problems with kodak portra 160

[tom_kondrat]

<p>I bought kodak portra 160 (120) from the main kodak distributor in Taiwan. I've been buying films from him for years and I've never had problems before. I took some pictures for my project in July. I developed them in Jazz Image in Taipei (pro lab) and scanned with my Epson v700. I noticed that on most of the pictures there are visible 'kodak' words and film numbers. At first I thought that it is because of my camera, that it got wet inside (I use Mamiya 6) and it made the films moist. I went to camera repair shop to make sure all is good. The guy told me that this type of signs are the result of hot weather on film. I used the films two days after buying them and I don't think they were affected by hot weather in the meantime or after shooting. I asked the film seller about the possible reason and he said that sometimes different film batches might have some problems. The expiry date of those films was 01/2017 so I thought - maybe it was the problem of the films. But then I bought more films from him, scanned recently and I have the same problem (expiry date is 06/2017). When I asked him, how he stores his films, he said, he keeps them inside the fridge but they were never cold when I bought them. What do you think might be the reason for this problem? Could it be my camera (film gets wet), bad developing (Jazz Image's fault), bad storing by seller (too hot in the summer), problems with kodak portra 160 or something else? I am about to go for a trip and need to order 100 films. I need to make sure there are no problems this time. Also I am very unhappy about this issue. Please see the examples. One film was very bad, the rest is not so obvious (need to enlarge the picture to see it).<br /><br>

<a href="https://goo.gl/photos/vKdoQ6jTHvJsKyaQ6">https://goo.gl/photos/vKdoQ6jTHvJsKyaQ6</a></p><div></div>

[eugen_mezei]

<p>If it is a trip abroad, than just don’t order from him.</p>

[tom_kondrat]

<p>if I were 100% sure that the problem is the seller, I wouldn't have asked this question. as I wrote, he is the main kodak distributor for the whole country and I've been buying films from him for years. never had problems before. only this year. also I don't think I could buy kodak portra 160 in the country where I am planning to go (at least at the reasonable price, also not very reliable). I want to make sure it's not the camera, weather, lab, kodak or anything else before I go. I thought someone here might have had similar problem before and could help me.</p>

[Member69643]

<p>Interesting. Kodak recently admitted they had a problem, caused by heat that damaged some Tmax400 120 film during transit to the seller. That could be the case here. Just a guess. It's odd that this hasn't happened before. Has the source for the backing paper for Kodak 120 film changed?</p>

[Fotohuis RoVo]

<p>Problems with sticky backing paper and ink has occured for some batches of <strong>B&W Kodak roll films</strong>:</p>

<p>Kodak T-Max 400<br />Emulsion 0148 004 through 0152<br /><br />Kodak T-Max 100<br />Emulsion 0961 through 0981<br /><br />Kodak Tri-X<br />Emulsion 0871 though 0931<br /><br /><img src="http://www.johnsexton.com/images/Wetmore_T-Max_400_Backing_6S.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Please direct additional questions to: <a href="mailto:profilm@kodakalaris.com">profilm@kodakalaris.com</a></p>

<p>In this Kodak Portra 160 case I would contact Kodak Alaris too.</p>

[tom_kondrat]

<p>reply from Kodak:<br>

<br />'Based on your images, we believe this film may have experienced some abnormal shipping / storage conditions after it left the factory and our warehouse.</p>

<p >In particular, the attached image looks like the backing paper was stuck to the emulsion.</p>

<p >In January of this year we implemented some changes to make our backing paper more robust in the face of less than ideal shipping or storage conditions. We believe that this should substantially reduce the potential for this type of problem going forward.<br>

PORTRA 160 produced with this new paper starts with emulsion <strong>6132</strong>. '</p>

[glen_h]

<p>I usually wonder why this doesn't happen more. The back of the paper is in contact with the emulsion, sometimes for many years. This could get worse bringing cold film into a warm humid environment, and outside the foil package, including inside the camera. I presume over the years, Kodak has found optimal inks for this use. (I have used VP over 40 years old without this problem.)</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p> he keeps them inside the fridge but they were never cold when I bought them.<br>

</p>

</blockquote>

<p>It is usual for retailers to keep enough for one day out of the refrigerator, assuming that the room temperature isn't too high. If you ask, they will probably sell them cold. It takes an hour or so to warm up, which you should do before opening the sealed package. </p>

[craig_shearman1]

<p>Other issues aside, how could the inside of your camera get wet? Enough moisture, let alone actual wetness, to cause something like this would also likely significantly damage the camera and cause the film to jam. I've never in 40 years of photography had the inside of a camera get wet, not even when shooting in pouring rain, at the beach or out on a boat.</p>

[glen_h]

<p>If you bring a frozen roll into a warm humid environment, some water will condense on, and even a little farther into the roll. Note that Kodak requests warming frozen and refrigerated film before opening the sealed package.</p>

<p>It isn't so obvious how much water it takes to get the backing paper to stick to the emulsion. I do know it doesn't take much to make the emulsion sticky. Just try loading a reel in a changing back with sweaty hands. </p>

[tom_kondrat]

<p>Craig: have you ever been shooting during typhoon in the tropical climate?</p>

[craig_shearman1]

Hurricane on US east coast yes. Typhoon in

tropics no.

[bebu_lamar]

<p>The words comming from the paper backing? I asked because I have used abused 35mm film and do have problems but not this type.</p>

[glen_h]

<p>For 120, words come from the paper backing. For 35mm, the emulsion could stick to the back of the next turn on the roll. It doesn't take much moisture for film to get sticky.</p>

<p>I think I am still surprise that it works as well as it does. </p>

[tom_kondrat]

<p>you are right, Craig. it is not the problem of the weather conditions...</p>

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>From Kodak's reply, I sense that they have had problems with this which is the reason they made changes to their production. The least they could do is to send you 10 free rolls.</p>