carefully. If the roll is not tightly rolled, light can sneak in on the edges -- especially if not in "subdued light".

msr2172 · Aug 7, 2016

I just uploaded most of the negatives of that roll of Tri-X, A few photos omitted because of people on the roll. Let me know what you think. I am sorry I don't have a full fledged scanner so I used my cellphone to shine light through the negative.
Dead Link Removed

JPD · Aug 7, 2016

I've used 25+ different Rollei's, both pre- and post war models, and never seen a single light leak. Have you looked through the taking lens to see if it's hazy or have a traces of oil on the lens surfaces?

Sirius Glass · Aug 7, 2016

Welcome to APUG

There is nothing wrong with the development. I believe that you have a light leak.

msr2172 · Aug 7, 2016

How do I go about fixing the light leak? Whenever I see photos of light leaks it is very clear that there is a streak or something. In these photos its like the sky or whites are much brighter or higher exposed and its really frustrating.

dpurdy · Aug 7, 2016

Looks like plain old haze to me and a good case of it. Maybe hold the lens open in B and open the back door and look through the lens at a light source. If it looks foggy that is the problem.
Dennis

frank · Aug 7, 2016

Dennis beat me to it: check the lens for haze.

JPD · Aug 7, 2016

frank said:
Dennis beat me to it: check the lens for haze.

I beat both of you to it.

It does look like haze to me.

ic-racer · Aug 7, 2016

Open the aperture, set the shutter to B and open the back. Look through the lens, I'll bet it is pretty foggy.

frank · Aug 7, 2016

JPD said:
I beat both of you to it.

It does look like haze to me.

Credit where it's due. Post #8.

Dan Daniel · Aug 7, 2016

That's PATINA. It's worth a lot of money. Don't remove it. I saw this on Antique Road Show and they said that removing patina is a bad mistake!!! Go to the Lomography site and tell people you have some wonderful 80 year old PATINA to sell. Better than outdated film!

(Haze on the lens. The negatives look fine. I'm cleaning up a Rolleiflex I right now, and it turns out that the front element unscrews easily to let you get inside the spaced pair.)

elcabezagrande · Aug 9, 2016

It will not be a light leak with that camera. Some of the later Rolleiflex TLR cameras had an internal bellows that might fail and lead to light leaks, but not one that early. Otherwise, it has no light seals. Check for haze, and invest in a lens hood.

Help Taking Rolleiflex Pictures (Rolleiflex Automat)

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency