Uneven Agitation?

<p>Hello.</p>

<p>As you can see there is an uneven dark area on the left side of this scan. There is (as expected) a corresponding light area on the neg. It is present to a lesser degree on other negs from the same roll, but not all. From the look of it--the sort of 'scooped' edge--I suspect uneven agitation in the lab. I had a roll of chromes developed at the same time, which showed no sign of <em>this</em> problem, but which had three frames damaged in the lab. (They acknowledged this.) This adds to my belief that the lab fell down on the job. I just want to know if more experienced darkroom workers concur in my opinion; if so, I will change labs. :(</p>

<p>Camera was a Mamiya C330f with 65mm and 80mm lenses. Film Acros 100.</p>

<p>Thanks to all,<br /> Les</p>

<p>Here's the image. Duh!</p><div></div>

<p>Without knowing their equipment I will have to go by what I see and agree with you.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I just want to know if more experienced darkroom workers concur in my opinion; if so, I will change labs.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Les, I have a great deal of lab experience, and while my tendency is to concur, I really don't have enough info to be sure about it. If it were me, I would probably speak to the lab, asking if THEY have any idea as to what went wrong. If I had been using them successfully for some time, their attitude and ability to explain would have a lot to do with whether I stayed there or not. (I would certainly want to see some 100% successful test rolls before giving them anything important.)</p>

<p>I would keep in mind the possibility that this was something other than a lab problem, far-fetched as it may seem. In my considerable lab-troubleshooting experience, I've seen a number of cases where the "obvious" problem turned out not to be the case (I'll tell a story or two if you're interested).</p>

Normally I would look at:

1.) Film touching other film and not getting developed and or cleared.

2.) Exhausted developer.

3.) Some combination of heat or development time not working.

4.) Chemistry contaminated with something else.

5.) Light leak.

6.) Not fixed or cleared properly.

 

Now, what your lab is likely to have done, Im not sure. But the image is a little flat, so maybe

exhausted developer.

<p>My guess is something to do with the level of the developer in the tank. On a Mamiya 330, the pictures run up and down the length of the roll, as opposed to back and forth across. But when the film is on its edge on a reel in the tank, either the left or right side of the image is at the top. If the tank wasn't quite full, the top edge of the roll might not be fully immersed in developer. Enough agitation would slosh it around enough that the area would get developed, but maybe not as fully as the rest, resulting in a different density and maybe the wavy line you can see here. If that made the negative thinner in that area, you would have a corresponding darker area in the print. That line is pretty clear. You should have the same problem on the entire roll if my theory is correct. I'm assuming hand processing, not machine.<br /><br />As for the color, very possible that their handling for color is completely different than B&W, maybe even an automated machine.</p>

<p>I think I'm going back to NCPS. Never had a problem with them</p>