bad film

[rolleistef]

Hi all,I shot an entire FP4 with my Rolleiflex (med. format)and processed it as usual. Now, I had a problem I'd never had before : the film went out of the tank completely void and transparend.I thought at first it was because of a processing error, but I mentally recalculated everything, remembered setting the time on 15 minutes as indicated on the Big Dev Chart for my Rodinal 1+50. Moreover, the figures didn't appear at all on the film, and some parts at the edge of the film hadn't been processed at all and appeared purple and opaque, showing that the film had been correcly processed.Now, do you think I could have got a "non-film", a sheet of plastic that haven't been sensibilized? Or could have my rodinal been too old, but in this case the film wouldn't have been transparent, and I processed a Tx 400 2 1/2 weeks ago without any major troubles...thanks for your help!

 

[EmilGil]

If frame numbers aren't visible, you're most likely to have poured the fixer in first rather than developer. Rodinal don't go that bad, I've used concentrate from a several year old opened bottle without problems.

If some parts are purple and opaque I'd say it is because the chemicals didn't reach those parts, for example when two layers of film are in direct contact during development. Unexposed but properly developed film will be all transparent and show frame numbers on the edges (NB, not all 35mm bulk film will have frame numbers).

 

[Bryce]

Maybe the kids drank all your Rodinal and refilled the bottle with something else?
Seriously, there would be no grey marks along the edges had there never been an emulsion. Those marks are left where the film can't be flushed with fixer, correct?
All I can think is that for some reason the developer didn't work; either it was never mixed, or there was something wrong with it to make it inactive.
Possibly the fixer went in first?

 

[Max Power]

If I understand correctly, the frame numbers/batch numbers on the rebate did not appear.

If this is the case, then the processing is at fault. Something went wrong with the developer.

Kent

 

[Xmas]

Rodinal is good for decades.

Noel

 

[rolleistef]

I still don't understand what could have happened. I remembered what I had done point by point, 1+50 dilution for 500ml = 10ml = 4x2.5ml, then twice 1/4 of a liter, then 15 minutes of processing (i'm sure it was the developper bottle, it had troubles to pour, and then the liquid was brownish when it came out of the tank), rinced the film, 5 minutes of fixer, rincing, photo-flo...
Even if it had been wrongly processed, the frame numbers would have appeared, even faintly... wouldn't it?

 

[Xmas]

If you fixed it first (inadequatly), then you would get no rebates, & you might get soms staining.

The Rodinal will work when it is like strong tea in colour, 20 plus years old in 1/2 full bottles, even at 1 to 100.

Please try another film.

Noel

 

[ZorkiKat]

I second Noel. Rodinal lasts for a long time. Discolouration is no indicator that it's gone bad, unless the concentrate had been mistreated or contaminated.
My 'real' Rodinal sits, at about 1/5 of its original volume, in its original container for more than 4 years now. It's dark brown in colour and the last time I used it, which was yesterday, it developed at it did when new.

Ditto for the substitute DIY paRodinal which I now use 99% of the time. My original brew is more than a year old, coloured like murky mud, but still develops fine.


Jay