Whats causing this?

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Nick
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Ive been using the same set of filters for quite a while with no problems, but on my recent photo shoot a lot of them have come out with a strange line and different appearance on either side of the line

See below example

Can anyone suggest what it might be?

_MG_0156.jpg
 
I'm not sure what caused that, but also unsure why you were using a 10 stopper on this scene :thinking:

Lol I wouldnt normally, I was just trying to find something to demonstrate the issue I was getting.

I really cant figure out what it is?


*Do you think it could be light seepage? There is a possibility there may have been a small gap on that side... im clutching at straws here and cant think of anything else it could be**
 
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Lol I wouldnt normally, I was just trying to find something to demonstrate the issue I was getting.

I really cant figure out what it is?


*Do you think it could be light seepage? There is a possibility there may have been a small gap on that side... im clutching at straws here and cant think of anything else it could be**

Light seepage is a possible but would have epected it not to be quite such a uniform split :thinking:
 
Looks like a light leak from the back through the viewfinder. It looks just like the problem I've had in the past that I've been able to avoid by blanking the viewfinder.
 
Looks like a light leak from the back through the viewfinder. It looks just like the problem I've had in the past that I've been able to avoid by blanking the viewfinder.

Alastair,

Thank you, I hadnt even considered that! The exposure time was around 300seconds, so I guess light leak through the VF could be the cause.
Other than putting your hand over the VF how can you blank it?

TBH you'd have thought Canon would have come up with some way of auto shutting off the VF during exposure!
 
It could also be caused by a failing shutter curtain.

I sometimes saw this years ago but it depends which way the shutter goes.

If it goes from side to side than that is not the cause but if it goes from top to bottom it could be.

.
 
Alastair,

Thank you, I hadnt even considered that! The exposure time was around 300seconds, so I guess light leak through the VF could be the cause.
Other than putting your hand over the VF how can you blank it?

TBH you'd have thought Canon would have come up with some way of auto shutting off the VF during exposure!

That's what the little rubber eye-piece blind is for, attached to the camera strap ;)

Sounds like the likely cause, though might also be some kind of strange shadowing from an unsealed extreme ND on the front, in a holder?

Either way, you absolutely must ensure zero light leaks from either end.
 
Have never even seen the rubber eye piece cover lol, damn!!

I have just taken a 10 minute exposure (most of them today were between 5 and 15 minutes and these were the affected ones) and made sure the seals were 100% spot on, and the issue isnt apparent.
Lets hope I just was uncautious when sliding the ND filter into the holder!

Thanks for the help! Was thinking I'd worn the shutter out on my 5D in 7000 actuations for a minute there!! haha
 
Just checked my other affected photos, and the "line" is in exactly the same place on all of them.. Here's a couple more examples..

Dont know if this is a good or bad thing tbh.

The filter was in the same place, untouched for all photos... so Im really hoping there was a big gap of light coming in on one side to cause the same thing in all my shots from today :(

1-1.jpg


_MG_0156.jpg


2-1.jpg
 
I think it's the eyepiece - that organgey bit is characteristsic. I get exactly the same on my 5D2.

BTW, the rubber eyepiece blind will still be in the bottom of the box :D
 
I had exactly the same from my 40D when using welding glass- its VF light leakage as stated above.
 
Yeah or some bodge tape or something. Basically anything opaque
 
Yeah or some bodge tape or something. Basically anything opaque

Yesh, that's fine. I've just used a couple of layers of hanky before, plus shaded with your hand,so long as you don't have direct sun streaming in.

I now have that little rubber eyepiece cover attached to the tripod. Stick it on a piece of card first to give it some rigidity, then a little velcro pad.
 
or if you have a 1D series the lever on the eyepiece. no idea why they didnt put it on the 5D though.

Always puzzled me too.

The metal lever to close the viewfinder is such a good little feature. It can't be expensive to include and there must be so many people using 5D models for long exposure landscapes.
 
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