fogged film

rmolson · Jul 15, 2007

Film fog in MF
.

I am about at my wits end. I have a Bronica SQ with two magazines and a Yashica D. I am not a novice having had Rollies and Hasselblads for years .
Film from all three camera exhibit the exact same problem The first frame has a light fog on one side of the first frame and then the remaining two or three frames have a slight edge fog clear of the image. .This is a condition that started about a year or two ago. I have had to abandon using 400 speed films as the fog simply extends further into the frames. I am loading the magazines and camera in a darkened room but not total dark as I have to see the edge mark to line up the arrow.. I handle the film as little as possible and only on the flat of the spool ends. The end of the film is not fogged as I am unload the camera and magazines in the darkroom and load the film directly onto developing reels in total darkness.
I have gotten this on TMax 400,. FP-4 and Delta 400.
The only thing I sense is that the film spool flanges are thinner , made of plastic and not as robust as the old metal ones
Am I the only one running into this.?:confused:

Nick Zentena · Jul 15, 2007

Both cameras and different films. So my guess is it's related to processing. What kind of tank?

Ian Grant · Jul 15, 2007

Sounds very odd. It can't be the film or spools, or others would have similar problems. I load 120 Tmax 400 in the shade here in Turkey, and as its always very sunny there's a lot of light even in the shade.

It's also highly unlikely that all 3 backs/camera developed simultaneous light leaks. It sounds likely that the fogging is occurring in the darkroom. Check your developing tank too.

Maybe you should get a roll processed elsewhere to see if that makes any difference.

One last thought do you wear a watch that emits light ? It would be very close to the reel as you load the film, first frames, and last frames as you put the reel into the tank.

Good luck finding the problem.

Ian

rmolson · Jul 15, 2007

I use both the Patterson Universal tank and Kinderman and NikorSS reels and tanks. I use the same equipment for my 35mm films and have no fog poroblems period. I doubt it is in the processing

Nick Zentena · Jul 15, 2007

The end of a 35mm film is already fairly fogged from the loading process. It's possible you aren't noticing on the 35mm because the issue is on the leader.

Ian mentions sending out a roll. If that comes back fogged you know it's not the processing.

David Henderson · Jul 15, 2007

It must be processing issue and as people say, easy to check. I have a Bronica SQ-Ai and have no issues with today's spools, and I don't load in the dark. If you try a lab and its not OK, come back and we can get into the interesting questions like "are you a pilot?" and "do you keep your film in the microwave?"

rmolson · Jul 15, 2007

Boy this is not my day, my scanner is on the fritz too. Any way I am not a pilot just a retired graphic arts photographer. I do not keep film in or even near a microwave That is on a different floor. I just finished sitting in my darken darkroom for 15 miutes looking for any light leaks, nada!I have two stainless steel tanks and the one Patterson. It strikes me as too much of a coincidence that three tanks would leak creating the same pattern,. which is why I suspect the film spools.
I would send a scan of the film if I could figure out how to load it into the thread reply.

papagene · Jul 15, 2007

Do you use photo-flo at the end of your processing cycle? And do you clean your film reels after each use?
For a while I got lazy and didn't clean the reels after each use and started to get high density areas along the film edge. Ruined some good negs that way.
So I smartened up and now clean the reels after use and the problem disappeared.
I hope this helps.

gene

rmolson · Jul 15, 2007

Oh yeah, rinse everything with hot water and then dry reels,tanks and covers.Learned that back in photo school in 50

Nick Zentena · Jul 15, 2007

rmolson said:
It strikes me as too much of a coincidence that three tanks would leak creating the same pattern,. which is why I suspect the film spools.
.

But it's two cameras using two backs and three different films from two different companies.

If it was the film spools at least some of us would be seeing it. I'm not even sure Kodak and Ilford use the same spools. I thought Ilford was using Fuji like spools?

Maybe it's not the tanks but I'm still leaning towards it happening after you take the film out of the camera.

Ian Grant · Jul 15, 2007

I doubt this is the case here but I have seen fogging from removing the tape holding the film to the spool. It caused static and was visible in the darkroom.

Since first using 120 film back in the 60's I've never had a problem with film spools from any manufacturer, and I've used Agfa, Adox (original), EFKE, Foma, Fuji, Ilford and Kodak, oh and GAF. After all millions of rolls of 120 are used each year, and its a mature film format.

I can understand your frustration, something has changed. Get another APUG member local to you involved a second pair of eyes may see something simple that your over-looking.

Try a test using a new sealed roll of Tmax 400, leave it unexposed and only undo the sealed wrapper in the darkroom, obviously in the dark and load and process as normal. If that shows even a slight trace of fogging then you'll know its a darkroom/processing problem.

Ian

rmolson · Jul 15, 2007

Sounds like a good idea Will have to get some more film though.I live in a small town and there aren't any photo dealers anymore, Will take awhile to get some shipped in.

fogged film

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