Lens flare from flash? (on Mamiyaflex TLR)

[Andre Reinders]

I am looking for someone to confirm my suspicions, and maybe offer some advice.

After shooting a roll of Reala 120 through my Mamiyaflex TLR a few weeks ago, I noticed that the final 3 photos I took seemed washed out a bit - or hazy. Only these 3 photos were taken with a flash. My setup was a generic flash mounted in the cold shoe on the side of the camera and connected to the lens sync socket, and I used a 135mm f3.5 lens.



I picked the desired camera to subject distance (8 feet) and the flash (in manual mode) told me the aperture of f8 for 100 speed film for this distance. I then metered the ambient light for the correct shutter to go with f8. The camera was on a tripod and I used a cable release.



The rest of the photos from earlier in the day (without flash) all are a lot richer and cleaner in their colour. Most were of a small lake and reeds and birds and such, but I have included one of the kids for a people comparison:



I think a lens hood would help, or maybe getting a flash frame and moving the flash farther from the camera - ahead or behind the lens more? Thoughts? Thanks!

[Graham Serretta]

Andre - did you scan these? If so, from the prints or from the negs?  Or were they scanned by a lab?  Although the second shot of the kids is better than the first shot, neither is as sharp and contrasty as I would expect from a Mamiya 6x6 with any of the Mamiya lenses.

There is something else going on here that is not obvious, as I presume that you have checked all of the usual things like lens cleanliness etc?  It looks like the effect one gets when a rear element is smudged or really dirty.  Have you checked the negs under a loupe to make sure that it is not the prints?  If the prints are like this, and the negs are not, then maybe it's the lab?  What equipment did they use?

Just a thought.

[KirkT]

Andre,

I have the exact same camera and I've never had a problem like that from the flash.  I have, however, had flair from the sun.  Is that the 135?  Because that seems to be the worst one for me outside.

[KirkT]

BTW, do you still have the "dragon fangs" for the camera?  I noticed you are supporting the camera on the table with the tripod base.

[Andre Reinders]

1. These are scans from a flatbed, the prints are sharp, but the haze, colour, etc. closely match the prints.

2. It is a pretty reputable lab, same roll of film, but yes now that I think about it, all the other shots were on the 80mm the off ones were using the 135mm.

3. The sun in the hazy shot is at about 8 o'clock and behind a building. In the one of the kids the sun is at about 2 o'clock and behind a tree - much better conditions for flare.

4. I don't have the dragon fangs, I am using a manfrotto quick release plate which works fine when used with the lens arrow pointed to the back of the camera....( I have a 490D and a 352 head - I think...)

[Andre Reinders]

I just thought of something.......maybe it was reflection off windows beside me??? Here is an approximation of the setup.