modern technology

[rmolson]

I have got a sore butt ….from kicking myself I have a pair of night vision goggles, The toy kind that I rigged to allow me to load the film on to the developing reels in the dark. It works on the principle of using infrared light to illuminate and a tiny little screen inside the goggles to see what the infrared lights up Now that is the only light the goggles sees. There is a fake lens over the left eye that you can flip open to see under normal light I have been having trouble with film buckling and ruining some frames so the goggles were great for seeing and stopping it before it happens. I had shot some film speed test on two lenses and some outside test shots in the freezing cold this morning.
Normally after I set up I turn off the darkroom room lights and leave only a small printing safelight on to find my way back to the loading bench. Then put on the goggles turn them on and un spool the film and load the reel. Caught a buckle and fixed it and finished loading the reel, put it in the tank and put the top cover on , and took off the goggles and looked at the tank to see if the top was down all the way, when it dawned on me. I was looking at the tank! , I was looking at the tank! ,what’s wrong with this? I had taken off the night vision goggles and I was looking at the tank under the safelight….auuggghhh!!!!, I hadn’t turned off the safelight! The film was ruined!
Modern technology is grand but it can bite you in the butt if you aren‘t watching!

 

[tim_bessell]

I sometimes use a red lens on my Mini MagLite to find my way, since I hold it in my hand, I always remember to turn it off.

Question: You're using a Cyclops I presume, don't you leave the cover over the left eye open and check that all the lights are off?

Sorry to hear the bad news, live and learn, I guess.

 

[nickandre]

That's really sad. Do you know if infrared vision works for development by inspection?

I find hearing the film buckle to be a very reliable clue to misloading.

 

[Allen Friday]

Been there, done that, only I left the red led timer on above the sink. Now I lift the googles off my eyes and turn 360 degrees in a slow circle to make sure the lights, all of them, are off before opening any light sensitive material. But, as my wife says, I am more advanced than the average man: I am at least minimally capable of learning.

 

[ajuk]

Can you use the goggles to develop by inspection?

 

[Allen Friday]

Yes, the googles can be used for DBI. There have been several threads on the topic here on Apug. A quick search should turn them up. Also, there was a long thread on this issue on Michael & Paula's AZO site.

 

[rmolson]

I sometimes use a red lens on my Mini MagLite to find my way, since I hold it in my hand, I always remember to turn it off.

Question: You're using a Cyclops I presume, don't you leave the cover over the left eye open and check that all the lights are off?

Sorry to hear the bad news, live and learn, I guess.

I use to but today I forgot...figures!

 

[tim_bessell]

I highly recommend doing a fog test, even if you use nvg for just loading reels and holders. Some films are sensitive into the near IR range.

 

[DramaKing]

As a sidenote, I've heard that Kodak workers spool film by wearing infrared goggles. I assume other film makers do this, too. Goes to show you that you're not alone.

 

[John Shriver]

That's how my local dip & dunk lab does it, except when you give them IR film.

 

[clayne]

Non-modern technology that will save you time and energy: Hewes reels.

 

[tim_bessell]

Non-modern technology that will save you time and energy: Hewes reels.

Yes, very nice! Probably made using the latest technology