David_Manning
Well-known
Chalk up another gaffe to rushing.
I forgot to install the black, center spindle into the Paterson System 4 developing tank while souping two rolls yesterday.
Voila! The opaque film reels let light in!
The first third of both rolls was basically black, the remainder showed huge edge fogging, and all the frames which survived are dark, with little contrast.
I was tearing my hair out trying to figure out what the pattern was. The M6 body is solid, the film was loaded in the dark. My personal red herring? Xray from airport scanners (I'm an airline pilot...I put the camera and film through the scanner once a day every trip--I'm a multiple-zap kind of guy).
What didn't make sense to me was that my C-41-based film didn't get fogged by the same exposure to xrays.
I had a hunch it was my handling during the developing. I thought I maybe over-developed (6:45 at 22C in HC-110 B), but even the film edges were affected. Then I thought maybe bad stop or fixer (the developer was new).
I sat there with two rolls in my hands, looking for patterns...then it hit me. I remember looking down into the dev tank seeing the white interior thinking, "funny...I remember it looking all black." The portions of the film closest to the leader were fogged almost totally black...it was the part loaded first onto the reels, closest to the opaque white plastic.
A true "duh" moment.
I swear, posting here is like going to confession!!!
I forgot to install the black, center spindle into the Paterson System 4 developing tank while souping two rolls yesterday.
Voila! The opaque film reels let light in!
The first third of both rolls was basically black, the remainder showed huge edge fogging, and all the frames which survived are dark, with little contrast.
I was tearing my hair out trying to figure out what the pattern was. The M6 body is solid, the film was loaded in the dark. My personal red herring? Xray from airport scanners (I'm an airline pilot...I put the camera and film through the scanner once a day every trip--I'm a multiple-zap kind of guy).
What didn't make sense to me was that my C-41-based film didn't get fogged by the same exposure to xrays.
I had a hunch it was my handling during the developing. I thought I maybe over-developed (6:45 at 22C in HC-110 B), but even the film edges were affected. Then I thought maybe bad stop or fixer (the developer was new).
I sat there with two rolls in my hands, looking for patterns...then it hit me. I remember looking down into the dev tank seeing the white interior thinking, "funny...I remember it looking all black." The portions of the film closest to the leader were fogged almost totally black...it was the part loaded first onto the reels, closest to the opaque white plastic.
A true "duh" moment.
I swear, posting here is like going to confession!!!
JohnTF
Veteran
Three hail Barnacks, and an act of contrition.
Hope the frames saved were the good ones. ;-)
Hope the frames saved were the good ones. ;-)
imokruok
Well-known
Sorry to hear. We all have our mucked roll stories - always good to get them out!
On a related note, since you do fly with film so often, I'd love to hear your opinion on the safety of film through carry-on xray scanners.
On a related note, since you do fly with film so often, I'd love to hear your opinion on the safety of film through carry-on xray scanners.
David_Manning
Well-known
Hail Barnack, hail Barnack, hail Barnack.
Hey, I DO feel better! Now I'll go shoot a few frames.
Hey, I DO feel better! Now I'll go shoot a few frames.
David_Manning
Well-known
Imokruok...
Actually, I haven't really given much thought to airport scanners (the ones for carry-ons). I usually travel with my M6 and a lens, a roll in the camera body, and four rolls in the bag. I really rarely shoot an entire roll on a trip, and usually fly four to five trips a month, of three days' duration. So, that's 15 xray zaps a month, and sometimes the film will sit in there the whole month.
I haven't noticed any degradation. I've traveled with TX400, BW400CN, and Provia.
To be honest though...I might start hand-checking the film after this scare. I figure it can't hurt it...it's the most conservative answer.
I'm more concerned with the xrays I absorb while at 38,000 feet for seven or eight hours a day for 13-14 days a month for my adult life!!!
Actually, I haven't really given much thought to airport scanners (the ones for carry-ons). I usually travel with my M6 and a lens, a roll in the camera body, and four rolls in the bag. I really rarely shoot an entire roll on a trip, and usually fly four to five trips a month, of three days' duration. So, that's 15 xray zaps a month, and sometimes the film will sit in there the whole month.
I haven't noticed any degradation. I've traveled with TX400, BW400CN, and Provia.
To be honest though...I might start hand-checking the film after this scare. I figure it can't hurt it...it's the most conservative answer.
I'm more concerned with the xrays I absorb while at 38,000 feet for seven or eight hours a day for 13-14 days a month for my adult life!!!