Help! Film problem or diafine process?

[dreilly]

I developed three rolls of 120 film last week. One of them was a TX roll that I shot the weekend before at recommended speed for diafine. The other 2 rolls were shot last year with Ilford Pan 100 at box speed.

There is a problem. Many of the images have a darker area on the right-hand side. See the attachments. It's most visible in upper right.

Camera was a Flexaret VII. I don't think it's a camera issue--the more recent film didn't display this problem. I developed in diafine according to instructions (along with a roll that didn't have this problem), then scanned with my Epson 4180. I'm not sure if this is a film, camera, developing or scanning issue. Any ideas?

thanks
doug

 

[rover]

Hmmm, I have a camera with a light seal problem, it does not appear with every roll though, depends on how the back is closed. The leak shows dark areas on one side of the images just as yours.

 

[dreilly]

That's odd. Wouldn't a light leak show light areas?

It could be, though. I'll check my flexaret when I get home. I seem to recall it being pretty solidly sealed.

 

[rover]

Well, I have only seen red, color film, so, dark on the print, light on the negative.

 

[Finder]

Light leaks will cause an increase in density and therefore it should have light streaks, not darkening.

Could it be the scanner? Try scanning again with the negatives in the opposite direction and see if the darkening goes to the other side of the image. If so, the scanner may not be illuminating the film evenly.

 

[dreilly]

The winner is...Finder! I placed the negative upside-down and rescanned, adn the artifacts are gone. Actually, they don't appear readily visible on the other side, either, which makes me think the first time I scanned the negative might not have been laying flat? Not sure, but I'll watch for it to crop up again and will rest easier knowing it's not bad film, camera or processing on my part!

Thanks everyone (and now I know too what too little developer in a tank looks like). Cheers
doug