Spots on film. What is it?

toyoboyo

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2019
Messages
74
Location
IL, US
Format
Hybrid
This whole roll has a bunch of these spots. They're quite small and barely noticeable on the negative as well.
It's an expired roll of 120 - TMax 400 from 11/2000 - that I've had in my freezer for a few months. The seller said it was freezer kept as well.

I'm going to shoot and develop another roll just to check. It was a really humid day out, but I wouldn't expect that to affect the emulsion/backing paper.
 

Attachments

  • Capture0004.jpg
    627.6 KB · Views: 138

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
They are remarkable, as nearly all have a "comet" look, moreover with similar orientation of the "tail".
 
OP
OP

toyoboyo

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2019
Messages
74
Location
IL, US
Format
Hybrid
@AgX Not all of them are like that. I think most of them approximate a circle

@Nicholas Lindan definitely not dirt on the negatives or scanner glass. They show up as small specks on the film that I can't get off.
 

Attachments

  • Capture0021-2.jpg
    521.6 KB · Views: 94
  • Capture0014.jpg
    642.2 KB · Views: 79
  • Capture0010.jpg
    635.1 KB · Views: 80
OP
OP

toyoboyo

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2019
Messages
74
Location
IL, US
Format
Hybrid
It looks like it's on the base side (shiny side), but I can't be sure. My strongest loupe is 4x, and I don't have the best vision.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,727
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
My wife is a New Yorker, she would call it schmutz. I would change everything, film, water, chemicals. Film that old is tricky, although I am shooting up a twenty year old box of TMax 400 4x5 . The darn backing paper thing?
I don't know but I would take the worst frame and try washing it out.
It isn't dirt in the camera is it?
 
OP
OP

toyoboyo

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2019
Messages
74
Location
IL, US
Format
Hybrid
I'll give it a try. I'm also going to shoot another roll of the same batch to see if it was a handling error.
I'm pretty sure it didn't have to do with any of the other equipment. I developed a roll of 35mm in the same tank without any of the same issues, and I had some rolls come back from the lab from the same camera that were fine.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,727
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
That's good info. Shouldn't be chemistry if you have clean 35mm from the same development batch.
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
Being "dirt" hardly can explain that comet-look.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…