New to film, lackluster results???

QUESTION THE PROCESSING

also question your exposure. Do the negatives look rather clear, or very dark?

Commercial processors are often run by the same dis-interested high school student at the drug stre who mans the ice cream rack. The machine proceeeds automatically, brights and darks are smooshed to middle tones, the film is mistreated and scratched, etc.

A side effect of this is that is a negative is very over or under exposed, it will be rinted to a narrow gray range, which in effect will look "washed out."

aloomens said:

I did use the depth of field preview button to be sure the aperture closed down. I'll definitely try it like you suggested.

Thanks.

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I
Do you know that on the Canon A1 if you have the camera set on any of the auto exposure modes (TV, AV or P) and operate the depth of field preview it cancels the auto exposure mode you have set ?, to get it back to auto you need to flick the multi exposure lever at the base of the wind on lever and wind on which resets the auto function without winding the film.

JBrunner said:

JD Callow knows color.

When you say washed out, that makes me think immediately of under exposure, because thats what color neg film does. It loses contrast, then as under exposure increases, turns milky.

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Oh, and I should add that this can happen at the printing stage as well.