1963 Panatomic-X 4x5

[Andrew O'Neill]

Wanted to see if it was still capable of producing decent images...

 

[xkaes]

Why as us? Just develop one sheet and find out. Much depends on how it was stored.

 

[faberryman]

There is a reason film manufacturers put expiration dates on film packages. But who knows, maybe you'll get something interesting.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Why as us? Just develop one sheet and find out. Much depends on how it was stored.

It's just a tagline for the video... of course I tried it...jeesh! Why don't you watch it? It's under 4 minutes long...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

There is a reason film manufacturers put expiration dates on film packages. But who knows, maybe you'll get something interesting.

Watch the video and find out... it's SHORT!

 

[MattKing]

Andrew,
Does this remind you of your classroom? Tell everyone it will be on the exam!

 

[Chuck_P]

That's cool Andrew can't wait to see those comparisons with TMX.............I have decided that as long as I can continue to buy TMX 100, It'll be the film I grow with and grow to know better. Had I been able to stick with it when I had to give up the darkroom 10 years ago, I think we'd be good friends at this time. I still have much to learn with it.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Andrew,
Does this remind you of your classroom? Tell everyone it will be on the exam!

I tell them that, but they know I don't give exams...

 

[faberryman]

Watch the video and find out... it's SHORT!

I am glad this particular box of expired Panatomic-X worked out for you. Do you have a particular project in mind for the sheets of film remaining after your experiment?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I am glad this particular box of expired Panatomic-X worked out for you. Do you have a particular project in mind for the sheets of film remaining after your experiment?

I'm curious to see how it compares to tmax 100, and Polaroid P/N 55. I'll be using these films to photograph my usual subjects.

 

[MattKing]

I should:
1) try the box of 1948 vintage AZO postcard paper I have; and
2) if it still has some life, let you have a crack at it too

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I should:
1) try the box of 1948 vintage AZO postcard paper I have; and
2) if it still has some life, let you have a crack at it too

I would LOVE to try some AZO. The closest I've come to that paper was Lodima... which I still have. That was from Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee's first run of that paper. Very beautiful paper. I'd have to dig up my 300W bulb...

 

[OrientPoint]

I have a few boxes of Pan-X, in 4x5 and 6x9, expired in 1968 and 1969. All of it still works well. Just an amazing time capsule. It makes a lot more sense to shoot in-date stuff, but I find it oddly satisfying to shoot stock that expired almost 6 decades ago. It's almost as old as my bicycle(!)

 

[MarkS]

It's worth noting that Kodak discontinued Panatomic-X sheet film in the early '70s, long before TMX was even dreamed of. I've never seen it until now, and I've been in photography for 50 years- along with being born and raised in Rochester. Live and learn- glad that you have usable results.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

It's worth noting that Kodak discontinued Panatomic-X sheet film in the early '70s, long before TMX was even dreamed of. I've never seen it until now, and I've been in photography for 50 years- along with being born and raised in Rochester. Live and learn- glad that you have usable results.

Thanks MarkS. All I know is that Panatomic-X was discontinued around '87. Discontinuation of sheet film well before that year makes sense, as it's pretty near impossible to find, whereas 120 isn't.

 

[BAC1967]

1963 was a good year for Panatomic-X.
35mm expired 3/1963, developed in Rodinal 1:50, exposed at ISO 12.
1955 Chevrolet Truck by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Same film developed in HC-110 dilution B.
Rez Dogs vs Bull Snake by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Same film developed in beer.
Downtown LA by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

More expired Panatomic-X
Expired Panatomic-X

 

[otto.f]

“Hats off to Kodak” you say. Of course 1963 is a long way back. We do not know if it was frozen. I don’t know if they did that in the early years either. Nonetheless, I recently had very good results with a pack of Delta400 4x5” from 2003 stored unfrozen in the attic (can be quite warm in summer). And with TriX of about the same age too btw. But I doubt whether it’s unique for Kodak. I will reset my mind anyway, that throwing away old B&W films is just a compulsion which deserves to be bypassed.

 

[john_s]

It may be that sheet film lasts better than 120 roll film because of backing paper problems. I'm about to find out with Tri-X around 25 years old 4x5. The roll film Tri-X is not quite so old.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

1963 was a good year for Panatomic-X.
35mm expired 3/1963, developed in Rodinal 1:50, exposed at ISO 12.
1955 Chevrolet Truck by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Same film developed in HC-110 dilution B.
Rez Dogs vs Bull Snake by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Same film developed in beer.
Downtown LA by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

More expired Panatomic-X
Expired Panatomic-X

...and 1963 was a great year because... it was the year I was born

 

[Chuck_P]

...and 1963 was a great year because... it was the year I was born

Indeed, same here.....

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Indeed, same here.....

We are both turning six zero this year !!

 

[Chuck_P]

We are both turning six zero this year !!

Well, at least I can wait aaallllll the way till December

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I've never liked T-Max films. I kinda wish Kodak would go back to making Pan-X though I know that will never happen. I've always been impressed by the rich tonality of Pan-X. I mean look at Bryan's images above. Gorgeous! To me T-Max always looks flat and lifeless. No depth to the images.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've never liked T-Max films. I kinda wish Kodak would go back to making Pan-X though I know that will never happen. I've always been impressed by the rich tonality of Pan-X. I mean look at Bryan's images above. Gorgeous! To me T-Max always looks flat and lifeless. No depth to the images.

I never was a fan of TMX 100, but I was able to capture some images with it that I'm quite happy with. I think in the right hands, and conditions, one can make TMX 100 look lovely.

 

[Chuck_P]

I've never liked T-Max films.

Seems I've seen this a fair amount lately.......I'm not in that camp though.