Why is my Efke doing this?

[Muggins]

I'm getting to the end of my Efke 127 (thank goodness, lovely tones, horrid curl!), and am a bit bemused.

A year ago I could get images like this (probably developed in DDX):

(adjusting the levels and a bit of unsharp mask would have helped, but you don't need it to see the difference)

But the last two rolls I've shot have come out looking as though I've developed them in old socks! (HC110 dilution B)



While the film is obviously old (2012, I think), it's been fridged up until going in the camera. I did wonder whether grain aliasing was to blame, but the pics posted are print scans, so it's not that, and I can't believe that anyone bar maybe Lomography would make a developer that makes your prints look so bad.

Ideas would be appreciated, as I'm more than a little concerned for the rest of the film in the fridge!

Thanks,

Adrian

 

[charjohncarter]

I find HC-110 really good with fog and uneven development, don't ask me why. So, I would put it at temp, or agitation. Review what you did and try to be more consistent and careful in your process. If you have not been sloppy, then I don't know.

Although, I will say I have only used Efke IR 820 and I had problems at times with this same sky. My problems were with close or expired film (but again IR). Check with a magnifier to see if you can see it in the negative. You should be able to see this on a negative, I could.

 

[Muggins]

So, I would put it at temp, or agitation. Review what you did and try to be more consistent and careful in your process. If you have not been sloppy, then I don't know.

That's a very good point. I'm as careful as the water supply will allow to get my chemicals made up at 20C, but if there's some on the shelf ready-made and reasonably fresh (I use a student darkroom), I will use it. However I've never checked the air temperature in there, and I tend to wear a lab coat, so I might not notice if it was chilly, so I wonder if it's down to cold chemicals? I certainly used fixer off the shelf for the second set...

I'm sure it's on the negs, as it showed first on a scan. In fact, as it's on my photobucket, here it is:



When we get enough sun again to finish the roll I have in a camera (8 shots... I really need to gain the ability to hurry!) I'll try with everything fresh and see what it's like. They were all from the same brick, so if it's still OK...

Adrian

 

[Larry H-L]

I've seen this mottled look from film that was refrigerated or frozen, then put into the camera before the film was allowed to come to room temperature. Condensation forms on the film.

If the film is cold, put it in an air-tight sandwich bag until it is warm, then load into the camera.

I've also seen incomplete fixing causing this look.

Good luck.

 

[Muggins]

I'm fairly sure it's not the fixing as I tested the fix with a piece of leader and it cleared in under a minute, but could well be the other. I'll have to develop the current roll with everything fresh and at a suitable temperature then, if it's still there, it's probably the latter. Oh, and try to remember to let the stuff warm up first!

Thanks everyone!

Adrian

 

[Matus]

I have experienced very similar behavior once - it was in winter in french alps. The temperature was below 0 Celsius, but not that much and it was a sunny day. The developer was Pyrocat HD. The film was not refrigerated before and this was not a long trip (I doubt the internals if the camera were that cold). But of course condensation could have formed inside of the camera (did not think of that possibility before):

 

[Fotohuis]

Your problem is condensation between the film and the backing paper. HC-110 is containing Benzotriazole hence less base fog. More effective then KBr but you will loose speed, approx. 1/3F stop on the regular speed of the used film.