Strange density issue from Agfa Folder

Oldwino · Aug 15, 2025

Here's a bit of confusion...Recent-ish shutter service on an Agfa Isolette folder, first 6 or so rolls were perfect, but now getting strange density irregularities on the negatives. These photos are from the last two rolls.
It looks like shutter capping, but the Isolette has a leaf shutter. There is nothing detached inside the bellows. The shutter opens completely and fully when testing. Other rolls of 120 developed around the same time (but different camera) are ok.

Any ideas as what could be causing this? Thanks!

It appears that the shutter is fully opening - no stuck blades, at least not on "B"

Dan Daniel · Aug 15, 2025

Light leak? That first one with the striping on the bottom edge doesn't fit the rest of issues.

Check bellows. Maybe one edge at the body has come loose and hence the hard shading effect? Because of that shading I do think that it may be right near the film itself and a part of the body is shading, and the location points to... the top edge? With the body shading the leak allowing it only to hit the lower part of the film, hence the upper part of the image.

As always, place the film in the camera and see if that gives you any clues.

Steve Goldstein · Aug 15, 2025

Was the film fully immersed in the developer when you weren't agitating it?

F4U · Aug 15, 2025

Reminds me of what happened on a roll I developed back in 74. That's where I learned you don't use D-76 1:1 by pouring the 8 ounces of straight developer in the tank and then pouring in the 8 ounces of water. I don't think this is a camera problem.

Dan Daniel · Aug 15, 2025

The serrated edge on the left side of the image 'dark' areas seems to match the rippled surface on the left side of the film gate shown in the back of the camera. Light coming in from front top with a 'rightward' bias in position?

Oldwino · Aug 15, 2025

Dan Daniel said:
The serrated edge on the left side of the image 'dark' areas seems to match the rippled surface on the left side of the film gate shown in the back of the camera. Light coming in from front top with a 'rightward' bias in position?

Yes, this is interesting. I noticed the sawtooth pattern, but didn’t associate it to the same pattern in the camera.
Light from the top/right edge of the bellows?

Donald Qualls · Aug 15, 2025

Oldwino said:
Light from the top/right edge of the bellows?

I concur. If those bellows aren't a relatively recent replacement, they're prone to pinholes and separations (being 70-90 years old, after all).

Dan Daniel · Aug 15, 2025

Oldwino said:
Light from the top/right edge of the bellows?

I'd look for a slit very close to the back of the bellows around the 1-2 o'clock position? I think that it is a slit because a pin hole almost always give a point-source look (of all sorts of wonky shapes) while a slit can give an unfocused 'wash' look. And near the back because I think that the leak is on half the frame because some part of the body is shielding the upper half of the film. But then again it could be that the bellows themselves are shielding the leak, creating the half frame effect. So if it is slit in the bellows, it would be on n 'outtie' fold, not an innie fold.

Oldwino · Aug 16, 2025

Dan Daniel said:
I'd look for a slit very close to the back of the bellows around the 1-2 o'clock position? I think that it is a slit because a pin hole almost always give a point-source look (of all sorts of wonky shapes) while a slit can give an unfocused 'wash' look. And near the back because I think that the leak is on half the frame because some part of the body is shielding the upper half of the film. But then again it could be that the bellows themselves are shielding the leak, creating the half frame effect. So if it is slit in the bellows, it would be on n 'outtie' fold, not an innie fold.

Dan,
Carefully checked the bellows, dark room and flashlight thing. Not seeing anything.

nosmok · Aug 16, 2025

If that's the original vintage Agfa bellows, and you've attended to the Agfa sludge-grease problem, I'd just replace the bellows. There is nothing to recommend about a post-WWII Agfa bellows, and if it isn't bad in some way right now, it will be in the future. If you like the camera, I'd suggest to replace it and see if your problem goes away. An issue in the first or 2nd fold toward the lens from the film gate can be hard to spot with a flashlight in a dark room-- I got foozled by a Plaubel Makina II this way, and the Plaubel is much easier to check than an Agfa.

Dan Daniel · Aug 16, 2025

Oldwino said:
Dan,
Carefully checked the bellows, dark room and flashlight thing. Not seeing anything.

Shutter mount area? Look inside at the bellows around the shutter retaining ring?

Well, I do think that it is a light leak, from the front of the camera. Certainty comes from the serrated pattern on the lower left negative corner matching the camera film opening. Light leaks can be a real bear to track down! Patience and systematic work if the leak won't show itself easily.

Oldwino · Aug 16, 2025

nosmok said:
If that's the original vintage Agfa bellows, and you've attended to the Agfa sludge-grease problem, I'd just replace the bellows. There is nothing to recommend about a post-WWII Agfa bellows, and if it isn't bad in some way right now, it will be in the future. If you like the camera, I'd suggest to replace it and see if your problem goes away. An issue in the first or 2nd fold toward the lens from the film gate can be hard to spot with a flashlight in a dark room-- I got foozled by a Plaubel Makina II this way, and the Plaubel is much easier to check than an Agfa.

Dan Daniel said:
Shutter mount area? Look inside at the bellows around the shutter retaining ring?

Well, I do think that it is a light leak, from the front of the camera. Certainty comes from the serrated pattern on the lower left negative corner matching the camera film opening. Light leaks can be a real bear to track down! Patience and systematic work if the leak won't show itself easily.

I agree it seems to be a light leak. Just need to find it!

Don_ih · Aug 17, 2025

It's very similar to a light leak I had on a folder a few months ago - the bellows had detached from the frame at the rear of the bellows.

Strange density issue from Agfa Folder

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency