blank fp4 4x5 totally at a loss for an explanation

[dsk]

Does yur shutter have a X-M switch? If so, then X.

that was the culprit

 

[Dan Fromm]

that was the culprit

Glad you found it.

You're not alone, and there are many ways to make that mistake. I think mine was the most bizarre. I broke my Nikkormat FTN's x post, took it to Comet Camera Repair in Philadelphia to be repaired. They gave the camera back with the m contacts wired to the x post and the x contacts wired to the m post. I went off on my honeymoon to Costa Rica, took some nice night shots with flash including a series of a female opossum with babies. All with the flash cable connected to the x post, all lost. <curses deleted>.

This was in '76. I hope Comet, if they are still in business, have improved since then.

 

[Photo Engineer]

i feel like im going insane I have shot 4 different shots from this pack of fp4 developed it in 3 different developers no lettering nothing on these sheets im totally lost as to what could be happening I have tried everything any advice? is it at all possible they forgot to coat it or something!? this is perfectly fresh film too tested the shutter EVERYTHING film is 100% clear

If there was no lettering, there was no development. I believe that Ilford uses edge lettering as well as EK and Fuji.

PE

 

[LJH]

Take a test shot and have a lab develop it?

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

If there was no lettering, there was no development. I believe that Ilford uses edge lettering as well as EK and Fuji.

The OP was asking about individually loaded 4x5 sheets of film.

Over the decades I've never seen film sheets in any format that incorporated edge lettering of any kind. Only the (very useful) notch patterns. But then, I've only ever used Kodak (4x5) and Ilford (4x5, 8x10) in individual cut sheets. Don't know first hand about any of the other manufacturers or packaging types.

Do some add lettering?

Ken

 

[Photo Engineer]

I believe that EK uses lettering. I'll check later. I know I have seen it somewhere.

PE

 

[250swb]

There is definitely no edge lettering on 4x5 FP4.

Steve

 

[rorye]

I believe most LF transparency film uses edge lettering.

 

[randyB]

I have seen older shutters with the m-x switch permanently locked in the x sync with epoxy or a small screw from a repairman. I have also used gaffers tape on a few of my older shutters but I always remove it after the shoot because some types of tape leave a sticky residue.

 

[winger]

The OP was asking about individually loaded 4x5 sheets of film.

Over the decades I've never seen film sheets in any format that incorporated edge lettering of any kind. Only the (very useful) notch patterns. But then, I've only ever used Kodak (4x5) and Ilford (4x5, 8x10) in individual cut sheets. Don't know first hand about any of the other manufacturers or packaging types.

Do some add lettering?

Ken

TMax 100 has lettering. I've used Tri-X, but it's old (exp '96) so I'm not sure if recent stock has lettering, but the old does not.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I just checked a bunch of recent vintage Ilford FP4+ and HP5+ sheets in both 4x5 and 8x10. No lettering on any of them. I also found some much older (80s) 4x5 Tri-X 320 negatives. Also blank.

But I've never used any of the TMax/Delta varieties, in sheets or rolls. So the problem here could be mine due to overly narrow sampling. I've also never used transparency films in cut sheets, so 'rorye' could be correct as well.

Maybe I just need to get out more??

I do plan on trying Ilford's 120 Delta 3200 as 6x7, now that we've started our annual 10-month trip through the bad weather tunnel here in the Pacific Northwest.

July is just around the corner...

:eek:

Ken

 

[Photo Engineer]

I checked literally hundreds of B&W and color. The color was a mix of transparencies and negatives and all were 4x5 taken over nearly 50 years.

All I found was Kodak film! Fancy that!

Anyhow, all color had an edgemarking of some sort. B&W was mixed, for example Super XX from 1960 or thereabouts all had edgemarking, bu samples from about 1978 or later did not. The marking included Kodak Safety Film and a product code.. Some had K*ODAK on the edge indicating some change in the property.

So, I would have to say that edgmarking varies quite a bit. I had some Agfa, Sakura and Fuji here but I was too lazy to keep looking.

PE

 

[Vaughn]

Fuji letters their Acros B&W film. Since I print the rebate, I hate that! (But I can always scrap it off, I suppose).

Ediited to add - they lettered their 8x10 that I used...I have not used it in other sizes.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Thanks, Ron. I just learned something new, then.

So it appears I need to modify my earlier answer to the OP to say that only some, but not all, sheet films have edge lettering on them. Therefore the absence of lettering does not necessarily indicate any failure in processing, or problems with the film itself. Unless, of course, you know for certain it should be lettered.

Ken

 

[Photo Engineer]

Ken, you are correct. I was basing my comment on what my memory told me, but when I looked into it, the problem became much more vague. I guess a question to Simon Galley would be appropriate. Anyone game?

PE