I recently had many 5x7 sheets of Efke PL100 processed by an excellent "professional" lab and the results were gorgeous. I liked them so much that I exposed about 20 more negatives and took them in.
The lab uses a continuous process machine; this time about 6 of the negatives came through with what the tech described as a "goo" on the surface and the negatives with the goo got stuck on the rollers in the dryer unit and were bent and ruined. Gorgeous, but the plastic is creased! These were all from the same box as all the other PL100 sheets I've shot. They had to take the dryer apart and clean the rollers. The "goo" appeared to be on the emulsion side.
Indeed, the rest of the negatives from this batch (same box, same batch from Efke) came out fine.
Any one else had this problem? Any idea what is going on? It is pretty disappointing having some crucial negatives ruined. The lab attributes this to irregular Q.C. at a small "boutique" shop like Efke.
Paul Butler
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