Strange results with Exactol-Lux

schroeg · May 13, 2007

I have been having wonderful results with this developer - exclusively with Bergger and Efke 120 film. Last night I tried three different types of 4x5 sheets (T-Max, Efke and Bergger) and there is nothing whatsoever on the negs. I use a Uniroller and used the very same process as when I develop the 120 rolls.

My Polaroid shot before the 4x5 film exposures was fine.

I have no explantion for this at all. Has anyone else run into this behavior with Exactol?

Tom Hoskinson · May 13, 2007

I have never used Exactol and don't know what is in it. Contact the developer manufacturer, give them a description of your problem and ask for their recommendations.

Blighty · May 13, 2007

Strange this. I've used Exactol Lux and it does, as you say, give wonderful results, although for some reason it gave crap results with FP4. One of the 2 part solutions lasts indefinitely, while the other - I'm not sure which one - has a (relatively) short shelf life. Maybe your dev. has just conked out. But, even if this was the case, you'd expect to see some kind of image. Hmmmmm..

Tom Hoskinson · May 13, 2007

schroeg said:
I have been having wonderful results with this developer - exclusively with Bergger and Efke 120 film. Last night I tried three different types of 4x5 sheets (T-Max, Efke and Bergger) and there is nothing whatsoever on the negs. I use a Uniroller and used the very same process as when I develop the 120 rolls.

My Polaroid shot before the 4x5 film exposures was fine.

I have no explantion for this at all. Has anyone else run into this behavior with Exactol?

If you were using the Photographers Formulary version of this developer,

Call Photographers Formulary at: 406-754-2891 and describe your problem.

schroeg · May 13, 2007

Blighty,

I did a roll of 120 Bergger after the 4x5 mystery and it was perfect. This is one for the Twilight Zone.

Tom Stanworth · May 14, 2007

I found that Eaxctol lux lasted longer than stated. It is very similar to pyrocat HD and so there should be no sudden death issues. I for one found it no worse with FP4 than anything else but maybe I have low standards

It is not the film.
It is not the dev.

The only thing I can think of is either human error (ie you mixed it up wrong with the sheet film and fine with subsequent roll - was it mixed fresh from concentrate each time or did you keep working solution hanging about?). A shutter fault is possible with teh LF lens you were using maybe?

Did you buy this recently as I have not heard it mentioned much since BT's death.

Rgds

schroeg · May 14, 2007

Tom,

I mixed it on the spot the same as always. And I took a Polaroid before the
shots with film and it was fine - that should rule out the shutter. I just don't get this. Oh Well!

GS

m_liddell · May 14, 2007

I've been using Exactol lux for 3 years now and never had a problem other than the time I forgot to add the second part of the dev

Pyrocat isn't available commecially in the UK so exactol is a good (though pricey) alternative.

lee · May 14, 2007

maybe the film had received no exposure?

lee\c

Thomas Bertilsson · May 14, 2007

What about putting the film in the fixer first? That would clear it pretty nicely.

-Thomas

m_liddell · May 14, 2007

I'd usually ask if the frame numbers etc. had come out on the film indicating an exposure problem not a dev one, but I'm guessing 4x5 doesn't have these.

Tom Stanworth · May 15, 2007

Sounds like the time I developed some rolls togethe and one roll of Delta 400 was partially reversed. All others were fine. Never figured that out!

If teh polaroid used same lens as you say that rules out the shutter. If mixed up fresh that rules out dead working solution. Did the films that went blank get processed in seperate batches or together in one tank in one go? The likelihood of human error several times seperately thenremedying itself is slim!

Strange results with Exactol-Lux

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