"tomfrh, post" I just tested one of the rolls from the dud 5-pack of tmax 400.
I didn't expose the first few frames, yet you can still see the marks after developing, although they are very very faint.
At increasing exposure the marks get darker, so it's as though the ink has exposed the film a tiny amount, which is adding to the actual camera exposures.
So a slightly different scenario to the marks having increased sensitivity.
Matt
I do not doubt about tomfrh test/experience (…), what I really doubt is thinking on the ink as a reducing agent.
If anything by chance, I would dare to say that the ink – perhaps due to its thickness or due to any change in its "normal" status for any reason – once in touch with the (wounded) film could have damaged that part of the film and consequently have spoiled enough certain amount of silver halides to give as a result that same “mirror or trace” shape. In other words the same or similar thing (mark) can happen with our fingerprints (bare of chemicals) while handling the film … if that were the reason, then is not appropriate to say that the ink exposed the film, and at the same time of course is not appropriate to say “adding” to the exposures (like tomfrh said) but “subtracting”.
Let me tell you that I do not work for Kodak and I take no benefit from my opinions. I’m sorry for being so stubborn and deeply sceptical. I have my own ideas, waiting for a real reason.
After reading that whole thread, it seems it all ended in a “brand-distrust” discussion. My point is "Don't grumble, give a whistle"
I always look on the bright side of life If I had the chance to buy those “listed/affected films” I would buy them all, for my own consumption without a doubt (many ideas arise with all this to all of them).
And here’s a funny story to finish with this:
A couple had two children. One of them pessimistic and the other optimistic. On Christmas Day they both received a gift. The pessimistic child received a wonderful bicycle - a great gift that his very brother would like for himself - and the pessimist received a box filled up with horse poop.
The parents asked the pessimist: "- Why do you look disgusted at your precious gift?"
The boy said: "- Is only that when I take the bike out of the house, I can stumble and fall with it, or maybe a car can hit me and kill me ..."
Both parents turned their attention to the optimistic child watching him run smiling around the house with the box full of horse poop still in his hands, his mother asked him: "- How was your gift darling, what is it?"
"- Yes, yes, I love it. It's a horse but I cannot find it!”
Best
