Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 21

Thread: Poor quality B&W Film or??

  1. #1
    4x5 RmFrase's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Lewisville, Texas
    Posts
    253

    Poor quality B&W Film or??

    As I'm still new to film, and new to Film Development, I'm puzzled about the specks in the negative. Initially, convenced that it was dust specks on the scanner, I throughly cleanded the glass with a lens cleaner and lent-free lens cloth.
    I then re-scanned the image and stacked the images together - but the specs were in exactly the same place.
    So, I cleaned the negative also, and re-scanned. Still the same specks in the same place.

    Film used: Efke 50-ISO
    Kodak D76

    I take it there's no escape from having these specks on the print?

    Your thoughts?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Capture01.jpg  
    RmFrase

    Shen Hao TZ45IIb 4x5
    Horseman L45 4x5
    Canon 6D Mark II
    75mm, 90mm, 150mm, 210mm, 240mm
    Epson V700 Scanner

  2. #2
    Format Omnivore Brian C. Miller's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 1999
    Location
    Everett, WA
    Posts
    2,997

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    A few thoughts leap to mind:

    What resolution did you use to scan the film?
    Did you look at the film with a loupe (like 22x) and a light box?
    Have you used films other than Efke? (like Kodak and Ilford)
    You have heard of film grain, right?

    Efke isn't known for its quality. I tried some Efke in 120 and 4x5, and there were spots where the emulsion just wasn't there. If, using a loupe, you can see lots of little black spots on the negative corresponding to white spots on the print, then it is oh-so-definitely the film. You might have better results using a different developer. I think these are huge grain clumps.

    You can get rid of these using a blur filter.
    "It's the way to educate your eyes. Stare. Pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." - Walker Evans

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Dallas/Novosibirsk
    Posts
    2,205

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    Are you sure its actually film and not real spots of sand in grainy structure, that camera registered as sun reflections?

  4. #4
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,337

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    Certainly doesn't look like a film problem. Efke film can get missing specks or tiny bits of
    embedded whatever from time to time, but it's minor and random. I have heard rumors of
    them selling off a bad batch of 100 speed at one time and it being remarketed at ASA50.

  5. #5
    Octogenarian
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Frisco, Texas
    Posts
    3,532

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    Those white specks are round shaped.

    Looks like the result of an acid/base reaction giving off CO2 bubbles.

    Developer is highly alkaline. Did you use a strong acidic stop bath and/or fixer?

  6. #6
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,337

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    I doesn't look quite like frilling, but might be anyway. With Efke you're not supposed to use
    an acid stop bath unless its very weak, or the emulsion might lift. Hot wash water is also
    a no-no (the gelatin melts at a lower temp than most films). And you weren't using hypo
    clear were you, after fixing?

  7. #7
    4x5 RmFrase's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Lewisville, Texas
    Posts
    253

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian C. Miller View Post
    A few thoughts leap to mind:

    What resolution did you use to scan the film?
    Did you look at the film with a loupe (like 22x) and a light box?
    Have you used films other than Efke? (like Kodak and Ilford)
    You have heard of film grain, right?

    Efke isn't known for its quality. I tried some Efke in 120 and 4x5, and there were spots where the emulsion just wasn't there. If, using a loupe, you can see lots of little black spots on the negative corresponding to white spots on the print, then it is oh-so-definitely the film. You might have better results using a different developer. I think these are huge grain clumps.

    You can get rid of these using a blur filter.


    What resolution did you use to scan the film?
    Scanned at 3200 DPI

    Did you look at the film with a loupe (like 22x) and a light box?
    Only have an 8x Loop, and don't own a light box.

    Have you used films other than Efke? (like Kodak and Ilford)
    Have used Kodak, but not Ilford (not yet)
    Don't remember Kodak being this bad.

    You have heard of film grain, right?
    Yes. but this was stated to be "grain free", but I would expect some.
    RmFrase

    Shen Hao TZ45IIb 4x5
    Horseman L45 4x5
    Canon 6D Mark II
    75mm, 90mm, 150mm, 210mm, 240mm
    Epson V700 Scanner

  8. #8
    4x5 RmFrase's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Lewisville, Texas
    Posts
    253

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    Quote Originally Posted by SergeiR View Post
    Are you sure its actually film and not real spots of sand in grainy structure, that camera registered as sun reflections?
    I'm not understanding your statement. I was facing away from the Sun and this image was taken about 5 minutes after sunrise.
    RmFrase

    Shen Hao TZ45IIb 4x5
    Horseman L45 4x5
    Canon 6D Mark II
    75mm, 90mm, 150mm, 210mm, 240mm
    Epson V700 Scanner

  9. #9
    4x5 RmFrase's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Lewisville, Texas
    Posts
    253

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    Quote Originally Posted by Gem Singer View Post
    Those white specks are round shaped.

    Looks like the result of an acid/base reaction giving off CO2 bubbles.

    Developer is highly alkaline. Did you use a strong acidic stop bath and/or fixer?
    The Stop bath was Water only.
    Fixer was Hypo. about 178Grams/Liter Water
    RmFrase

    Shen Hao TZ45IIb 4x5
    Horseman L45 4x5
    Canon 6D Mark II
    75mm, 90mm, 150mm, 210mm, 240mm
    Epson V700 Scanner

  10. #10
    4x5 RmFrase's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Lewisville, Texas
    Posts
    253

    Re: Poor quality B&W Film or??

    Quote Originally Posted by Drew Wiley View Post
    I doesn't look quite like frilling, but might be anyway. With Efke you're not supposed to use
    an acid stop bath unless its very weak, or the emulsion might lift. Hot wash water is also
    a no-no (the gelatin melts at a lower temp than most films). And you weren't using hypo
    clear were you, after fixing?
    Used Water for the Stop Bath.
    Water Temp was 68F/20C
    I used Hypo as the Fixer.
    RmFrase

    Shen Hao TZ45IIb 4x5
    Horseman L45 4x5
    Canon 6D Mark II
    75mm, 90mm, 150mm, 210mm, 240mm
    Epson V700 Scanner

Similar Threads

  1. Poor Quality Poster-size Prints in Public Places
    By Michael Heald in forum On Photography
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 18-Feb-2008, 17:26
  2. Quality of Polaroid 55 pos/neg film?
    By sung in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 15-Aug-2007, 05:47
  3. Film Holder Quality?
    By John Cahill in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 20-Apr-2007, 09:15

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •