What happended to this film?

[Noll]

Hi all, I'm hoping to tap into your collective wisdom to pinpoint why my photos came back from the lab looking like a disaster.

Backstory - Earlier this year took an offer of a box of free film. It was all expired by 5-10 years, and of unknown storage conditions, but probably at room temperature. I recently shot 2 rolls of slide film - Sensia 200 and Elitechrome 400 - and sent out for development and scan.

I'm trying to decide if it's the film's (and therefore my own) fault or the lab's, so I can ask for a refund. I know both cameras used work.

This is what they ALL came back looking like:

The Elitechrome 400:

And for the Sensia 200:

I didn't expect them to look great, but certainly didn't expect this! Thanks in advance for your insights into why this happened.

 

[colyn]

Looks like slide film developed in C-41 print film developer..

 

[jordanstarr]

I'm a black and white film photographer, so I can't "pinpoint" the problem, but I can't give you my 2 cents. I've shot a bit of colour in the past from rolls expired by 5-10 years and the only difference was a colour shift...not a complete colour saturation. I honestly think the lad f'd up this on for you, but I certainly can't prove it.

But I'll give you a word of wisdom. I know someone pretty big in the film scene who used to run colour film at a lab and when they f'd up, the HR person would have a "problem solving sheet", which was basically a bunch of excuses as to why the problem occured based on whatever problem you had with the film. So, you call in saying "my film turned out blank" and even if the Lab technician mixed the chemicals wrong and put your film in fixer first, before developer, they would say (based on the excuses under category "blank film"), "sir, we adhere to highest standards of film development and have been in the business without fault for over 20 years. The problem was likely that your film advance lever is broken, you loaded the film in wrong or you left the lens cap on. We apologize for this and we can give you one free development to ease your pain, but that is the best we can do". In short, expect them to try and back up their mistake. No film lab wants to admit that your eternal memories on film are now nothing more than a pink haze on plastic.

 

[Noll]

I'm a black and white film
But I'll give you a word of wisdom. I know someone pretty big in the film scene who used to run colour film at a lab and when they f'd up, the HR person would have a "problem solving sheet", which was basically a bunch of excuses as to why the problem occured based on whatever problem you had with the film.

Thanks for the input, that is a bit troubling to consider. I had a problem with this lab in the past, and they were forthcoming about the issue when I called them, and offered to re-print the film. They're big enough that I'd be shocked if they were run on the wrong line... So at this point they have the benefit of the doubt.

As it happened though, they included a small slip of paper that had a box checked "Film Storage/Old Film", and a litany of reasons why the film might have turned out like crud. Outdated, heat, chemical vapors, MOTHBALLS(!)... For all I know, there may have actually been all those things present when this film was stored, but it seems like a longshot.

I have a roll of print film from the same freebie box at another lab, so if that doesn't turn out, then I can be sure I have a pile of turds on my hands.