What does film dagamaged by x-rays look like?

[jpa66]

I finally got around to developing my final roll of film from a recent trip. The film was T-Max 3200 ( 135 ). It went through one airport scanner, due to the Neanderthal at the Dublin airport who flat out refused to hand-check it.

I shot it around ei 1250, and developed it in T-max developer 1:4. The roll came out clear ( but with what appears to be a very slight haze ) with no indication of any frame lines or images. The strange thing is that the lead is black, so I know that at least some part of the film was exposed to light.

I'm thinking that it's due to the x-rays, but I'm not sure. I had a couple of rolls of Ilford 3200 ( 120 ) that went through the same scanner, and they came out fine. They were processed with the exact same developer.

So is it the x-rays, or could there have been some contamination in the developer, or is it something else? Either way, I'm bummed, but life goes on...

 

[antiquark]

Lots of pics of x-ray damage here:
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml

 

[Roger Hicks]

NOT X-rays. They'd fog it, NOT wipe out the image. Typically, look for stripes. And there's no way X-rays are going to damage films selectively.

Are the frame numbers there?

Cheers,

R.

 

[morback]

My x ray damage has always been a nice even oscillation like the 2nd one here but nicely contained within the strip.

 

[jpa66]

NOT X-rays. They'd fog it, NOT wipe out the image. Typically, look for stripes. And there's no way X-rays are going to damage films selectively.

Are the frame numbers there?

Cheers,

R.

Yes, the frame numbers are there.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yes, the frame numbers are there.

In that case, the film never went through the camera. You've answered your own question, really. Even if X-rays could wipe out your pics (which they can't), why would they spare the edge markings?

Cheers,

R.

 

[jpa66]

The odd thing is that I was developing another roll of film at the same time, in a different tank. Could the fixer have somehow gotten contaminated? Or the developer for the T-max?

 

[sevo]

Well, the leader is exposed, and there is margin lettering. So the process (and fixing) can't be to blame.

There is no outside force (x-rays, development or whatever) that can wipe out the images without obliterating the margin lettering and leader as well - the only thing that can do damage to each frame individually is the camera.

 

[jpa66]

In that case, the film never went through the camera. You've answered your own question, really. Even if X-rays could wipe out your pics (which they can't), why would they spare the edge markings?

Cheers,

R.

I thought of that, and you may be correct, but I distinctly remember shooting that roll, as it was the last one I shot from my trip. I'm beginning to think that the developer may have been somehow contaminated with fixer. Or maybe I'm just losing my mind as I age...

 

[sevo]

I thought of that, and you may be correct, but I distinctly remember shooting that roll, as it was the last one I shot from my trip. I'm beginning to think that the developer may have been somehow contaminated with fixer. Or maybe I'm just losing my mind as I age...

If you did not develop (or fix) there would be no black leader nor any margin numbers either. Things like that happen to me whenever I safely store my lens cap in front of the lens - or when I forget to cock old non self-cocking cameras. But recently I also had a shutter fail silently on me.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I thought of that, and you may be correct, but I distinctly remember shooting that roll, as it was the last one I shot from my trip. I'm beginning to think that the developer may have been somehow contaminated with fixer. Or maybe I'm just losing my mind as I age...

Well, there is another possibility: total shutter failure, so the film went through and was rewound, but was never exposed. You can for example do this with a Nikon F if you leave the rewind clutch collar slightly turned.There is however no way that contaminated developer can develop edge markings (and the film leader) but not exposed images.

Cheers,

R.

 

[jpa66]

OK, gentlemen, I'll simply resign myself to the fact that I either (a) had the film in the camera but took it out for some reason before I shot it and later mistakenly thought that I had shot it; (b) simply thought that I had shot it, but never had it in the camera; or (c) shot the entire roll with the lens cap on! While (c) is unlikely, as the meter in the camera won't work with the lens cap on, it could happen.

Oh, well. I'll just chalk it up to experience...

Oh - thanks for all the input, as well - it's appreciated.

 

[Roger Hicks]

You HAVE checked the shutter?

Cheers,

R.

 

[jpa66]

You HAVE checked the shutter?

Cheers,

R.

Yep. Checked. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[SteveM_NJ]

sounds like mis-aligned/not loaded all the way, never advanced during wind-on.
I've done that on a nikonos, just leader had been exposed, other frames are clear on the entire roll. my first ever roll with that body.
- best white-water rafting action shots I never took.
frown.
I try to pay closer attention to the take-up spool, re-wind handle as I load and advance frames.
(while it is true that mistakes = learning, i dont want an advanced degree this way.)

 

[Mister E]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417684221530&set=a.173533236530.134484.172280421530

Here's my comment after my last trip:
It will be interesting to see how my latest batch turns out. In the former soviet states you are x-rayed constantly. There is no hand check and no English. On the average flight, I took 8, I would have my film scanned no less than 5 times: 3 before and two after each flight.

Turns out all my film was just fine, even 1600 speed B&W.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I Think This Is It!

I Think This Is It!

sounds like mis-aligned/not loaded all the way, never advanced during wind-on.
I've done that on a nikonos, just leader had been exposed, other frames are clear on the entire roll. my first ever roll with that body.
I try to pay closer attention to the take-up spool, re-wind handle as I load and advance frames.

Had the same thing happen twice. Film leader not fixed securely to takeup spool. Leader black as pitch when developed. Cause? Leader did not hold and the film did not advance when wound on but every frame I thought I took was blank. The shutter cocked and fired as usual but the film did not advance.
I take particular care now to observe the rewind knob is rotating as I wind on the first few frames to the start position for frame #1.

 

[jpa66]

Had the same thing happen twice. Film leader not fixed securely to takeup spool. Leader black as pitch when developed. Cause? Leader did not hold and the film did not advance when wound on but every frame I thought I took was blank. The shutter cocked and fired as usual but the film did not advance.
I take particular care now to observe the rewind knob is rotating as I wind on the first few frames to the start position for frame #1.

You know what - I think you guys are right. That was probably the problem. I say this because last week when I was loading the same camera, I had thought that the film was on the spool and was just about ready to close it when I double-checked it just in case. It turns out that the leader didn't catch.

Thanks for helping me realize that I'm not completely losing my mind. From now on, I'll always double-check it!

 

[ampguy]

 

[Roger Hicks]

You know what - I think you guys are right. That was probably the problem. I say this because last week when I was loading the same camera, I had thought that the film was on the spool and was just about ready to close it when I double-checked it just in case. It turns out that the leader didn't catch.

Thanks for helping me realize that I'm not completely losing my mind. From now on, I'll always double-check it!

Everyone does it at least once.

Cheers,

R.