Black Spots?

[nation_of_pomation]

Hi everyone,

I inherited a bunch of somewhat-expired Portra 400NC in 120 awhile ago. I don't have the boxes with me anymore but I think it expired in 2008. I have noticed when I shoot this film, I'll get maybe 1 frame that has clear spots on the negative that are black when I scan them. Sometimes it's a few tiny ones and sometimes it's one or two larger ones. It's definitely on the negative. My Yashica Mat 124G and Mamiya Press Super 23 have both had it happen once or twice, but my Holga 120FN has never done it. I have shot plenty of other expired film (including some that expired in 1988) and have not had this happen, nor has it ever happened to me with 35mm that I have ever seen. What might this be? Is it preventable?

 

[Doug]

I doubt this is an effect of expired film, but I may be wrong. I've used plenty of outdated C41 color neg film without seeing that.

My first thought is that clear spots on the neg are places where image-making hasn't happened. Dirt particles on the surface when shot, maybe, though that seems unlikely. Or that the latent image was there but not developed, which argues for air bubbles settling on the film in the developer. Or some other material spots on the film surface that prevent the developer from acting there. If the blix was mixed from powder, maybe undissolved particles of it settle on the film and bleach out the image.

You might try sending the film out to a different place for developing to see what happens, keeping in mind different outlets may sent to the same processing plant. The options are getting fewer...

 

[BLKRCAT]

is it possible that the rollers in the TLR or mamiya (do they even have rollers?) are dirty? Maybe its possible they are picking up dust or maybe some light seal foam and dispersing it on your film.

p.s arent you that holga kid?

 

[nation_of_pomation]

is it possible that the rollers in the TLR or mamiya (do they even have rollers?) are dirty? Maybe its possible they are picking up dust or maybe some light seal foam and dispersing it on your film.

p.s arent you that holga kid?

You might be right, both of these cameras were unused when I got them and I haven't cleaned the insides before. I don't know what else it could be because I've developed tons of film at this local lab and it hasn't happened on any of the other film I've developed there. So maybe dust inside the film backs?

Also yeah you're probably thinking of me. That was a lot time ago, it feels like.