Speckling in Negatives

steveo_mcg

steveo_mcg

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Steven
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So I've now exhausted every variable I can think off. Almost every roll of Fp4 120 I've shot in the last 18 months has had this weird speckling pattern across the negative.
At first I though it was the developer that was oxidised so I made up a fresh batch of Obsidian Aqua, no dice, de-ionised water, ditto. So I purchased some PyroCat and guess what, still there.
However the last roll I shot and developed over two days has come out fine.

I've since examined a developed but unscanned roll of RPX 25 and its clear as is the Tri-x I shot in March. (Don't ask why I didn't think of that before buying a new developer)

Previous Fp4 (from the lakes :() do not exhibit this issue. Film is in date, Though I think it was expiring around October this year.

Frankly I'm confused. Bad batch of film, bad reaction to storage (in the fridge), something else? Not sure how much more of that batch I have, actually not sure what batch it is now all the boxes have long since gone.

On the plus side I'm quite happy with PyroCat but sure whether to stick it back in storage till I finish the OA though.

Its pretty bad in this one, and obvious once its blown up a bit. Its clear in the shadow but still present in the white background.
2016-11-FP4-RB67006 by Steven, on Flickr

Zoom by Steven, on Flickr

This sky in this one is basically trashed
Peaks tree by Steven, on Flickr
Peaks tree zoom by Steven, on Flickr

This one is from Monday, I don't think it has the same issue but frankly I'm not sure if I'm just chasing it and worrying it is there. Frankly this is killing my enthusiasm, worrying every roll is buggered or worse seeing hours of work unusable.
Lothian Buses Deopt Longstone by Steven, on Flickr
 
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simon ess said:
You don't mention fixer.

When I had a similar issue it was the fixer.

If it doesn't turn out to be the fixer I shall eat this 2B pencil.
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Nope, fresh fixer. The fixer had gone very pungent so I replaced it before doing any of these. And its the same batch across the recent rolls.
 
simon ess said:
How old is the fixer you made the new batch from?
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Freshly opened bottle from the store, purchased probably 12 months before. However its the same batch that also done the tri-x and latest FP4 with no apparent issues.
 
Hmmm, interesting.

I'll see what other suggestions come in.

I've spread some jam on the pencil but I'm not yet entirely convinced.

;)
 
simon ess said:
Hmmm, interesting.

I'll see what other suggestions come in.

I've spread some jam on the pencil but I'm not yet entirely convinced.

;)
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Having said that, I'm looking at the RPX again and tbh I think it might have same issue. Next stop fresh fixer. Last variable.

It can't be the fixer, the FP4 I shot in April but only recently developed was done in the same batch of chemicals as the roll from Monday. I've been round this in my head a few dozen times and I'm getting very confused but if I limit the effect to these two rolls the only variable is the film.
 
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dmb said:
Contact Ilford customer service, it could be a backing paper issue. They are very keen on possible problems.
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Yeah I think that's where this is heading. I've got one roll left from the peaks I've not developed so I guess for science I should get fresh fixer just to make sure.
 
I'd definitely talk to Ilford. Might be worth sending another roll of the suspect batch to them to dev for you when you next use it. If they get the same results then you know it's a duff film. If you use a loupe can you see the speckles?
 
srichards said:
I'd definitely talk to Ilford. Might be worth sending another roll of the suspect batch to them to dev for you when you next use it. If they get the same results then you know it's a duff film. If you use a loupe can you see the speckles?
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Actually thats a good shout, My stock is depleted so I've used all the film from that batch so the only one I have left is the one I've not developed. I'll shoot them an email summary of this thread and see if they have any suggestions and if they'd perhaps like to develop that film as a final idiot test.

Yeah the issue is on the negative.
 
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