How did this happen? Completely clear Acros 100

[photomem]

The film was shot in a Brownie Hawkeye. I used Rodinal 1:50 because I had no other developers in the house. I was careful to mix the chems at 68 degrees F, and they actually sat while I was spooling the roll. It is cooler in my house than 68 degrees right now. (I use sweaters instead of heaters.)

I used Kodak Indicator Stop Bath and Kodak Hardening Fix.

The result was a completely clear roll of film.

Any ideas?

 

[rwboyer]

Broken shutter - maybe it is not opening?

RB

 

[photomem]

I spent three hours the morning before thanksgiving doing a complete onceover on the camera.. I am pretty sure it was firing, but that is always a possibility.

 

[rwboyer]

Can you look through the camera and see the shutter opening ??? If not than that is probably it. If you an see the shutter opening and light coming through. Think of other reasons that are camera related first - film in backwards so the paper is exposed instead of the film? Maybe if you don't have a frame number window?

RB

Ps. I once had this happen when an assistant loaded a back for me - boy was I really really mad.

 

[photomem]

Well, I did not respool the film. I got lucky and have one of the Hawkeyes that can actually handle a 120 spool for the feed, provided there is a 620 for takeup. The paper was correctly placed.. I think you might be right on the stuck shutter.

 

[Tom Nutter]

Any numbers or markings on film? If not...you fixed first.

 

[photomem]

There are some bits and pieces of images.. very faint but they are there.

 

[Tim Gray]

If there were no edge codes, the film didn't get developed. Maybe the developer was completely dead, or you fixed it before you developed it.

If there were edge codes, then maybe it was a camera problem, like the shutter suggested above.

 

[photomem]

Do you mean the manufacturers markings.. like the name and speed? Those are there. I am sure I did not fix before development. I guess it is the shutter.

 

[Tom Nutter]

Do you mean the manufacturers markings.. like the name and speed? Those are there. I am sure I did not fix before development. I guess it is the shutter.

Then you are right...sounds by your description like way under exposure, if you're sure of your processing.

 

[2F/2F]

What were the levels of light in which you shot?

 

[Tom Nutter]

What were the levels of light in which you shot?

Good question...are you familiar with the "Sunny 16 rule?" ....don't know much about your specific camera, but with sunny 16---you use f/16 and the shutter speed that most closely matches your film speed.

Assuming the camera is a simplified one, I would guess that unless they are adjustable, the shutter is probably set to fire somewhere around 1/60th-1/250th and the lens aperture is probably f/ 8 or 11 if it is fixed. so 125th f/11 would be just about right for sunny or cloudy days with 100 ISO film. If you have a lot of shade or are shooting indoors, or with some sort of tungtsen lights, I could see some underexposure happening.

If that's all too elementary, forgive me, but you might get better results with 400 speed or faster film.

 

[photomem]

right, I have a roll of 400 speed delta in there right now that I am going to finish then see what the results are. The roll that was wiped was shot on Thanksgiving.. so mixed light, etc. The shutter and aperture are fixed on the camera.. I guess I just have to experiment more with it to find the right film and conditions for it.

 

[Willie Jan]

did you put the roll film in upside down?

(shooting at the background paper?)

 

[Rick A]

did you put the roll film in upside down?

(shooting at the background paper?)

The OP used a Brownie which has a red window in the back. If he had the film upside down, there would be a light streak the length of the film. Appears to be a non firing shutter to me.

Rick

 

[removed account4]

if you are able to see the shutter firing through the back of the camera with no film in it
than i would rule out the shutter not firing. sounds like the developer was spent
or going bad or you severely under developed your film ...

put another roll in the camera and go out in bright sun, expose
and OVER DEVELOP on purpose in brand new ( new package ), freshly mixed, undilute developer and see if it works...

this happened to me a few years ago with 6 of my best-shot rolls of 120 through a holga.
it wasn't the camera for me, ( it was new ) it was user error ...
the pre-wet and developer were too warm and my developer slid down the drain with the anti halation layer.

i haven't used the holga since ...

good luck!
john

 

[Willie Jan]

if you are able to see the shutter firing through the back of the camera with no film in it
than i would rule out the shutter not firing. sounds like the developer was spent
or going bad or you severely under developed your film ...

The edge marks of fuji were visible as mentioned on page 1, so there is no developer problem.

 

[removed account4]

thanks willie !

john

 

[ic-racer]

Thanksgiving.. so mixed light, etc.

You mean like outdoor Thanksgiving with mixed "sunny" and "cloudy bright" right...

You wouldn't expect but a faint image from your SLR shooting indoors with f11 at 1/125th.

Try shooting outdoors, or better yet, track down the flash attachment and some flash bulbs