Fomapan 400 + D-76: negs full of lines

Does anyone happen to know what is this all about (see picture below, click to enlarge)? 9 out of 12 frames of Fomapan 400 film had more or less of these stripes/lines. Where should I look for the problem: in film, in developer (D-76 1:1), in combination of film and dev, or in camera?

The stripes can be seen on the negatives themselves so it's not a scanner based issue.

On the same day, I developed also another film (T-Max 100) with D-76 1:1 (same stock) without getting stripes/lines.

You might look for a similar thread about much the same with other Fomapan films here on APUG. Foma are making some changes during their summer shut-down to help eliminate these issues.

It seems to be an issue when the film go through a more convoluted film path.

Ian

Thank you Ian. Earlier today, I read a few Fomapan discussions threads here at Apug and people were saying that Foma had quality problems year or two ago but they would be better now.

You eliminated your process by proving normal results with your tank, reels, and developer. Did you expose them both in the same film back?

I would contact Foma via the retailer you bought the film. We saw a fairly large batch like this with their ISO 200 film, showing the exact same symptoms. According to people close to the Foma factory, they are working hard to solve the issue, and that it doesn't hurt their business too much.

- Thomas

perminna said:

Does anyone happen to know what is this all about (see picture below, click to enlarge)? 9 out of 12 frames of Fomapan 400 film had more or less of these stripes/lines. Where should I look for the problem: in film, in developer (D-76 1:1), in combination of film and dev, or in camera?

The stripes can be seen on the negatives themselves so it's not a scanner based issue.

On the same day, I developed also another film (T-Max 100) with D-76 1:1 (same stock) without getting stripes/lines.

Click to expand...

You might want to look at this thread.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Thomas Bertilsson said:

You might want to look at this thread.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, I'll take a look.

I shot a second Fomapan 400 roll with the same camera yesterday. Instead of using D-76 1:1, I developed the film in Rodinal 1+50. I scanned the frames but didn't have the time to examine all of them but the ones that I checked, were free from scratches/lines. Next Fomapan roll I'll shoot, I'll dev in D-76 again.

Maybe my Fomapan 400 films are from a bad batch but so far the film has not wowed me yet. I think I'll stick to Ilford and Kodak and occasional Rollei Retro as soon as I finish the Fomapans.

Robert Vonk and I have already worked on this problem, side by side with Foma.

It results that this problem is a combination of multiple small issues.

They are about to stop production to solve that, and I hope they will succeed.

But at this time, with involved films, you have solutions that are going to allow you to have the lower chance to obtain these marks :

- First you have to roll very tightly your film on the receiver axis. The film must not move on itself while you are rolling.

- Second, roll very slowly while you advance your film on the next frame.

With that precaution, you 'll not have these marks. BUt it's not ideal, I know, and that's why we are pressurizing Foma so that they make the right changes.

Thank you, Aurelien!

perminna said:

Maybe my Fomapan 400 films are from a bad batch but so far the film has not wowed me yet. snip

Click to expand...

The Foma branded 100 & the 200 emulsions are capable of really nice results but I have not tried the 400 due to reports of grainier than "modern" 400 speed films.

I really like the 100 and 200 though. I usually overexpose 2/3 a stop depending on lighting and which developer I will be using.