Strange images on negatives

[srtiwari]

Just developed some 125PX in Diafine, and seemed to have decent negatives, shooting about 250-320 ISO. Now, I did manhandle the negatives a bit in the changing bag, as I struggled to load the SS reel.
BUT, there are these crescent shaped highlights all over the film, even BETWEEN frames !! Wonder if these could occur with just film "buckling" badly without exposure to light ? Because, if not, it would suggest light leakage, and that would not be good.
(I scanned the 645 frames as 6x9 to get the "inter-frame" area to show the problem)

Appreciate any thoughts on this...

 

[Pablito]

the crescent shaped marks are typical of buckling while loading. I see this in the film of students who had a hard time loading the reel all the time.

 

[Ray Nalley]

That's classic buckling of the film. Man, you did use some serious muscle on that film! Two suggestions.

Practice loading the real many times in daylight.

Get a plastic real. If you keep them dry before loading, they are MUCH easier to load than SS reals. 🙂

 

[nikon_sam]

I agree with the first two post...carefully look at the surface and you will see a slight crease in the film itself...
Film likes to be treated gently...at all times...

 

[payasam]

"... as I struggled to load the SS reel." Must have been some struggle.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

We've all done that, especially in a changing bag when things aren't going to plan.

Do you have a room in your home without a window where you could load the film onto the reel?

Any light coming in under the door can be dealt with by working at night, with the light outside the room turned off, and with a towel or something similar rolled up at the bottom of the door.

 

[MartinP]

Like everyone has said, these are the usual marks from kinked or bent film. The reels need to be completely dry inside the channels, where the film sits, as the slightest wetness will result in it sticking. If there is any other sort of jam, then you can wiggle the two halves of the reel gently and give a gentle tap along the axis to try to loosen it up again. When you try 120 rolls (or 70mm . . .) you will start to think 35mm is indestructible - but it isn't !

The idea of practising in daylight is good. Having a light-tight container inside the changing-bag could be handy for holding the opened film cassette, in case of problems requiring unloading the jammed reel and re-cleaning/drying it.

After the reel(s) are used (and so completely wet) give the channels a scrub with a nail-brush - it is surprising what bits and pieces can get dried on there.

Edit: Ooops, the O.P. was loading 120 into stainless reels. Sorry that I mis-read it.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

The reels need to be completely dry inside the channels, where the film sits, as the slightest wetness will result in it sticking. If there is any other sort of jam, then you can wiggle the two halves of the reel gently and give a gentle tap along the axis to try to loosen it up again.

He's using stainless steel reels where moisture isn't an issue, and they don't have two halves to wiggle.

 

[MartinP]

Oooooops, so he is. Sorry about that. 😱

Sighhhhh, perhaps the cleaning idea is still sensible though.

The stainless reels are easy to dry, by dunking them in very very hot water then letting the heat of the steel evaporate the drops.

So far as I remember (I have been using plastic for decades), the film doesn't actually move against the reel when loading, or does it ? When the film is clipped to the core and "bowed" gently it should just slide in to place, in theory ? I am a bit "rusty" about using stainless, obviously...

 

[srtiwari]

After posting the question last night, I woke up this morning to find all these responses. Thank you all !
Yes, it was quite a struggle ! I usually use a Harrison "Pup" tent, but tried using an old changing bag for once. The Hewes reels are usually easy, but with 120, the bag is really not fun to use. The reels were dry, but there just wasn't enough space to maneuver.

BTW, I really liked the look of the PX125/Diafine Combo. I got it from here-

http://figitalrevolution.com/2008/04/24/discover-x-films-kodak-125px-in-diafine/

I will try again, but will try to be more gentle with the film. 😉

Subhash

 

[srtiwari]

MartinP,
No the film does not "move" against the reel.
Usually the 120 film "bows" gently while loading. This time it felt as if there wasn't enough stiffness in the film, and it seemed to buckle more so, apparently not remaining in the reel tracks. Anyone notice this with Kodak 125PX ?

 

[Avotius]

This is why I don use stainless steel reels anymore....such a pain, go do yourself a favor and buy a AP tank with plastic reels, I never have this problem anymore.

 

[zeitz]

One last thought. Did you buy used reels? If they were used for E-6 processing and the last chemiical (a preservative) was used with the film still on the reel, the reel gets sticky. This chemical can't be washed off and makes the reel very difficult to use. You may want to buy new reels.

 

[Roger Hicks]

This is why I don use stainless steel reels anymore....such a pain, go do yourself a favor and buy a AP tank with plastic reels, I never have this problem anymore.

Funny, I'd say the exact opposite, at least for 35mm.

As ever, this doesn't make either of us right or wrong; it merely illustrates different preferences, and what each of us finds easier.

Cheers,

R.

 

[sfb_dot_com]

I have only ever used plastic reels, so I can't comment on the plastic vs SS thing, but I have found a huge variation in plastic reels. Currently I have two. One, an old Paterson loads perfectly every time. The other a new one from Jessops usually loads ok, but is generally more prone to sticking. I have never (touch wood) lost a film due to damage when loading. I have made lots of other silly mistakes though. My best advice is to stay calm, as once you start to struggle, then you sweat, your hands get clammy, and it all gets harder. Give yourself a bit of a break, then start again.

Now my main problem is forgetting what stage I'm at and opening the tank up too soon. I need some sort of audible warning as soon as my hands start to unscrew the lid!

Regards

Andy

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Now my main problem is forgetting what stage I'm at and opening the tank up too soon. I need some sort of audible warning as soon as my hands start to unscrew the lid!

I made myself a cassette tape with all the timings recorded.


Press play when you pour the developer in, then after a while you'll hear yourself say something like 'ten seconds until agitation', and soon after 'agitate now', and then 'ten seconds to pouring developer out', and so on.

Once you standardize on a film and developer it's dead simple just to follow your own recorded prompts step by step.

 

[oftheherd]

Funny, I'd say the exact opposite, at least for 35mm.

As ever, this doesn't make either of us right or wrong; it merely illustrates different preferences, and what each of us finds easier.

Cheers,

R.

Exactly so. I have always preferred SS reels. I did no development for years. Recently I have gotten back into it. I found I had trouble the first few times, as when I started to many years ago. Back in the groove however, it is easier and I prefer it. Just me of course.

I found when plastic reels worked well they were really good. When they didn't work perfectly, they were horrible. Now where did I hear that before? 😀

 

[BJ Bignell]

I use stainless rells with the small metal clip in the middle, and find that sometimes they just don't want to work. I never thought of NOT using the little clip; I'll give it a try next time and see what happens.

You learn something new every day!

 

[MickH]

I made myself a cassette tape with all the timings recorded.


Press play when you pour the developer in, then after a while you'll hear yourself say something like 'ten seconds until agitation', and soon after 'agitate now', and then 'ten seconds to pouring developer out', and so on.

Once you standardize on a film and developer it's dead simple just to follow your own recorded prompts step by step.

Jon,

Simple but chuffin' brilliant. I'd never have tought of this but it's so obvious. Thanks.

 

[zeitz]

I find it very hard to position the film correctly with the clip. So I just ignore it. Use your index finger to prevent the film from sliding on the reel as you load the first few turns. Otherwise you will have a roll that is mysteriously a few inches long and won't entirely fit on the reel.