Rodinal mishap

[jpa66]

I just developed some T-Max 100 in Rodinal 1:50. Just as washing began, I pulled a little bit of film off of the reel to see how it came out. To make a long story short: the film is entirely underexposed. I wracked my brain trying to figure out what I did wrong. Developing times seemed spot on, as did temperature ( right on the dot at 68 ( 20 for you Europeans 🙂 ). Then it came to me as I was going it over with my wife: I diluted the Rodinal at 1:100 instead of 1:50 :bang:.

So my return to developing my own film for the first time in about 13 or so years has been ignominious at best. The T-Max was about ten years old, and it was shot on a Kiev 4, so I wasn't expecting great things, but it would have been nice to at least have developed properly! At least I have one or two printable frames ( due to bracketing ).

I'm not bummed out or anything - I just wanted to exorcise my lunk-headedness, and let others out there who may have similar mishaps that they're not alone.

And I plan on developing some more film soon ( as I have a few rolls in the queue... ).

JP

 

[charjohncarter]

I've done worse than that, but I not talking about it; at least for another ten years.

 

[Tom A]

If you do enough film - you will do stupid things! The good news is that you now have done it and in the future they will all come out perfect (fat chance - there are always ways to screw up!!!). Over the last five decades I have processed 10 000's of rolls and made every mistake possible - at least that what I thought - but you can always come up with new ones!
My favorite lately was the Rodinal Stand Development foul-up. Tmax 400 (old) nicely spooled up on reels, Rodinal 1:100 for 60 minutes etc - except for a phone call from a friend and coffee across the street - and then totally forgetting the films. Seven hours later - Eureka!!!! (or words to that effect) - to state that the negative were dense is to under-report it!!!!
Hmm. another screw-up - Fuji's film cans are green and look amazingly alike. Loading Neopan 400 in a M2 in the deep, tropical shade in Havana,Cuba - fine, except that it was Neopan F which is 32 asa!!! "Push Processing" in Rodinal 1:10 for 10 minutes got some kind of image - but talk about grain!
So join the club!

 

[nikon_sam]

You know...which ever you're doing baking cookies or developing film there comes a time when the outcome isn't eatable...all one can do is look at the process and find the missing ingredient...whether one tells another of the mishap is up to you...
In telling another you learn to laugh at yourself and hopefully this will keep the mishap in the forefront of your mind and next time you'll get a better batch of cookies...

 

[Ronald M]

Chalk it up to one mistake you will not do again. Start a list.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

That was one of my big fears when I started using rodinal. By distraction or sheer brain fart I would mix the wrong dilution. Luckily that hasn't happened yet but I triple check every time I mix some up.

 

[jpa66]

Yes, I just developed a roll of 120 Tri-X in Rodinal 1:50, and I must have checked the ratios at least four times before mixing! No screw ups, and the negs look fine.

I knew I'd get it right sooner or later...

 

[Trius]

Recently I loaded three rolls into a tank and poured in the requisite 750ml of solution. Only later did I realize that I actually FOUR rolls on the reels. And as I do no agitation after the first minute, I was not saved by agitation!

The photos have the strangest lens falloff you've ever seen!!!