Development Problem

entropy06 · Feb 15, 2008

I have a question with a probable answer obvious to most of you. A few months ago I got an old used medium format camera. I developed one roll of film (Tmax 100) and it came out great. I havent done any darkroom work since the 70s so I was happy. Today I developed a roll of Tmax 100 and the film came out completely clear. I did change developing solutions. This time I used Tmax RS. Is that not able to be used like this? The time, temperature and dilutions were right as far as I know. I know the camera works properly as one roll came out perfectly. Was the roll exposed somehow during loading or was something wrong with the development? I would appreciate any help anyone can give.

gainer · Feb 15, 2008

If the roll had been exposed during loading it would have come out black, or at least not clear. Test the developer solution with a piece of exposed film or printing paper. What camera is it? If you can operate the shutter with the back open, make sure it opens when it should. Something must have happened between the first and second rolls and the way you describe the sequence, it is more likely to be something wrong with the developer or the way you mixed it.

ozphoto · Feb 15, 2008

Can you see the frame numbers? If not, it was inadvertently fixed first.
Easy to do - especially when your excited to see the results as quickly as possible!

entropy06 · Feb 15, 2008

Thank you for the ideas. I definitely know I did not use the fixer first. The camera is a Mamiya 67RB and I got it with a few lenses. This made me think that I did use a different lens for this roll, a 90mm lens, the first good roll was a with a 127mm lens. I will see if I can check the lens first. Then I will try to check the developing solution or make a new batch, I only used a quarter of the bottle....

Writing this (after checking the cabinet) made me realize that I must have added all of the part B bottle to the quarter of part A, making a bad solution. Also I should have realized that a light leak shouldn't have done this, after working with (but not developing) xrays for almost 40 years. I really appreciate your ideas, I was spinning my wheels, now I think I know what to do.

jim appleyard · Feb 15, 2008

You may also have had the darkslide inserted in the camera when taking the shots. With some older cameras (don't know about the RB's) this was entirely possible.

goldenimage · Feb 17, 2008

When my film came out clear, either i loaded it wrong in the film back, or I fixed it first which ive done more than once lol

dancqu · Feb 17, 2008

entropy06 said:
The camera is a Mamiya 67RB and I got
it with a few lenses...

You didn't by chance have the lens set
for mirror lockup? I made quite a trek into
the woods last year. Came back, processed;
blank roll.

If the lens is set for mirror lockup and no
cable attached to the lens the shutter will
not fire although it is possible to advance
the film. Dan

entropy06 · Feb 17, 2008

Dan, after checking everything, it was not incorrect mixing of chemicals as I at first thought, so I was still baffled. However, your suggestion about the mirror lockup is probably the answer. After I had this incident I was checking the lens and shutter to make sure it was working and I put the mirror lockup knob back to normal position without even thinking about it. When I did that it didn't even occur to me that this was probably the cause of the problem. Thanks to all for your suggestions and things to check. I think the problem is solved.

CBG · Feb 17, 2008

Mirror lockup on the RB 67 can bite you. I got bit once and had no idea what had happened.

Pull the back off and look thru the camera and see whether it really opens up when you fire the shutter. If the MLU is engaged it'll be pitch black.

C

panastasia · Feb 17, 2008

You loaded the film upside-down, the paper backing was on the wrong side, facing the lens. The RB has safety locks to prevent you from tripping the shutter w/the darkslide in place. If you had the mirror locked-up you would'nt be able look through the camera but you could still expose the film. You developed a blank roll.

How do I know this? First, it's the only logical explanation; second, I did the same thing once - it's an easy mistake to make if you have'nt used the camera for a some lengthy period of time.

Paul

entropy06 · Feb 21, 2008

This is hard to admit, but after thinking I had the answer several times, I realize now that it was a case of loading the film upside-down. I thought of it today when I was loading another roll and had it upside-down at first then corrected it. The problem roll was loaded in a hurry out in the field and I was careless. Then I looked here and Paul had the answer several days earlier. I swore my wife to secretcy for my supidity, but have to admit it here since I asked for help and got many possible causes. Thanks.

Rich

gainer · Feb 22, 2008

Maybe it has something to do with your choice of the pseudonym "entropy"?

jim appleyard · Feb 22, 2008

Entropy, join the rest of us humans. We've all done things like that. If you do a search here, you'll find whole threads on brain-dead things us photo geeks have done. Some are pretty good!

El Gringo · Feb 22, 2008

You can definitely get caught by mirror lock up on the RB lenses, I did just the other day; I pretty much always use a cable release in the MLU slot but didn't for the first 3 shots of a roll. I did think the shutter was extra quite compared to usual but it didn't occur to me why until I switched lenses!

David Grenet · Feb 22, 2008

Mirror lock-up mode on an RB67 actually allows you to shoot a blank roll - the shutter release only raises the mirror/light baffle inside the camera (and releases the interlocks!) - it is then up to you to fire the shutter manually on the lens (or not)

Been there, done that.

dancqu · Feb 23, 2008

David Grenet said:
Mirror lock-up mode on an RB67 actually allows you
to shoot a blank roll - Been there, done that.

Ditto and ditto again. My first post this thread says
something of my experience. The OP has said that
mirror lock-up was in effect while shooting. He
did not mention a cable release. Dan

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