Process:

I have developed a roll of Tmax-400 24 exp. The film was developed using Tmax-developer at a temperature of 24a C for 6 minutes and agitated for 5 cycles every 30 seconds.

Problem:

Out of the 24 frames 6 were not properly developed. By this I mean, that 3 frames were completely blank and 3 were ghost images. All 6 frames had the edge print (film manufacturer and frame number) on them. The 3 completely blank frames: the fact that the edge print is present, I think eliminates the possibility that the developer was exhausted/inactive. It does lead me to believe that for some reason the film remained unexposed inside the camera. For the 3 ghost images: I think this could have been caused by the development time being too short, too little agitation, or weak development solution.

The camera that I have used to shoot these frames was a brand new Nikon F100 set to program mode. The lens is a Tamron 28-80 zoom. The stock solution I am using is dated 5/12/99. The concentrate solutions were opened at least 1 year ago.

Question:

What could be causing these blank frames? What is causing the ghost images? Am I doing something wrong during the development process? I have developed the same type of film with these chemicals before and have not had this problem. So the problem seems to be intermittent. I have also shot some frames with a Minolta X700 in full manual mode and the problem occurred as well, this leads me to believe that it cannot possibly be my new Nikon.

Please excuse the long and confused nature of this question. I appreciate anyone!&s help with this problem.

Thank you in advance.

-- Gino Difarnecio (gdifarn@evansville.net), October 03, 1999

Answers

Are the blank frames in sequence? Are the ghost frames in sequence? Where on the roll are they? Does any of the 'blankness' or 'ghosting' spill over onto the adjoining negative? Is the blankness in the negative the same density as the perforated edge of the film?

Despite the fact that you got the same thing happening with two different cameras it sounds to me as though it has to do with the camera/lens. If it were the developer you would not get this area of 'funny' developemnt confined two identifiable frames.

However, I really have not got a clue.

chris

-- Chris Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), October 04, 1999.

Should read:

'to identifiable frames.'

chris

-- Chris Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), October 04, 1999.

I have a ghost problem on my 1952 Agfa folding camera. The problem comes from a small light leak in the shutter when cocking it. A lot like a double exposure. My solution is simple, put my hand over the lens when arming the shutter. I know that this is slow and primitive, but so is the rest of this camera. I hope this helps. Have the cameras checked.

-- Andy Clements (a_clements2@juno.com), October 04, 1999.

Were you using flash? Maybe on some shots there wasn't enough time for the flash to recycle. You won't see the flash if you close one eye when you take the picture because the viewfinder blacks out. Long live rangefinders and TLRs!

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), October 06, 1999.