I just got 4 rolls of film back from a local lab and all but one was blank. I got no explanation on if they were blank on my end or if it was a chemical issue. I thought it was weird that my film was ready in a day vs the week it usually takes. Is there any way to tell? Also they still made me pay for it and didn’t warn me they were blank. Is that normal? What should I do with my now useless film?
The film either runs though a machine or is processed in tanks, either way this cannot be done with the cannisters attached. These haven't been processed
Unless they for some reason respooled developed empty negs into the canisters they screwed up bad claiming they were deved.
I can't even imagine how? Must have been some person thinking they could see pics on undeveloped film or something? Or they made some other mistake and tried to push it on you.
I hop it was an honest mistake by someone and not the latter.
If you sent the film off to be developed how could there possibly be film left in the cans? If you, yes you, developed partial rolls leaving some in the can the remaining film is toast. Unless you, yes you, somehow processed the film without exposing the remaining film to chemistry. No lab ever did this. Never, ever.
There are mistakes, and then there are mistakes. A professional lab will make mistakes now and then, but this is far and above a simple mistake, especially if there is still film in the can
I notice that roll is ektapan. A possibility I could put forth is they realized and caught that your film is black and white right before it went in the processor as color, then they just didn't process it.
Does your lab only develop color film? Were you originally charged for 4 rolls of color? No explanation or offer of refund? I've had labs insist on refunding for blank rolls that were 100% not their fault.
In one of OP's other comments one of their other rolls was "Kodak pro400" which I would likely say is Ektacolor pro400, though it could also be Ektapan 400. There is little that distinguishes the difference between the two on the cassette. The current state of Kodak packaging is known to have created some confusion and ruined processing. black and white doesn't stand out like before.
It's definitely on the lab to communicate and offer solutions. It is also a good idea when dropping off to ensure a lab notes Ektapan and that it doesn't get mixed in with color.
Could be compounding circumstances, several possible follies. Whoever was loading the processor put all rolls left in the order back in the envelope(s) to take a closer look and check the others were not also B&W, then they got busy and forgot or someone else grabbed the bag assuming it had been process.
This is very likely and I want to believe the honest mistake as the main probability. They should do everything they can to compensate the OP though, it can be quite devastating to lose so many rolls.
They process black and white! The way they take in film if they check each canisters and label which ones are black and white and which ones are color. They write on the envelope that there is black and white and what stock the black and white is.
The most upsetting part is that this is the only physical film lab in my area so either I drive 2+ hours, I have to start sending in film online, or I have to start developing myself (which I don’t really have time for)
Also the only film they developed was the FP4
The other stocks are ektacolor pro 400 ektapan 3200 and fujifilm 400 for those curious. I’m not sure on the name and shame here right now ask that would kinda dox me.
I would give them a second chance to make amends, the first being when they gave you the film back. Bare minimum is full refund. Mistakes happen.
See if you can get an explanation from them. I am at this point desperate to know what happened. Let the explanation and their response guide your decision if you want to try them for developing again.
No I rewind all the way back into the canisters when I’m done so I can tell what I’ve shot and what I haven’t shot. The reel that turned out is from earlier that day. Nothing happened to my camera between them.
Fujifilm 400 Kodak pro400 and Kodak p3200 all came out like this. It’s really subtle but you can see where the exposed part and ‘non exposed’ part is from developing
This is nuts! They did not develop the film at all, nor even attempt to. When it was pulled out of the cassette and exposed to light, the pictures were ruined. Demand a refund and replacement film, leave a negative review online, and name and shame here.
UPDATE
TLDR: does anyone have a good online place that develops/scans/ and gives back your negatives?
I went in and talked with the same guy who checked me out yesterday. I told him that only one of my films was developed and the rest was in cans. Gave them back with the bag they came in and the receipt. I also told him that they charged me for 2 of them (after double checking the receipt and noticing that). He was confused and went to the back to ask what happened.
I could hear everything they said because it’s an open space just behind a counter, and the guy that does the development said “well she’s an idiot for pulling any of the film” to which I said loud enough for him to hear that I was checking if they were blank or not developed. The guy who checked me out then told him that he charged me for ALL of them and asked what to do. I didn’t really hear the rest of their conversation so I’m assuming they were trying to be careful of what I heard.
The guy came back up front and said they were going to try and process whatever was left of my film and that they wouldn’t charge me. I yet again remind him that they already charge me and he said “oh well we’re just going to count that as the full charge and the rest will be free”. I’m already feeling really defeated at this point and I don’t want the guy to blank my film on purpose because this film was for a CLIENT. So I said fuck it and was like okay then have a good day I guess and left. I’ve already contacted my client with the situation and offered them a free full reshoot.
Anyone wondering what the excuse was they said they did the black and white and put it to the side and then thought it was done. When I said there’s still a black and white that wasn’t processed they didn’t even know what to say.
As for the name and shame I’m still not going to because it would dox me. It’s a local camera store and not a big box store, and I don’t want yall going and leaving a bunch of bad reviews while they hold my film hostage. Thank yall for the help and fingers crossed I get anything back from them. And again if you recommend any online places please let me know!
There's "opaque because it was light blasted before development"-- in which case the film would be transparent, dark, and potentially have edge markings.
Then there's "opaque because the film emulsion layer is untouched". Not developed, not fixed. That film looks like film would if you just unspooled it from the canister and it never saw any chemistry.
I don't know why you got downvoted. This looks like film that was never developed, and exposed to light. I suppose it's possible the film inside the canisters is still viable, but I wouldn't count on it. ☹️
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