What is wrong with my film?

Hi, all. It has been awhile since I have last shot any film. Last week, I went to Fujisan with a Horseman SW617 Pro + Ilford PanF 50.

Upon developing the 2 rolls of film I have shot, I discover that the highlight area of the film has white dots that looks like snow flakes and also some banding on the vertical side.

Please look at the 3 images:

My question:

1. Is this a film problem? The film is still within its date of use.

2. Is this a development problem? Old fixer, improper loading, etc.

3. Is this a influence by cold air during the time of exposure (-6 degree)?

4. Is it because I didn't cover the cover in dark clothe resulting in banding? (30mins exposure)

I am open to any advice and I will have to practice more.

Thank you in Advance.

Keep in mind you're dealing with negatives, so white spot on your scans will be black spots on your negatives. Dust and other contaminants will show up as white spots. So that might be all it is.

As for the banding, that's trickier. I once had a really bad banding problem with a roll of medium format I developed. I was using a tank that has the spindle that you twirl for agitation. Turns out I was twirling that spindle too fast and that's what caused the banding. Next time I developed a roll using that tank, I was very gentle when I spun the spindle. Problem eliminated. Your banding isn't nearly as bad as mine was but it could be caused by the same thing if you're twirling a spindle to agitate your developer.

After a while, I retired that tank and bought a nice Paterson tank that required I go through a cycle of inversions to agitate the developer. I think this method works better because mixing is more thorough.

Is this on more than one roll of film? Same problems on each roll? It is especially important on medium and large format to agitate very gently. If you do it roughly or simply shake it then that banding is exactly what you will get. My rule is 5 seconds every 30 seconds and gently. When you develop film do you pre-soak with water? Best to do so and make sure the temp is right there with your chemistry. Make sure there is nothing floating around in the chemistry, undissolved powder or trash. Also when you pour the developer in the tank gently tap the bottom of the tank against a hard surface and get rid of any air bubbles that might have formed. Run a test roll out of the same batch you used for this post and see what happens. I'm don't know how much of this work you've done in the past and I don't mean to treat you as a rookie but this is how I develop b&w film all the time and I have not had the problems you are showing here doing it this way. Especially on medium format if you don't agitate you will get uneven development and on any format if you shake the crap out of it grain structure will suffer.

Rick H.

The spots is everywhere, and I didn't do the development myself as I was having it scanned.

I think it might be the chemical and also their technique

Hi

Yes I would support the idea that the problems are development related. The streaks look a bit like bromide drag. Endorse Rick's recommendations.

Regards, Arthur (apiarist1)

Is this on more than one roll of film? Same problems on each roll? It is especially important on medium and large format to agitate very gently. If you do it roughly or simply shake it then that banding is exactly what you will get. My rule is 5 seconds every 30 seconds and gently. When you develop film do you pre-soak with water? Best to do so and make sure the temp is right there with your chemistry. Make sure there is nothing floating around in the chemistry, undissolved powder or trash. Also when you pour the developer in the tank gently tap the bottom of the tank against a hard surface and get rid of any air bubbles that might have formed. Run a test roll out of the same batch you used for this post and see what happens. I'm don't know how much of this work you've done in the past and I don't mean to treat you as a rookie but this is how I develop b&w film all the time and I have not had the problems you are showing here doing it this way. Especially on medium format if you don't agitate you will get uneven development and on any format if you shake the crap out of it grain structure will suffer.

 

Rick H.

Thanks for the tips. I normally do my own development but since there's a toddler boy at home, I stop doing that for quite awhile.

This is done by a lab. After this experience, I will do it at home by myself again.