Problem

The print or negative is unsharp over the entire image area. Lines lack definition and appear blurred at the edges.

Cause

There are several options: If both negative and print are unsharp, it is due to a focusing error or camera motion. With excessive camera motion, you can often see a trace of movement in the image. If only the print appears unsharp, the mistake occurred during printing and was most likely due to an improperly focused enlarger.

Prevention

To make sure that the image is in focus, use the split-image focusing device. Check that any viewfinder adjustments are suited to your eyesight. You must be able to see the image on the groundglass clearly to focus accurately. If you use an autofocus camera, the mistake may have been caused by this mechanism. Allow the camera time to adjust focus before pressing the shutter. In printing, a focusing magnifier will ensure that the negative is focused. If part of the image is sharp, the negative might be buckling during exposure, or the enlarger may be out of alignment.

Problem

The image appears flared or fogged in areas. A shape echoing your aperture opening may be present in the mage. Zoom in to view this shape.

Cause

Light striking the lens surface directly will bounce around within the lens to obscure the image. Any strong light source actually included in the image, such as the sun in the daytime or a streetlight at night, is also likely to cause this effect.

Prevention

Use a lens shade to prevent light from striking the lens directly. Crop out any bright lights included in your framing of the photograph by changing position. Although a dirty lens or a filter is never a direct cause of flared or fogged images, it greatly exaggerates the effect. If you happen to photograph when there is a risk of light striking your lens directly, make sure that the lens surface is clean.

Problem

Streaks along the edges of the clear film base or on the film itself. The exposure is most likely in uneven batches.

Cause

These streaks are the result of accidental exposure to light. Light leaked into the camera through a faulty back or into a damaged film cassette. The film could also have been loaded under very bright conditions.

Prevention

Make sure that the camera back is securely closed, and that it forms a tight seal against exposure to light. If you load film in reusable cassettes, inspect them for damage and throw away those that may cause problems of this kind. Load and unload your camera in the shade or shield the film from the sun with your body. Always store film away from direct light.

Problem

Torn sprocket holes along the edges of the film. The damage is most likely located in one area.

Cause

The damage is due to improper film advancment or rewind. Forcefully advancing beyond the last frame or mistakenly trying to rewind the film without pressing the film rewind button will produce similar results.

Prevention

Attempting to get more film out of an empty film cassette will most likely cause the sprockets to rip or the film to tear loose from the spool. It is not worth it for one extra exposure. Likewise, if the counter stops at 24, you do not have 36 exposures loaded in the camera. If there is any resistance when you start rewinding, check to make sure that the rewind button has been pressed. Press it again, if necessary.

Problem

There are dark corners around the edges of the image. These are completely clear in the negative.

Cause

A lens shade or filter obscuring the area covered by the lens causes vignetting. If only one corner, or any other part of the frame, is obscured this way, it was probably caused by something held close to the lens during exposure.

Prevention

Make sure you are using the right size lens shade for your lens. Different focal lengths require matching lens shades. Avoid using more than one filter or a filter and lens shade together. In combination, they might extend too far forward and obscure the image. If only part of the image is dark, watch your fingers or the camera strap during exposure.

Problem

Two different exposures overlap slightly. The center area forms a double exposure.

Cause

If an entire roll consists of overlapping images, the film was put through the camera twice. Occasional overlaps are either caused by improper film advancement or a faulty film advance mechanism in the camera. Double exposures may also have been caused by accidentally pushing the film rewind button.

Prevention

Keep track of exposed film by rewinding the film leader into the film cassette. If you choose to keep the leader out for easy film loading during development, tear off a strip to mark it as exposed. If the spacing between frames is consistently uneven with some overlaps, your camera probably needs professional repair. Similar results on more than one roll means that it is a mechanical problem.

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