Yet another "What is wrong with my negs?" Question

[phillip_p._dimor]

Hello all. I've been searching the forums for the past few days and

have not found any significant clues to my recurring problems with

film development. Please let me explain.

 

I've been developing and processing black and white film for several

years now and have recently made the switch from 35mm to mf.

My 35mm negatives were generally fine, ie. no uniform or random

scratches, pinholes or other defects in the processed film.

Heck, I can process four 4x5 sheets in my uniroller and they come

out perfect every time..

 

I recently ripped through 15 rolls of Ilford Delta 400, 120 size in

my Pentax 645. I developed the first few rolls as usual in my trusty

Paterson tank. The film buckled between the grooves and was kinked

up. So I bought an OLD Jobo 2000 tank with reel for $3 at the local

photo shop. The jobo reel was a joy to use, as the film easily slid

into and out of the reel without kinking. I was very happy with my

find until I tapped the tank on a counter to dislodge any airbells

while fixing and cracked the tank.

 

So I then bought a stainless steel tank (single 120 tank) and a Hewes

reel. This is great. The Hewes reel is a joy and everyone who

recommends it really knows what they are talking about. I loaded the

film (film #8 by now) first try, without a hitch.

 

Now the kicker.. Every single roll has some sort of defect on it.

I have small pinholes on some frames. Clear circular spots on maybe

two or three frames out of the 8 or so rolls I've developed.

 

Every negative has a series of parallel lines/scratches which seem

like they'd be from my film back, but the are wavy in nature. They

run the length of the film, but start at the corner of the film and

travel down and across and back in long arcs. There are often three

or four of these lines and they are even in spacing. Very very fine

scratches, but still noticable with a loupe.

 

Some frames seem like they are missing parts of the emulsion.

The film base is fine, but there are tiny specks missing.

The specks are randomly shaped, but not like scratches/arcs/lines..

More like octagons/rocks/grains of sand..

 

I develop with PMK, 1:2:100 for 15 minutes at 70F. I used a water

bath for half of the rolls, the other half without. Water stop bath

and fix with regular Kodak fixer. I agitate vigorously for the first

minute, then I ease up a bit for the duration. Post-development

after-soak with the used developer and then I wash with tap water.

The water is well water and I've tested it, albeit with a cheap

ph/mineral testing kit. The water seems fine. I don't squeegee or

touch the film although I shake the reel to dislodge any water drops.

The film hangs inside a spare room with a dehumidifier running and

the film is generally dry in a half hour.

 

1) Is it the water? (I'm going to try distilled anyhow)

 

2) Is it my agitation? (The reel kind of bumps around the ss tank)

 

3) Is it my Pentax 645 Film Back or the film guide/roller on the

inside of the body? It seems clean. I've blown compressed air and

wiped with rubbing alcohol.. Checked for burrs and rough spots, too)

 

4) Is it the developer? Bad karma? A sign to give up?

 

I'm sorry for most likely asking questions which have been answered a

million times before, I just need some pointers or reassurance that

I will someday be able to process perfect negatives.. It's very

frustrating to have taken what seems to be the greatest pictures of

my life and have them ruined by small imperfections and

irregularities. Thank you for your time.

[jimvanson]

I'd really like to see the film (not a scan, rather the full strip)...but...<P>Do you have another insert? Do you have another 120 camera? Do you have a different reel?....I'm very tempted to tell you to soup a new fogged roll of 120 that <i>has not</i> been run through the camera. If there are marks on it then look at your processing...no marks then I'd concentrate on the camera.<p>I can't see it being the water or the agitation as it is full length.<p>And it can't be karma, it's a Pentax afterall...

[phillip_p._dimor]

I will develop a fogged roll and see how it turns out.

Unfortunately I only have one insert although I do have another camera, it's a generic Chinese TLR from the 50s or 60s. I've put maybe six rolls through it, tops. Never recall having a problem other than spacing and fogging issues. No scratches. Hmmm...

 

The environment in which I was shooting wasn't exactly clean.

It was an abandoned mental hospital (A Kirkbride building) which was built in the 1850s. Dust, plaster, paint chips.. Everywhere.

I could have gotten a bit of something or other in the insert and that could definitely have gouged up the film. Live and learn I suppose. I'll develop the fogged roll without putting it through the camera and let you know. Thank you for your response.

[silent1]

<i>Every negative has a series of parallel lines/scratches which seem like they'd be from my film back, but the are wavy in nature. They run the length of the film, but start at the corner of the film and travel down and across and back in long arcs. There are often three or four of these lines and they are even in spacing. Very very fine scratches, but still noticable with a loupe.</i><p>

 

Take your film squeegee and drop it into the nearest trash receptable. Use Photo-Flo or similar wetting agent in the final rinse, and hang the film by a corner with a weight on the opposite corner. Don't touch the wet film with anything.<p>

 

This may not help the missing emulsion bits -- but then again, it may. It will almost certainly help the scratches, which (if not parallel to the film) can't come from the insert or pressure plate -- but easily could come from the film squeegee.

[johnmarkpainter]

Well....

You are using PMK. You are doing the crazy recommended Agitation right? It really

sounds like you are getting lots of air bubbles in the development stage.

 

Also, shouldn't you be using a different fixer with PMK? Are you familiar with T-4

Fixer from Photographer's Formulary?

 

As for the scratches....probably in your camera. I have had several old cameras that I

had to buff out using a Dremel and really fine sandpaper (don't get dirt in the

curtain!!).

 

john

[phillip_p._dimor]

Thank you for all the responses and help. My film insert must have had some crud in it or something.. After I cleaned it with a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol and vacuumed it out, the scratches have disappeared. Seems kind of obvious, now that I think about it.

Although the only scratches i've seen, have been with bulk loaded 35mm film. Those scratches were straight for the most part.

My scratches were very long arcs. As for the missing bits of emulsion, I attribute that to plain sloppiness somewhere or other. I've yet to see another roll come out like that, and i've developed another dozen since then.

 

Guess the moral of the story is; Clean your film inserts and backs regularly!