uneven dev with jobo cpe2

[wilfbiffherb]

hi,

lately ive been getting a lot of uneven development with mmy jobo cpe2. i think the film is touching in parts on the reel too which is strange as it is definitely all threded on correctly. mostly its just the tail of the film which i think is curling down and touching film below. does anyone know whay this could happen at all?

 

[Andrew K]

can you give us a few more details - what film format, reels and tank used?

a couple of thoughts - not enough chemistry, processor not level..and are you pre-washing your film first - most important thing for even development in my experience..

 

[Sirius Glass]

..and are you pre-washing your film first - most important thing for even development in my experience..

Except for XTOL which Jobo explicitly states not to prewash film.

As posted above, please give us the details: film, developer, temperture, times, volumes of chemicals, tanks, reels. Every one of those matter.

Steve

 

[wilfbiffherb]

i ahve used various films-kodak ektachrome epp, fuji reala, , prove, all 120 format. dev is rollei digibase kit at 38.7oC for 3:15. i use 250ml of chemistr in a jobo 1520 tank using a plastic jobo reel. i leave the jobo for at least 45 minutes each time before starting the dev process. i always start with a presoak but im wondering if that is causing damage.

 

[wilfbiffherb]

oh, and my prewash is for 3 minutes.

 

[Neal]

Dear wilfbiffherb,

A picture of the problem might help people contribute possible causes.

Neal Wydra

 

[Sirius Glass]

Please provide

a scan of the negatives
tanks and reels
developer, stop bath, hypo: type, dilutions, times, temperatures
​

That way we can help you converge on what the problem is and then find a solution for you much faster.

 

[wilfbiffherb]

if you look at this image you can see the top shots are fine but lower down the film is almost opaque. i checked when i was taking it off the reel and this is area of film came form the inner part of the reel.

 

[Neal]

Dear wilfbiffherb,

I couldn't find the link to your attachment.

Neal Wydra

 

[wilfbiffherb]

for some reason i cant post the http. try this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilfbiffherb/5997171647/in/photostream

 

[wilfbiffherb]

I can't see why it would have happened from the camera,I remove the film in a darkbag. I used a plastic jobo reel with the film wound up to the red tab. How long do you normally presoak for?I thought 3 minutes was standard.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

C 41 is the hardest of all films to develop because of short times and high temp.

It should be obvious there is not enough chemistry if the inner wraps are not developing.

I never could get the small reels and tanks to work with C41, Then I got the 2500 tanks with the big reels. The film only makes 4/5 wraps and never goes near the center.

Make sure the tank is turning full speed when you dump the developer in and keep it high for 30 sec.

Even if you have only 1 film in a two reel tank, there needs to be enough developer for two or it does not reach inner wraps.

I never use a presoak. IT IS NOT IN ANY INSTRUCTIONS. It inhibits the free absorption of developer which is critical for a short process.

1520 is a small diameter tank. 120 film is wide so it counts for two. In theory 4 oz is sufficient for one roll of 35 mm or 250 cc for a roll of 120. I can make it work with B&W and E6. Never with C41. I bought the 2500 tanks and wide reels and all was well.

I would hope your 120 is not 220 which will never work in the small tank.

You should run the tank and film empty to temper it to 38 deg c or 100 F . This takes 5 minutes. EMPTY.

 

[Andrew K]

the film also looks fogged along the right hand edge.

Even stranger the frame edge of each negative looks like it runs along the left hand edge of the film. What camera are you using - in over 25 years of working in labs (plus 15 years of being a camera technician) I don't remember seeing a film with a frame so far over to one edge..

 

[wilfbiffherb]

this particular roll was used in a diana. it seems to be a tendency for fuji films only, even in my lubitel. strange. every time i have developed without a presoak i have had extremely patchy dev. this is the same whether im doing c41, xpro or even black and white. i cant bring myself to ditch the process entirely. i may knock it down from 3 min to 2 x 30sec washes as suggested and see how that goes.

 

[michaelbsc]

Look again at the roll he has hanging up. It isn't blank at the bottom end, it is fogged. If it were blank I would agree that he didn't have enough solution in the tank. Since it is fog, there must be another reason.

That's what I saw.

I suspect the light trap in the developing tank.

 

[wilfbiffherb]

hmmm, maybe i better inspect the tank

 

[grahamp]

Is the bottom of the roll in the picture the end of the film (last frames)? If so, I would suspect the end paper not being pulled tight, or a camera back opening. If it is the tank, I wonder if the internal lid funnel was loose, or the center column left out?

 

[Andrew K]

Diana? Was the roll loose (not rolled up tightly) when you took it out of the camera. If it was then it's a light leak in the camera - I've had the same thing happen with one of my Holgas..

 

[wilfbiffherb]

i unloaded the roll in my darkbag so i dont think it would have made any difference if the roll was fat or not to be honest.