Is this lens flair or what?

<p>This is a pic from my Oly 35RC, which I love. I get 2-4 pics per roll that do this. Is it a flair or refraction? Doesn't happen with my other 35mm cameras, so it's not processing. <br>

Thanks for replying!<br>

Chris</p><div></div>

<p>Do you have a squared off lens hood on the camera--straight across the top?</p>

<p>No lens hood, just a skylight filter.</p>

<p>Because it is linear and it really isn't in line with the way the light is coming, I am actually guessing it might be a light leak. Does it only happen when there is strong sunlight somewhere on the "front" side of the lens?</p>

<p>Looks like part of your shutter curtain is sticking or something. CLA ever?</p>

<p>Definitely not from the lens.</p>

<p>Purely editorial (I will slink off right away): I think the word you want is <em>flare</em>. A lens with flair would be akin to a lens with dash, elan, an Errol Flynn kind of lens ;)</p>

<p>I don't know, to me, looking at the way the light is hitting the background trees, that it's simply blown out areas due to too much contrast in the scene. Are the 2-4 pics at the same place or just every roll has blown out zone in the same place. If that's the case, and you are sure the light wasn't fluky, I'd agree with the shutter sticking.</p>

<p>Well, since you have a leaf shutter and not a curtain shutter, I will still say again that it is most likely a light leak, but post another image or two to show this in other situations. Then it might be more clear as to what is happening.</p>

<p>Looks like a light leak, not typical flare. Who's Errol Flynn?.....kidding.</p>

<p>Ah, yeah, forgot that that's a rangefinder.<br>

It's not linear in this picture. The area of reduced contrast is in the direct center of the image and has a flat-looking edge at the top, which is really throwing me off. But if you look at the edges of the phenomenon you'll see that it graduates to the EV of the rest of the correctly exposed image.<br>

You got me, I have no idea what that is. I mean it's theoretically purely possible you have a leaf sticking a little bit. This image would be close to topping out the 1/500 shutter speed I'm sure, and a little jam or a blade moving a touch slower than the rest of the shutter could throw it off.</p>

<p>The only clear flare I see is at the bow (top) of the row boat.</p>

<p>John,<br>

I would say yes, it usually happens with stong light in front of the lens.</p>

 

<p>Did you change lenses right before or after that shot? Easy to have a little light leak around the shutter curtains if you're not careful.</p>

 

<p>It's a fixed-lens rangefinder, no lens changing possible. The flare looks a little bit low to be caused by a light leak, though that may still be possible. Since the flare is in the top half of the picture, make sure the bottom seal behind the film door is in good shape.<br>

The possibility of one of the shutter leaves being sticky is a stretch, and something that would probably cause the opposite effect.<br>

If none of your other pictures have the same flare, then it could just be a fluke caused at a unique moment, such as a flash of reflected sun off one of the small waves in the pond.</p>

<p>Another sure sign that it is a light leak is that it will show up more often when a shot is the first you have done in a series--carrying the camera around awhile before you actually shoot which lets light leak onto the film over time (or the last of a series if you don't wind until you are ready to take the next shot).</p>

<p>Having a light leak where yours is not that unusual if it is coming from a leak around the lens or even up(down) in the body somewhere. The straight line just means that the light is coming in at an angle where it is hitting some "edge" inside the body--a baffle or something of that sort. It is the kind of thing I have seen in view cameras as well, except it is much easier to get a lightbulb inside a bellows than inside a 35mm!</p>

<p>Because, as Jeff indicated, this light leak wouldmost likely be at the bottom of the camera, check around the lens or even if a screw or something is missing on the bottom of the camera--it could be the seal on the film door, but unlikely since it is not climbing up the film(streaking from top to bottom of the picture).</p>

<p>Hey guys,<br>

I really appreciate all your responses. Here's another pic I scanned, same problem, same roll of film. There were about 4 pics like this on the roll. Also, picking my brain, when I owned an m4-p I think I had a similar problem. Here's the pic:</p>

<p>Try replacing the lenscap before advancing the film after shooting. That should eliminate the problem.</p>