Fluff in lens?

[drums1977]

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Hi to everyone!

 

As some of you know, I just have bought my first M6 + 35mm Cron. Today I had the test film roll developped and scanned at the shop. Even if there was no "creative" intentions in the pictures, I was glad to discover that the expositions and focus was OK, which proves that the speeds are accurate and so is the lens. But them when looking carefully, I discovered that there is a piece of fluff or hair at the top right corner of every frame!!

 

I panicked, of course, running around the room like a headless chicken. Well, not really, but I worried as anyone would have, specially considering that I bought the equipment on Ebay from far away countries. I suppose some of you must have had this problem in the past. I suppose it is not anything on the outside of the lens (it's too sharp), and I don't think it was in contact with the film (exact same location on every frame). Could it be INSIDE the lens? Oh no... In that case, will that flaw be there FOREVER?

 

I attach some files so you see what I mean.

 

Thanks so much!

 

J.

[twittle]

Hmm... That actually does look like it might be inside the lens. To check, open it up wide and look at it with a flashlight. If it's inside, you'll definitely be able to see it. If that's the case, you can send it in for a cleaning and they'll be able to get it out. I've never had to have any lenses cleaned, so I don't know what it would cost you.

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[stunsworth]

There's no way that's inside the lens. In fact if there was a hair in the lens you wouldn't be able to see it on the photographs because it's so far from the point of focus - i.e. the film.

 

There may be a hair trapped inside the camera. Take off the base and lens, put the shutter to B and press and hold the shutter button. Look at the rear of the camera with the flap on the back lifted up. You may well see the hair.

 

Remember that if the hair is in the top of the photograph it'll be at the bottom of the film gate.

[giordano]

Is the hair visible on the negatives as well as the prints or scanned images?

 

If it's not on the negatives then it wasn't in the camera!

[drums1977]

Is the hair visible on the negatives as well as the prints or scanned images?

 

If it's not on the negatives then it wasn't in the camera!

 

I had the film scanned at the shop, so that was the first thing I thought: "silly people, they have a big fat hair in their scanner...". Then I scanned the negatives in my own scanner and there it was. I thought it could be in the back plate of the body (behind the film), but then I thought that, if the hair is in the image, shouldn't it be somewhere between the lens and the front of the film?

 

Tomorrow I'll try to blow some air onto the lens and inside of the body. Hope it's not IN the lens, as stunsworth suggested.

 

Thanks to all of you!

[Michael Hiles]

This is likely a hair in the lower left part of the camera, between the film and lens, fairly close to the film plane but not on it. The image of the hair is a bit fuzzy, meaning that the hair is not directly on the film (it would be much sharper), nor very far away (it would be so indistinct that you would not see it). It is certainly not in the lens - scratches, hair, finger prints, dust on/in a lens generally does not show up this way. Such things tend to degrade the image so slightly that it is imperceptable unless the internal dirt is in the "pig pen" class. And then you do not see images of the dirt.

 

This should be easily corrected. By you.

[rob_x2004]

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The hair is in the film gate probably in the rails just behind the shutter curtains. What you are seeing is a contact print on the negative. Open the back and look for the hair in the corner. If you cant see it turn the camera off (or put it in bulb) advance, hold down the shutter release so that the curtains are out of the way.

 

Ps ... Oooops. apologies to Steve. He covered it. I should read all the responses. Dont go blowing air, just look for the hair and pick it out. Remember the negatives image is inverted.

Edited April 7, 2009 by rob_x2004

[a_schmidt_ms]

(...) I panicked, of course, (...)

 

Good morning to you, J.!

 

I made the same experience a few years ago with my current M6.

There was a very small fluff close to the film frame inside the camera.

 

My solution back then: Removing the fluff carefully (in a relaxed mood, with enough time).

It was no big issue. I could remove the fluff simply with the slight touch of a a lens cleaning cloth.

 

Please feel free to answer in case of further questions.

 

 

Best regards,

Andreas

[drums1977]

This morning, after a nice breakfast and in a relaxed mood I went in a fluff hunt. I followed your recommendations exactly and there it was! Precisely were you suggested, in the lower edge of the frame in front of the film. I could see the little sucker and, as you said, I just picked it carefully with my fingers.

 

Thank you very much to all of you. And sorry about the fuss, but you know, having spent my savings in a camera I've wanted for the past 10 years, any flaw seems like a big scary monster to me...

 

Thanks again!

 

J.

[rob_x2004]

Coolio. Not sure why, but it always seems to be that corner that cops it.