I just got a WwII 4x5 Speed Graphic and took some test shots with it. On almost every one, there is a ghost of the upper right hand corner image toward the center of the negative. If you have any experience with this, let me know by e-mail at mark@stagepix.biz and I'll send you a copy of one of the pictures for your estimation. Other than this, the camera is in great shape and takes beautiful pics. But I do need help!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: moristano on 2002-11-22 17:01 ]</font>

Read and follow flashlight test insdtructions in the adjoining post Light Leak? Pacemaker ...; Yours is an anniversary but the light leak test is the same. Is there just an empty hole where a screw should go in the back mounting? Was the cause in an earlier post.
Charles

Can it be a light leak if it makes such an accurate ghost image of the subject? Wouldn't it almost have to be something coming through the lens?

Does the term "pinhole camera" come to mind?

Well, at least you didn't say "pinhead" camera!
I did a flashlight test and couldn't see any leaks from around the film holder. I guess checking the lens board might be a good idea.

And I had a friend who got really freaked out when he shot with an old Master view. He couldn't figure out how he was getting multiple images, that weren't exactly the same, some were hotter, some dim, some dissappeared altogether.

I finally figured out there was a pin hole near the front of the camera and the exposure change was the time lage etween pulling the darkslide and tripping the shutter (the pin hole had a longer time) he also did a front rise at some point and that greatly effected the double image.

Which miltary camera did you get? what does the tag say?

There is a case like this described in Ansel Adams' The Camera, which he said he finally traced to an unfilled screwhole. (Presumably with the screw in it, otherwise it would have been a lot more obvious...)

Rob Dean

I found the light leak. It's at 9 o'clock as you look at the lens, right on the side where the lens screws into the board. I'm going to try to tighten up the connection and maybe add a bit of black tape to see if I can seal it all together. At least it's not the bellows!

Flat black paint and black silicone rubber work well for patching small holes and cracks and sealing lens threads.
Charles

Thanks for the tips. The leak is actually at the place in the lens board where the little post on the lens fits through to keep it from twisting. On another Speed Graphic I have, this hole is covered by a small metal point. But in this WWII camera, there is no cover. For now, I've put some electrical tape over the hole and taken a couple of test shots to see how it goes.