Dang it all to hedouble L!!

Digidurst · Jul 19, 2005

jjstafford said:
If I may ask, what kind of shutter are you using? I really do not think you messed up with developer. To be sure, lean outside the window and shoot two more sheets. Develop one as you did, and the other in a tray with Dektol.

Sorry it happend to you.

Thanks I'm disappointed but fortunately, the shots can be re-done as both scenes were local.

I'm positive it had to be the HC-110. In the test shots I developed in the t-max that came out fine, the ONLY change was the soup.

However, you have my curiosity up... why would I need to do more test shots leaning out of a window?

jjstafford · Jul 19, 2005

Digidurst said:
Thanks I'm disappointed but fortunately, the shots can be re-done as both scenes were local.

I'm positive it had to be the HC-110. In the test shots I developed in the t-max that came out fine, the ONLY change was the soup.

However, you have my curiosity up... why would I need to do more test shots leaning out of a window?

Regarding the last - I was trying to suggest an easy test of the shutter. It was silly. I'm tired. You can look through the back as you trip the shutter to know if opens. Man, I'm going to quit here while I'm behind.

When the same happens to me, I'll 'fess up big time. So far, so good.

Digidurst · Jul 19, 2005

jjstafford said:
Regarding the last - I was trying to suggest an easy test of the shutter. It was silly. I'm tired. You can look through the back as you trip the shutter to know if opens. Man, I'm going to quit here while I'm behind.

When the same happens to me, I'll 'fess up big time. So far, so good.

LMAO - ok, well you had me going! I thought I was missing some weird, secret LF test or something! But yeah, the shutter is doing great - one of the first things I checked.

Totally outragious and I can't believe it either but it's gotta be the HC-110.

photobackpacker · Jul 19, 2005

You said the HC-110 was almost gone - is it possible this was old and past it's shelf-life?

Digidurst · Jul 20, 2005

blaughn said:
You said the HC-110 was almost gone - is it possible this was old and past it's shelf-life?

No - I said my jug of FIXER was almost gone. I bought the bottle of HC-110 about a month ago and just opened it today.

Mongo · Jul 20, 2005

Not that it'll help with the disaster you've already had, but if this is a recently purchase bottle I'd send an email off to Kodak with the codes from the bottle, the purchase date, and a note describing how you determined the developer was dead. If nothing else they should at least be willing to refund your purchase price. Dead developer on the shelf is no way to treat customers. (Not that Kodak's exactly the best at how they treat their customers, but this is outrageous.)

Charles Webb · Jul 20, 2005

For what it is worth, I have used HC110 since it first came out, and have never had such an experience. It is obvious you want to blame the developer, but I would bet it was something else. Even with worn out weak
developer there would be a hint of an image on the sheet if indeed the sheet had been exposed. I am really sorry this happened to you, but I believe you are mistaken to blame the HC110. I have a bottle of unopened HC110 that I found recently that was over ten years old. It looks exactly as it did when I put in the safe place then forgot about it. I plan to give it a try just to satisfy my curiosity, will post my findings if there is any interest.

Peter Schrager · Jul 20, 2005

HC-110

I agree with Charles. HC-110 NEVER goes bad. Other developers go bad. You must go back and redo your steps.
Best, Peter

bazz8 · Jul 20, 2005

blank sheets

I had this happen to me but the cause was the xsync on my shutter were you using flash?
The other thought was did you swop around the film holders,
good luck.

John_Brewer · Jul 20, 2005

bazz8 said:
I had this happen to me but the cause was the xsync on my shutter were you using flash?

.

I recently spent a day setting up a still life of pears, shot two shots and then my partner and me ate the pears. Film came out blank. Why? I use Symmar lenses, the ones that have X and M flash sync. I had knocked the lever to M. When I repeated the shot I developed the film BEFORE eating the pears (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Digidurst · Jul 20, 2005

Charles Webb said:
I plan to give it a try just to satisfy my curiosity, will post my findings if there is any interest.

I don't know about everyone else but I am interested in your findings.

Guys, I know this is weird. I didn't use a flash; yes, I flipped the holders; yes, the dark slide was pulled; yes, the shutter works just fine. When I did my testing yesterday, I did everything in my power to isolate the problem and so far, it's still that bottle of HC-110. I hope you guys don't think I wouldn't admit to making a mistake. Heck, I'm not infallible. As a matter of fact, I know I made a mistake with the first round - I mixed the HC-110 according to the Euro version, i.e. I added way too much and still nothing.

I'm perfectly willing to give it another go. I might even pick up another bottle just to check it out. Another interesting idea - anybody who wants a go at the bad soup can send me a small bottle. I'll fill it and send you a bit and you can test it yourself. Any takers?

ann · Jul 20, 2005

i will be glad to test some of your supply, I have been using this developer for over 30 years. We also use it in our classes and gang labs, and this environment is perfect for mistakes. We have had some strange things happen but nothing like this.

pm me your address,
regards,
ann

Donald Qualls · Jul 20, 2005

Suggestion for testing the HC-110 (I've never seen the stuff go bad as concentrate, but I suppose it's possible it was defective from the factory): Mix up a tray or beaker of Dilution B and drop a sacrificial film (a scrap of 35 mm leader or whatever) into it, in the light. At any reasonable room temperature, it should fully darken in a matter of a minute or two. If it doesn't, something is very, very wrong with your developer, and your dealer or Kodak should replace it as defective.

FWIW, I've used HC-110 30 years ago, for both film and paper, and I've used it since coming back to photography (not quite two years since I developed my own again). I've used year-old syrup from a partially filled small bottle (I divided up the pint when I opened it) that sat for more than four months, including a couple weeks in a van in direct sun in North Carolina summer weather, and it worked exactly the same as the first mix from a new bottle. HC-110 is the only other commercial developer with similar lasting power to Rodinal.

Are you certain you aren't mixing stock solution in concentrate proportions? That would give you severe underdevelopment -- but still shouldn't give completely clear negatives; strong highlights should at least give a visible ghost.

Digidurst · Jul 20, 2005

Folks... this is painful

But with hat in hand I admit... I messed up! I was wrong, wrong, wrong!

Ya wanna know what I did? I used a syringe that I got from my cat's recent visit to vet. I sucked up .15ml of the HC-110. POINT 15!! My eyes just completely glossed over that little dot; I could have drunk the mix and suffered no ill effects for the miniscule amount of syrup I used.

I just did another test using a whole 15ml of the syrup and wonder of wonders, it worked like a charm.

So, while I am embarrassed to the point of wishing a black hole would appear before me, I have to again say thank you to all of you who pushed me to do another test.

I suppose now the question is, should I go for a platinum blonde look or stick with something more natural, like strawberry blonde perhaps?

(And to the folks who are blonde, the above is purely a joke. I, in no way, shape or form think that blondes are dumb.)

ann · Jul 20, 2005

lol

it is never will we make a mistake, it is when will i make which one.

glad you came up with the answer

Peter Schrager · Jul 20, 2005

Good for you!!

Digihurst-congrats on your redo test. I was ready to send you my year old bottle of HC-110 which I just used yesterday. Got to watch out for those .15's!!
Best, Peter

Dang it all to h*e*double L!!

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