Strange circular anomaly on pictures. What could it be?

Ghostman · Feb 14, 2013

Hi all,

My better half is using a Canon 5 with my old (+- 5 years) 24-105 lens. The lens is in perfect condition and has only ever been used by myself.

Recently some strange anomalies started appearing on her pictures. On both the left and right of the pictures, although mostly left hand side, strange concentric circular lines are appearing. It is not on all pictures on a roll and it does appear on different rolls from slide to BW. I have attached a picture of the problem (see light circles on left of picture), but this one is not as pronounced. I will post more later that are extreme.

Some pictures are with a filter (red) and some without. The lens was bought about 4-5 years ago, new, for a digital camera. The Canon 5 that she has needs a CLA but there are pictures from another lens that are perfect. This problem appears to occur intermittently with the one lens, the 24-105.

Is it the glass? Is it the mount? Light leak?

Please can someone help me identify this?

horacekenneth · Feb 14, 2013

I feel silly but I can't see them at all

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 14, 2013

I see it. If you bump up the contrast it's clearly visible. I would think that it's an internal reflection somehow, possibly the filter. It appears as though the light is very diffuse in this picture, but can you tell if the symptom is more pronounced in clear sunny weather, shooting into the light? If so, I would expect some kind of internal reflection.

Ghostman · Feb 14, 2013

Admittedly it's not the best example. I'll have to wait until I get home to find a more obvious one. The bands are actually more visible on the small image than the large one. I can see them because I know what to look for. Do check in later for an update.

Ghostman · Feb 14, 2013

Thomas Bertilsson said:
I see it. If you bump up the contrast it's clearly visible. I would think that it's an internal reflection somehow, possibly the filter. It appears as though the light is very diffuse in this picture, but can you tell if the symptom is more pronounced in clear sunny weather, shooting into the light? If so, I would expect some kind of internal reflection.

Hi Thomas,

Yes, the light in this shot was very diffuse. Not all affected frames had a filter on. I have some shots on slide with bright blue skies where this anomaly occurs and no filter was used. I will post them later too.

jeffreyg · Feb 14, 2013

Out of curiosity, do the lines occur when you use the lens on the digital camera you bought it for?

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

removed account4 · Feb 14, 2013

is it actually on the film? or might it be something that happened with the printing ( or skanning ) ..

Worker 11811 · Feb 14, 2013

Since it is a zoom lens, does this problem occur more (or less) when it is zoomed all the way in or all the way out?

Ghostman · Feb 14, 2013

jeffreyg said:
Out of curiosity, do the lines occur when you use the lens on the digital camera you bought it for?

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Hi Jeff, no, the lens always worked well on the dslr. We can run another check though.

jnanian said:
is it actually on the film? or might it be something that happened with the printing ( or skanning ) ..

I will check the film under a loupe this evening to eliminate scanning newton rings.

Worker 11811 said:
Since it is a zoom lens, does this problem occur more (or less) when it is zoomed all the way in or all the way out?

I can't say, I'm sure it was probably used on minimum zoom.

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 14, 2013

Ghostman said:
Hi Jeff, no, the lens always worked well on the dslr. We can run another check though.

Sensor size on the DSLR means different coverage. The 'rings' could have been outside the image area with the digital.

Ghostman · Feb 14, 2013

Here are some more examples of varying degree. With Superpan 200 and a red filter and slide film. There are many rolls that have come off this camera that are outstanding.

horacekenneth · Feb 14, 2013

now I see it

Kevin Kehler · Feb 14, 2013

I would say there is a light leak within the lens itself since it does not occur with any other lenses (it would if it was with the body). Perhaps a loose rear gasket or a broken seal? The constant curve of the light seems to indicate it is before at least one layer of glass, whereas other light leaks I have seen are more straight.

Ghostman · Feb 15, 2013

Could it be a failing shutter?

horacekenneth · Feb 15, 2013

Ghostman said:
Could it be a failing shutter?

I don't think it could if it only occurs with one of your lenses.

Newt_on_Swings · Feb 15, 2013

I think the lens is at fault. Best to try it on another camera in bright lighting and see.

creasing of the film when loading it onto ss reels also gives somewhat of a similar look. But it's very obvious on the film itself.

Molli · Feb 18, 2013

Those look precisely as my negatives do if I scan them the moment they're dry. My rather lame scanner doesn't hold the ends flat unless they completely fill the negative holder, end to end. Are these marks ONLY at the ends of each strip - because that's where they appear on mine. No such issues if/when they've been sleeved/flattened overnight.

Strange circular anomaly on pictures. What could it be?

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