Bad film or bad lab?

[Xia_Ke]

So I picked up a 5 pack of Portra 800 that expired in 5/02. Finally found a small lab about an hour from me that processes 120 film. I took a roll in to get processed and it came back with a streak down the side. The streak is not uniform. Is this from it being expired or did the lab screw up or...?

[freygr]

Is the discoloration across the film of length wise? Is it in the same location in the frame?

If the discoloration is lengthwise on the film (not on the edge) it most likely would be the film lab. but it was old film. If the discoloration is across the film it is bad film specially if the flaw starts wide and gets smaller as the you got to the end of the film. Its also the film if the flaw starts at one edge and goes in to the photo.

Unless you know how the film was stored I would stay away form color film that has expired in most cases. Black and white film is not as sensitive but if they have not been stored in a dry cool place (any film) I would not trust it.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks freygr. The streak runs the length of the roll and varies slightly in it's width. Looks like a wet streak running the length that dried. The box of the 5 pack that it came was sealed still and each roll was still in it's foil wrapper. I had them run a roll of slide film too and there were a couple spots on the back where it looked like the film stuck to something while it was still drying, so I'm a little upset with them to begin with. Looks like I needed to start developing my own color film or find a mail order place

[another view]

This is 120 roll film, and you're shooting it in a square format camera, so the film probably travels vertically - not horizontally like in a 35mm camera. Hasselblads, Bronica SQ and TLR's work this way but most rangefinders like the Mamiya travel horizontally.

So - are you sure that you don't have a light leak in the camera or film back? I know you've been working with medium format a bit (TLR camera, right?) so you should have seen it by now if there was a problem. The big unknown is the old film. Try a new roll, take it to the same place and show them the old negs. They should be able to give an idea of what happened too.

[Greg McCary]

It could just be a bad roll. My Canonet started leaking light overnight, but it didn't look like this. It looked liked a hazing across the edge of the negs.

[mtbbrian]

If the film is that old ad wasn't stored in a refrigerator or freezer I'd say it was the film.
However, from what you say in one of your replies, I am thinking it could be the lab.
Good Luck!
Brian

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've put about 20 rolls of b&w through this camera now and haven't had this happen and it didn't shot up on the slide film I shot the same day and had developed at the same time. I shot another roll which I'll try and get developed this week. I saved the work orders from last time and will bring that roll back by to see what they have to say

[mn shutterbug]

I have to agree with Greg. If it was a light leak, it would be fogged or hazing, not discoloration.