Banding above sprocket holes

[jbharrill1]

I did a quick search and didn't find anything that seemed similar to the problem I've got.

I just got 2 rolls back from a local lab and noticed some darker banding coming up from the sprocket holes. The poorer the exposure the worse the lines are. I'd say these lines are showing up on about half of the frames on each roll.

I was googling for some answers and it seems the most likely answer is that it was either over or under agitation. Do you guys agree with this conclusion. OR is it possible this could be a camera error?

Thanks everyone!

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

It looks like developer "surging" thru the holes. I thought this was a characteristic of uneven agitation in a tank & reel system.
I don't know how this works in a developing machine used in a pro facility.

 

[jbharrill1]

Davidnewtonguitars, I believe black and white is done by hand at this lab.

 

[shawn]

Google bromide drag. Uneven agitation and/or weak developer.

Shawn

 

[Allen Quinn]

These dark areas on your print indicates low to no agitation. They will appear almost clear on your negs. The EXIT sign in the second print is backwards.

 

[ForestCap]

There is a guide I use when problem happens:

B&w
https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/photomicrography/bwprocessingerrors.html

colour negative
https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/photomicrography/colornegprocerrors.html

 

[jbharrill1]

haha yeah, the guy also scanned one of the rolls in backwards allen quinn. The no smoking sign in the first image is backwards too.

I had actually looked at that guide nukecoke and couldn't find anything that matched my issue, but I was only looking at the black and white one. My problem was listed under the color negative page.

thanks everyone

 

[jbharrill1]

So I seemed to be pretty convinced that this was a processing error until I was looking over the negatives and noticed that the bands seem to extend past the frame and up into the sprocket area. All the examples I've seen online haven't had this issue. And the guide posted earlier didn't mention this, only that the bands would be in the frame.

 

[shawn]

Same problem, the bands go the same way due to gravity.

Shawn

 

[Dan Daniel]

There is fogging. Except where the developer wasn't being refreshed because of low agitation.

The amount of fogging seems excessive. It happens in all development to a certain extent, but this seems beyond ordinary. Almost like a low-level light leak in the darkroom?

You might find another place to get your developing done.

 

[x-ray]

Those are some really bad negs. Without question you've got heavy fog and bromide drag. Probably a light leak in the darkroom and lack of agitation.

 

[jbharrill1]

Thank you so much folks... I have really been stressing out trying to figure out what exactly I had done so different from the last few rolls I had developed, which just had a better all around look to them.

I asked around and apparently I'm not the only one who is having issues with this place. The guy in the lab is on his last week of work with the company and has become very burnt out is what I'm being told from multiple sources.

Looks like its finally time to learn how to develop my own film!

 

[Charlie Pryor]

Sprocket Light Leak?

Sprocket Light Leak?

Hi All, An unusual set of circumstances for me as I was shooting with a R.h filter and with Delta 3200 film. I have a light leak on a bunch of shots that coincides with the sprockets at the top of the camera (upside down image)...
Given that the filter necessitated a 5 stop overexposure, and I rated the film at ISO 1,250, so a total of 6 stops, can anyone suggest why or how this vertical banding has occurred?
It's not there on all shots, so I am fairly sure it's happening at exposure time, not to the whole roll..
Thanks!

 

[nhchen]

I think it’s likely not a like leak in your camera but due to bromide drag or streaking during development, usually due to insufficient agitation.
Nathan

 

[Peter Jennings]

I had a similar thing happen during development in the past when I agitated to vigorously. How do the negatives look? Are the exposures consistent? The effect may be more noticeable on overexposed shots.

 

[Steve M.]

The last time I saw this, it came from using the little twirling stick that came w/ my developing tank. I threw that sucker as far as I could and went back to gently, but firmly, inverting the tank. It helps to avoid this problem if you use a sort of rotating-twist when you invert your tank. But you say it isn't on the whole roll? I still would not rule it out. Wonderful bikes.

Like Peter said, you don't want to over do it w/ the inversions or you will get stuff like this.

 

[jbharrill1]

As stated before bromide drag and over agitation seem to be culprit. After I had 3 rolls come back like this I stopped using that lab and started developing my own...haven't had the issue since.

 

[Ronald M]

I will add poor fixing. T Max films require fresh fix , 5 min time, and aggressive agitation in fix. This does not cause a problem because it a process that goes to completion unlike developer.

When you pour developer into a stainless tank, developer runs over the outside wraps creating marks similar to bromide drag. This is worse the larger the tank. Most of this occurs the first 30/60 sec when there should be constant agitation instead of pouring.

All the pros I know drop the loaded reel into a prefilled tank of developer. Cap and being agitation. You will never have a problem.

If you paid for this , demand money back and never return. Worst looking film I ever saw.

 

[Charlie Pryor]

Very many thanks all, I have a pretty clear idea that it's bromide drag, having looked it up. The developer, Microphen, is due a refresh, so I'll start with that. I was perhaps a little rough with my agitation, too.
Much appreciated.

 

[joeswe]

As stated before bromide drag and over agitation seem to be culprit.

Your conclusion is wrong. To save your negatives you should re-fix them as soon as possible.

What you think is bromide drag is in reality the result of insufficient agitation during fixing and/or inactive fixer. The whole film shows a layer of residual emulsion not completely fixed out (this underlying layer of density is what some posters erroneously diagnosed as fogging).

BTW, bromide drag is always a result of lack of agitation. It happens when bromide is not carried away/diluted in areas of high developing activity due to lack of agitation. So, you cannot have over-agitation and bromide drag at the same time... Also, bromide drag usually happens next to areas of high density (highlights). There is no evidence of that in the negatives you show.