Excessive grain in E6 developing

[warrennn]

I just processed a roll of Velvia 100 (in 120) and found that the colors and exposure seemed perfect (except for the exaggerated color intensities, especially with flesh tones, which we expect with Velvia). However, when examining the negatives under a microscope, I noticed that there seemed to be more grain in my negatives than in commercially processed film.

I should mention that the film was fresh, but sat in the camera for about 4 months before developing. Also, this is the second use of the Kodak 6 bath kit -- I don't fill the chemical bottles with dry nitrogen after use (but I mix fresh solutions before each development). Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

Warren Nagourney

 

[holmburgers]

Damn... a microscope?

Well, it's of course hard to say. I don't think a meaningful comparison can be made unless the subjects are identical with identical exposures, and your 2 films have been stored the same.

If you have to see it with a microscope though, is it really a problem?

 

[Athiril]

ive examined film under a nice olympus binocularscope.

Get the two films a good high res scan from a lab on a durst sigma, flextight, or coolscan etc to examine the grain to see if its actually bad or not (or a wall projection I guess if you have a projector with a very sharp lens). Sure it's not small sparse pepper grain?

 

[warrennn]

Thanks for the responses. I was wondering whether there was anything in my film processing technique which might have contributed to an increase in grain. Things like development time, temperature, etc. I am using a temperature regulated bath which I monitor using a strip-chart recorder emulated on an old computer and I think the temps are well within the allowed errors.

I appreciate that my assessment was very subjective and if I am worried about grain I should use more quantitative techniques.

Warren Nagourney