White spots on negatives, not light leaks. Help please.

[matu]

Hi,
Im doing my first developing , and everything has gone great, except for small spots on the neg.
I used T-Max 400, on a Kiev 4a, and other SLR, so thats why i know that it isn´t a light leak (I had that problem on a Leica IIIb).
I developed with D-76, temp Ok, correct time.
For the stopping bath just water for 3 min.
Fixing with Kodak fixer. 5 min.
Rinse with water 30 min.
Inmersion in Hipo-Flo for 30 sec.

What can I be doing wrong.

Should I use other Developer a liquid one?
Should use rapid fixer?

thanks for your help.

 

[FrankS]

I can't keep my negatives/positives, light/darks straight. If there is an airbell/bubble on the negative during development, does that leave a light mark like the one shownon the print, or a dark mark? I'm not sure. Just a guess. Do you presoak your film with water before the developer? I always do for 120 film, but for 35mm sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, as I'm trying to find out if there is a difference.

 

[matu]

Thanks Frank, I will try that, I agree with you that looks like a mark made by a buble. I normally hit the table with the tank to remove bubles, but ... it seems it´s not enough.
Maybe i should dilute the D-76 in destilled Water.

 

[berci]

I think a bubble would let less fluid to the film which means either less developer or less fixer.

Less developer = underdeveloped spot, would be a dark spot on the print.

Less fixer = silver halide is still in the emulsion which got fogged when you removed it from the tank. Dark spot on the neg, white spot on the print.

It's just a guess. I might not be right.

 

[matu]

What fixer do you use?
I think the Kodak fixer (the one it has to be diluted) may not be a good one or just a cheaper (less quality) fixer

 

[EsaS]

One more guess: Is your developer newly mixed? Could there be some undissolved crystals that stick to film and would give those spots more active development? Just guessing, never noticed the problem but I have used liquid developers lately.
Esa

 

[taffer]

Just a question...

seems the light was hard and coming from the left side according to the bottom left... yes ?

I ask this 'cos I noticed a VERY similar spot, orb-like on one of my negs, but it was color film, developed by the lab and the small spot had some kind of purple-like border so I think it could be a residual flare coming from some dust or debris in the lens...

Dunno but I think that some bubble or crystal would leave a defined mark, while this is sort of fuzzy at the borders...

As a rule of thumb, it's always a good idea to dilute chemicals in distilled water, and as long as there's a final wash in photo-flo or whatever, using running water for stop and rinse should be ok as well...

Keep us posted !

Oscar

 

[matu]

One more guess: Is your developer newly mixed? Could there be some undissolved crystals that stick to film and would give those spots more active development? Just guessing, never noticed the problem but I have used liquid developers lately.
Esa

Hi, Esa
I have used this one 5 times.
I think it may be the water, next time I´ll use destilled water.
My tank has a rolling stick to rotate the spiral, I´ve read it´s better to shake the tank manually.

Thanks

 

[matu]

Just a question...

seems the light was hard and coming from the left side according to the bottom left... yes ?

I ask this 'cos I noticed a VERY similar spot, orb-like on one of my negs, but it was color film, developed by the lab and the small spot had some kind of purple-like border so I think it could be a residual flare coming from some dust or debris in the lens...

Dunno but I think that some bubble or crystal would leave a defined mark, while this is sort of fuzzy at the borders...

As a rule of thumb, it's always a good idea to dilute chemicals in distilled water, and as long as there's a final wash in photo-flo or whatever, using running water for stop and rinse should be ok as well...

Keep us posted !

Oscar

Thanks for your advise Oscar, I´ll try mixing with destilled water.
I think it isn´t a flare, here´s another picture taken with a Zorki 4