Anything I can do about this bright spot?

[Alowisney]

On my Industar-61 I have a bright spot that shows up in the middle of some shots. Here are some examples.


img187 by Alowisney, on Flickr


img180 by Alowisney, on Flickr

I have a hood on the lens but is it still lens flare from the "cleaning marks" on the front element? It shows up as red in color shots. Is it something that I have to live with or just buy another lens if I don't like it? Would putting a filter on the lens help?

 

[Lord Nikon]

The problem you describe sounds more like a light leak through the back of the film to me - especially because of how you describe color shots. I have no idea why its only in the center, maybe you got lucky?

I'd spend my time looking for the light-leak and forget about the lens.

Regarding the pictures you have already taken:
If you are handy with photoshop it should not be too hard to remove them from the B&W image by just burning that section in a bit. No idea for the color, but as stamped on the spyker car "for the persistent no road is impassable" - using a "subtraction" layer and using just the right color is probably your best bet here, good luck 🙂

Plan B is to convert the color images to B&W and then treat them like you treat the B&W images. If you use the channel-selector tool rather than the desaturate tool things may be very easy for you.

Plan C is to re-scan (or adjust the whole image in photoshop) so that the blown-out center spot looks like it is correctly exposed, and let the corners be very dark/vignetted out. I guess you could do the same thing for the color photo by simply re-setting the white balance based on the center spot and letting the corners do as they will, but half of the cool kids will laugh at you for using a colored vignette. The other half will comment on your supreme artistic vision and try to emulate your obviously deliberate style 😛

 

[charjohncarter]

Does it do with different lenses? I have one lens that does that. It is really irratating, I've tried different custom hoods but no go. I even that the lens cleaned. Ickk!

 

[Alowisney]

I'm going to get another lens and I'll also check to see if the shutter curtains are coming open when I'm advancing film. Thanks guys!

 

[Frontman]

It's flare, you need to use a hood. I sometimes see the same thing when using my Industar 22 or Leica Summitar.

 

[Alowisney]

I tried the lens out on my NEX-5N and still got the flare even with a hood. The front element isn't in the greatest shape and looks like it might not have any coating left. I think I'll pick up another lens or two and try to avoid flare inducing situations with that lens.