Why the light streaks?

[nbagno]

Film is Kodak Porta 160, Camera Fuji GW690III, Tripod with cable release. The frames in question were shot at higher exposures and I am guessing that the frames with the streaks were between 8-16 seconds, maybe 4-8. I didn't record the frame/exposure information. Other frames on the same roll with shorter exposures did not streak. I doubled my metered exposure after reading a test on Porta 160 and the need to at least double the exposure after 1 second. Any thought on why the highlights have streaks?

 

[polyglot]

It looks like the winding-on commenced before the shutter was properly closed, though it's interesting that the streaks go opposite directions. Any chance of a shutter-damage issue?

 

[nbagno]

It looks like the winding-on commenced before the shutter was properly closed, though it's interesting that the streaks go opposite directions. Any chance of a shutter-damage issue?

Guess I can't rule anything out. No issues with any other shots before or after these. One other detail is that I used a cable release and the shutter speed was set to "T" so I used a stop watch to judge when to let go.

 

[Bill Burk]

T is meant for you to push your cable release twice! Once to open, then once to close. Maybe that IS the problem then.

The shutter might have automatically closed halfway through winding.

B is meant for you to push the cable release to open, and then let go to close.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

T is meant for you to push your cable release twice! Once to open, then once to close. Maybe that IS the problem then.
The shutter might have automatically closed halfway through winding.

B is meant for you to push the cable release to open, and then let go to close.

Indubitably.

 

[nbagno]

Operator error... Why just streaking on the highlights?

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Operator error... Why just streaking on the highlights?

Because they're highlights. You were using what, 8 to 16 second exposures? Highlights are the only parts bright enough to be recorded on the film while you were winding and before the shutter closed. You're lucky it didn't jam/damage the camera, BTW.

 

[Bill Burk]

They're so bright - just a little time on the film shows up.

The shadows needed the long exposure time to appear, not much image forms in a short time.

Did you turn the camera over between shots? Like mount tripod center column upside down to get the low angle interior?

 

[nbagno]

Because they're highlights. You were using what, 8 to 16 second exposures? Highlights are the only parts bright enough to be recorded on the film while you were winding and before the shutter closed. You're lucky it didn't jam/damage the camera, BTW.

Yikes... I love this camera

 

[nbagno]

They're so bright - just a little time on the film shows up.

The shadows needed the long exposure time to appear, not much image forms in a short time.

Did you turn the camera over between shots? Like mount tripod center column upside down to get the low angle interior?

Don't think I turned it over.

 

[polyglot]

Maybe you accidentally put one of the negs in the scanner upside down. The first one's pretty symmetric...

I also note the notch in the film-gate on the top-right of the first one is not present on the second though it could be present/invisible at left. I reckon one of them is scanned backwards and it's a winding-on issue as described above.

 

[Bill Burk]

Haaa, No. This looks like San Juan Bautista... Both images are "right-reading".

I wonder if the tripod could possibly have been jarred. Again just before winding on but not the winding that created the streak - the jarring of the camera on tripod.

 

[nbagno]

Maybe you accidentally put one of the negs in the scanner upside down. The first one's pretty symmetric...

I also note the notch in the film-gate on the top-right of the first one is not present on the second though it could be present/invisible at left. I reckon one of them is scanned backwards and it's a winding-on issue as described above.

There were just quickly scanned to show the problem so they could have been in any direction. Also didn't blow off any dust

 

[nbagno]

Haaa, No. This looks like San Juan Bautista... Both images are "right-reading".

I wonder if the tripod could possibly have been jarred. Again just before winding on but not the winding that created the streak - the jarring of the camera on tripod.

Yep, San Juan Bautista

 

[creinhardt]

Hi all! I made an account just to reply to this thread, apologies for resurrecting something so old. I recently picked up a GW690II and encountered the same light streaks. Example:


St. John's Bridge - Fuji Gw690III by Chris Reinhardt, on Flickr

Because they're highlights. You were using what, 8 to 16 second exposures? Highlights are the only parts bright enough to be recorded on the film while you were winding and before the shutter closed. You're lucky it didn't jam/damage the camera, BTW.

This is close to correct, although i'm not sure it's really operator error, just a quirk of the camera. The GW690 doesn't have a traditional bulb mode, and even the T mode functions slightly differently than in other cameras. Once you press the button the shutter stays open until you do one of two things:

1.) Advance the film lever.
2.) Change the shutter speed.

You can see this demonstrated in this video.

I'm thinking that when you advance the film the shutter doesn't close quick enough, resulting in the film moving a bit while light is still coming in. It could be this only happens on cameras that need service? Suffice to say, i'll be putting a hat over the lens and changing the shutter speed to end my exposures from now on!

It's also worth noting that the first in this series of cameras, the Fujica G690 and it's ilk, DO have a traditional bulb mode, along with interchangeable lenses.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes, that would explain the vertical light streaks.