Is this film no good? Got given ...

rayonline_nz · Mar 9, 2018

I was given a bulk film loader from my camera club. It felt heavy ... I wanted to find out what film it is.

1. The bulk loader is light sealed. Under daylight I pulled a piece out and popped it into some fixer ... There is no edge marking words on the film ...

2. Inside a dark changing bag, I pulled and snipped off a piece and put inside my Paterson developing tank. Poured some fixer. Again it's all brown clear with no edge marking words on the film.

Do I need to use film developer? Or has someone exposed this film to light and destroyed it?

Cheers.

Svenedin · Mar 9, 2018

So the film is transparent after fixing but it has an orange colour to it? Maybe it's colour film or one of the chromogenic B&W films (such XP2). Yes if you want edge markings to show you have to develop it before fixing (but if you expose the whole film to light before you develop it the edge markings will be obscured by the film being exposed edge to edge). In pitch dark (or changing bag) feed some film out of the loader and put it in your developing tank without exposing to light then develop and fix.

Wallendo · Mar 9, 2018

You need to develop the film. Edge markings will never show up unless the film is developed.

rayonline_nz · Mar 9, 2018

Ok thanks for that. I thought it would still show up without developer ie a heavily undeveloped film.

I have some Rodinal unopened. I have no idea what this film is .... any starting point of what development time and mixture to use?

Ok ... It's brown. Not that orange. It's not like b/w film where it's grey silver clear. So no idea ... I don't even know if this is color or b/w film. I was expecting an empty bulk loader.

If this is color film will b/w film developer still show the edge markings?

Pentode · Mar 9, 2018

Try Rodinol 1+50 for 15 minutes, stop and fix. It may not be perfect, but it will definitely get you edge markings if there are any there to be seen.

Svenedin · Mar 9, 2018

rayonline_nz said:
Ok thanks for that. I thought it would still show up without developer ie a heavily undeveloped film.

I have some Rodinal unopened. I have no idea what this film is .... any starting point of what development time and mixture to use?

Ok ... It's brown. Not that orange. It's not like b/w film where it's grey silver clear. So no idea ... I don't even know if this is color or b/w film. I was expecting an empty bulk loader.

If this is color film will b/w film developer still show the edge markings?

The edge markings are made by exposing the tiny areas of film to light in the factory (i.e they are “printed” with light) so they will not show until the film is developed and then fixed. Edge markings are an important way to check developing is correct

removed account4 · Mar 9, 2018

don't worry about testing hte film like that
just put a few turns on a 35mm spool
put it in the cassette adn in your camera
rate it for 200 or 125
expose it and develop it in your favorite developer
for 30% longer than like tri x ...
you just need 1 frame or 2 ..
you will be able to see if the film is good or dead
and it won't take much effort ... clipping and developing or fixing 3 or 4 times
probably takes more effort ...

ps if you have dektol or paper developer
put in that STOCK ( no dilution ) for about 3 mins ( stand ) then stop+fix
it will cut your effort even further ...

faberryman · Mar 9, 2018

Why don't you just throw it away, and buy some film that is fresh and is what you want to use?

mshchem · Mar 9, 2018

If it has Remjet on it, it's probably the old movie stock from the 70's/80's. That's what I found in one a year ago. The one I picked up last week has Ektachrome, it's the SW version which never did much for me. I gave away all my bulk loaders 3 or 4 years ago. Now I have been given at least 3. They multiply!!

rayonline_nz · Mar 9, 2018

I rushed a bit. Rodinal 1+25, 8mins. It's all dense black. No markings at all. Color film?

To me it's interesting to find what it is and to have fun with this.

Been exposed to light?

glbeas · Mar 9, 2018

It may be chromogenic b&w. Ive had Rodinal activate color couplers in color film while trying to get a b&w image of an old roll.

rayonline_nz · Mar 9, 2018

2nd attempt. I loaded up a couple of frames and went around the house and shot them, developed them. I see images (!!). The top edge is very dark, no words. The bottom edge only have numbers. The feel of the film is a bit thick and VERY straight, no curl. Feels like Fuji film. The overall look of the images on the negative is also quite dark and dense. Will wait till it dries ...

Edit - as it is hung to dry. I shined a flash light behind. The top edge says "FUJI RMS". So it's a 100 speed slide film ... What is RMS? I only got into photography with Provia, Velvia, Astia ...

_Manu_ · Mar 10, 2018

Would it be this one?
https://www.fujifilmusa.com/shared/bin/AF3-989E.pdf

rayonline_nz · Mar 10, 2018

Yep. The datasheet's diagram of the film and the markings matches it. I doubt I use it as slide film, processing is not cheap and for such a film I have - expired, dated, condition unknown. Maybe dripped feed over time and cross processed with C41 (?). Would preferred if it was some old b/w film.

Is this film no good? Got given ...

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