OK guys...I am Mr. 9-negative-ring-around. You may have seen some of my earlier postings. However, I recently have encountered very low (1 1/2 to 2 stops ) densities on all of my B & W negs. Don't know that I am doing anything different than in the past. Problem is consistent in any B&W film in both 35mm and MF so, I am pretty sure it is the developer. Does anyone associated with this forum know about any pH changes in the water in the Santa Fe, New Mexico area? Short of getting the water tested, or going back to buying water to mix with, I am not sure what is going on. But the developers (it doesn't matter which type or brand) seems to be acting like the water has dropped drastically in pH. Same cameras, same metering, same batteries but color film, c-negs or trans, and the density is fine. I am not processing the color stuff so that is what leads me back to the develoer/water combination. Any one out there in the Santa Fe area run into the same problem??? Any/all comments would be appreciated. I guess I could get some litmus and test to see where the pH is these days. Jump in!!!

Victor Lioce

-- Victor Lioce (viclioce@yahoo.com & vlioce@dps.state.nm.us), July 07, 2000

Answers

Distilled water does not cost that much per gallon, and eliminates these kind of problems. Pat

-- pat krentz (patwandakrentz@aol.com), July 07, 2000.

Victor, if you're using city water, there should be something like a Department of Public Utilities or something to that effect who can supply info on the water. They'll probably have a standard form with monthly analysis on about 50 different items.

What you want to know about is not only pH; this by itself is almost meaningless. What you really want to know is what pH and how strongly does the water try to stay at that pH. The term is called pH buffering; a highly buffered solution will try to stay at its pH. There is probably an item on the water analysis called "total alkalinity" that gives a good indication of this, but unless you are familiar with this stuff, won't answer your question. Someone from the water department may be able tell you about something significant that's changed (ie, maybe a major shift in the source of water).

Your best way to answer the question directly is probably to mix two (same kind) developers; one with tap water and one with distilled water, then see if they perform differently. Typically, B&W developers don't have much (if any) pH buffering built in, so they can be easily swayed. Color developers (at least C41 and RA4 styles) are usually well buffered so variations in the mix water can't easily push them away from their aims; thus a commercial color lab is probably not affected much.

Feel free to email me if you'd like me to elaborate.

-- Bill C (bcarriel@cpicorp.com), July 08, 2000.

The response I sent you came back as undiliverable. Pat

-- pat krentz (patwandakrentz@aol.com), July 08, 2000.

You can also buy a home water distiller. I pciked one up from Sears for $70 on sale. It will take a while to cover the cost, but over years, it will pay off.

I mix all developers and stock solutions with distilled water. I am planning on putting in a reverse osmosis system, I will use that for diluting stop, fix, and HCA.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), July 08, 2000.

Might be water, but double check your thermometer. A few degree error would do this- is it a dial type?

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), July 08, 2000.

Do yourself a favor and install a filter system for your water.

-- jim megargee (jmegargee@nyc.rr.com), July 09, 2000.

The frost out of your freezer is a cheap source of distilled water. Maybe not enough to supply all your needs, but probably enough for a test of your water theory. (Though if your freezer's anything like mine, it might keep you in "distilled" water for some time.)

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), July 10, 2000.