Strange problem with my developed film
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Just to close this off, I received a box full of replacement rolls of HP5+ today from Ilford (via their US distributor, Roberts Camera). Very pleased with the way they handled this.
I need some more TMY. I may order a dozen rolls of Delta 400 instead.
Please report back in due course as to whether the replacement rolls solved the problem!
I will certainly do that.
Another update on this problem:
I shot 5 rolls of the replacement HP5+ at an event recently and I just developed the first roll of that batch. Unfortunately, it shows the same fogging as the earlier rolls of HP5+ and the first two frames on the roll were affected:
As a final sanity check, I shot a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400 that I stored the same way (in the same fridge) as the HP5+, using the same camera and lens, loaded it into the same developing tank using the same changing bag, and developed it in the same way as the HP5+ and it shows no fogging at the start of the roll.
Here's a photo of the Tri-X hanging in my shower to dry:
The leader shows no signs of fogging.
It's hard to believe that I'm the only one experiencing this issue with HP5+. I'm sure there are others on Photrio using this film stock so it's a bit odd that I haven't read any other complaints here.
In any case, I've contacted Ilford again and sent them the above images. Hopefully they can resolve this issue soon or I'll have to consider switching film stocks again.
I shot 5 rolls of the replacement HP5+ at an event recently and I just developed the first roll of that batch. Unfortunately, it shows the same fogging as the earlier rolls of HP5+ and the first two frames on the roll were affected:
As a final sanity check, I shot a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400 that I stored the same way (in the same fridge) as the HP5+, using the same camera and lens, loaded it into the same developing tank using the same changing bag, and developed it in the same way as the HP5+ and it shows no fogging at the start of the roll.
Here's a photo of the Tri-X hanging in my shower to dry:
The leader shows no signs of fogging.
It's hard to believe that I'm the only one experiencing this issue with HP5+. I'm sure there are others on Photrio using this film stock so it's a bit odd that I haven't read any other complaints here.
In any case, I've contacted Ilford again and sent them the above images. Hopefully they can resolve this issue soon or I'll have to consider switching film stocks again.
As surprising as it seems, it certainly seems to be a problem with the film itself. As a site sponsor, Ilford should be responding to this. Their lack of response indicates to me that they're trying to cover things up. That may or may not be the case, but the silence from them isn't helping their cause.
I would suggest taking one of the new rolls, and pulling about a foot or so from the canister in a darkroom or changing bag. Load that short piece into your tank and develop as normal. Cut a new leader profile on the remaining film in the canister, then load that in your camera to shoot.
If the initial foot long section has light leak marks past the normal leader length, then that could indicate a problem with the film manufacture, since the film never went in a camera. If the rest of the roll that is used in your camera has the light leaks, then it could indicate some problem with the camera.
I would suggest taking one of the new rolls, and pulling about a foot or so from the canister in a darkroom or changing bag. Load that short piece into your tank and develop as normal. Cut a new leader profile on the remaining film in the canister, then load that in your camera to shoot.
If the initial foot long section has light leak marks past the normal leader length, then that could indicate a problem with the film manufacture, since the film never went in a camera. If the rest of the roll that is used in your camera has the light leaks, then it could indicate some problem with the camera.
MattKing
Moderator
Ilford have not actively monitored the posts here for several years. The best way to ensure that they become aware of an issue is to either contact them directly through the Contact form on their website, or reach out to them via Private Conversation to @Harman Tech Service .
They responded quickly to the OP by arranging to send replacement film. It appears that there is still a problem.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I have pretty much eliminated the camera as the cause since this issue has occurred with multiple cameras and has not occurred with other film stocks.
I'm going to develop the other rolls I shot recently and see how it goes. They're already shot so there's not much I can do to avoid the fogging at this point.
Hopefully Ilford can find the root cause of this problem and correct it soon. I've only recently switched to using HP5+ and really like the film (and the company), but I won't continue to use it and lose images indefinitely.
In typical Ilford fashion, I've received a very quick reply to my latest email. I won't post it here so as not to share private communications, but it effectively says that they are aware of an intermittent issue although it's only been reported by a relatively small number of customers. They are actively working to resolve it. As they've done before, they have offered some additional replacement films to compensate me for any lost images, for which I am appreciative.
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It might be better if they sent you a bulk roll? I was wondering why I have never had this problem, but realised that my HP5+ stock is at least a decade old and self-loaded.
Maybe, but I honestly have no desire to bulk load my film. And to be honest, I feel like I've already invested enough time in debugging this problem.
MattKing
Moderator
It may very well be a problem with the cassettes, not the film.
Exactly, Matt.
That's what Ilford believes. They've suspected that since this issue first arose.
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It's also the most logical explanation given that it consistently appears only at the start of the roll. It's apparently something related to the felt light trap.
That's exactly what they're looking into.
MattKing
Moderator
As Harman make their own cassettes, they at least shouldn't have problems with communication with the cassette supplier! 
As Harman make their own cassettes, they at least shouldn't have problems with communication with the cassette supplier!
But they apparently use an outside supplier for the velvet light trap.
In pentausuario's thread https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/nicos-latest-film-news.202285/, the commentator talks about a conversation with ilford and problems behind the doors, which could not be shared. Minute 7:05
are we maybe facing those hidden problems behind the doors?. Just a question.
are we maybe facing those hidden problems behind the doors?. Just a question.
Fogging at the start of a roll is what's known as a loss leader. 
Fogging at the start of a roll is what's known as a loss leader.
*rimshot*
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