Topic: Develped three rolls, and one was dead.

[Jeff Warden]

Hi all,

Has this ever happened to you?  Today I developed three rolls of Plus-X.  The first roll was successful (this pic is from the first roll).

The second roll was developed the same way, same chemicals, etc, and poof, nothing.  After the final rinse I found only clear film, no images at all, as if I had left the lens cap on for an entire roll.  Drat!

So I exposed a few test images just to double-check my process and developed the test roll.  The test roll was perfect.

It couldn't have been the lens cap thing because I don't use one, so I'm at a loss.  All the film was purchased and stored together too.  Ah one of life's mysteries, what can be done.

 

Jeff

[Late Developer]

Jeff,

As your developing technique (i.e. wrong temperature, trying to use fixer as developer, etc.) seems to be without question, there's appears to be only four other possible options:

- Dead roll of film. Unlikely but not impossible.
- Duff camera. Unlikely for the reasons you state - and why would it suddenly spring back to life in time for the third roll?
- Duff chemicals (if a completely separate batch was mixed / used for the second film). Very unlikely if they came out of the same bottle as the first.
- Some sort of procedural issue - such as developing a roll of unexposed film. Did you process the correct roll? Do you always mark exposed rolls that are for processing or store them separate from unexposed rolls? Did you have more than three rolls of the film type you used? Could one of the ones you have left in your bag be the second, unprocessed, roll??

I had a similar thing happen to me a couple of years ago. I don't process my own so, when I got to the lab, I was greeted by a lot of apologetic comments and a completely blank, but crystal clear, roll of film that should have had some woodland / bluebell scenes on it.

All very weird and I never found a roll of undeveloped film that turned out to be the "phantom" roll.

I hope you find yours in the bottom of your bag someday soon but if not - and since you've tested your technique - all you can do is live with it and move on. If you think it might be procedural, chance your handling procedure to put exposed film in a separate pocket in your bag (if you don't already).

Also, after rewinding an exposed roll of film, never leave the film "leader" sticking out of the canister (35mm) as, if you do, you could double-expose a roll as I did once. These days I leave the film in the maker's box until I need it. All exposed film goes in a different pocket to unexposed rolls.

I'm sorry but I just can't think of anything else that might have caused the mishap.........

[LT]

1 question to ask here:

Are the frame numbers/ manufacturers markings visible on the blank film?

Yes = unexposed film but correct processing

No = incorrect processing - you probably used the fixer instead of the developer.

It's very rare for a single film to be dodgy - it is made in huge master rolls which are then cut to size with regular quality testing throughout. If 1 film is bad, the whole master roll would be, something that testing would pick up. 

[Randy B]

I had a similar thing happen once. I didn't load properly and the film didn't catch the advancing wheel. So I exposed the same frame 36 times and the rest of the roll was clear. Doh. Since you didn't have one black frame this probably wasn't the issue though.

My guess is you put in the fixer first on accident.

[Jeff Warden]

1 question to ask here:

Are the frame numbers/ manufacturers markings visible on the blank film?

Yes = unexposed film but correct processing

No = incorrect processing - you probably used the fixer instead of the developer.  

Hi Leon, and thanks to you and everyone for the helpful comments.

I can see the frame numbers on the blank film.  I must have developed an unexposed roll.  I am in the habit of marking the exposed rolls when I get home from shooting, but in this case I think I marked an unexposed roll. I need to be more careful.   

[Jeff Warden]

Jeff,

Also, after rewinding an exposed roll of film, never leave the film "leader" sticking out of the canister (35mm) as, if you do, you could double-expose a roll as I did once. These days I leave the film in the maker's box until I need it. All exposed film goes in a different pocket to unexposed rolls.

I'm guilty of always leaving the leader out, which of course makes extracting the film easier, but can lead to problems if I'm careless with handling and storage.  I also mix exposed with unexposed rolls in my pockets, so it seems I have been inviting some sort of mayhem.  :-)

Looks like I need to revisit my out-of-the-darkroom process.

Thanks again,

Jeff

[gothamtomato]

If the film was totally clear, it likely never went through the camera. Do you check to make sure the rewind wheel is turning when you advance from frame to frame?

[choppert]

Jeff,

Also, after rewinding an exposed roll of film, never leave the film "leader" sticking out of the canister (35mm) as, if you do, you could double-expose a roll as I did once. These days I leave the film in the maker's box until I need it. All exposed film goes in a different pocket to unexposed rolls.

I'm guilty of always leaving the leader out, which of course makes extracting the film easier, but can lead to problems if I'm careless with handling and storage.  I also mix exposed with unexposed rolls in my pockets, so it seems I have been inviting some sort of mayhem.  :-)

Looks like I need to revisit my out-of-the-darkroom process.

Thanks again,

Jeff

Someone posted a useful hint the other day - when you've rewound a film and want to leave the leader out, just fold a bit of the leader back on itself.  That way a crinkly leader means you've already exposed the film!  I like the simple things in life!

[Francois]

I just let the film rewind all the way in and use a bottle opener to get it back out... no possible error there.

[Dave Elden]

If the film was totally clear, it likely never went through the camera. Do you check to make sure the rewind wheel is turning when you advance from frame to frame?

I teach an intro to B&W darkroom course, I think every time a student has had a roll like this (edge markings present but no exposure in the frame area after processing) it is because the film didn't catch on the take-up roll.  My money is on that cause here.
(BTW I tell students there are two kinds of photographers in the world - those that have done this at least once and those that will...)