BERGGER PANCRO 400 @400 IN BERSPEED: UNSEEN BASE FOG...

[Philippe-Georges]

I just tested a new to me B&W film, the Bergger Pancro 400 in 120 roll, twice actually...
The developer was the Bergger Berspeed and I used it as prescribed: prewash, dilute 1+1, 8 min @ 24°C with the advised agitation and finish as usual.

The 5 litre stock dilution was mixed two days before, in demineralised water, while carefully respecting the imposed steps, left it stand in amber bottles so it could 'acclimatise' a bit, anyway it should keep for 4 months.

The first test came out wel developed but showing a very dense and 'ugly' base fog.
As I am far of being perfect and commit mistakes regularly, I tested again, carefully paying attention.
Alas, the same 'ugly' and too dense base fog came out.
I held the lead-in of the film against a 0.3 ND filter, I use these in the enlarger to lengthen the exposure times so to have the time for carefully dodging and burning (*), and the film's base looked even a tad denser.

The film isn't expired, and was bought a week before and kept (by me) at room temperature.

In the 48 years of darkroom practice, I have never seen this dense (and ugly) fog on a film exposed and processed at 'box speed', unless I made a mistake...

I haven't printed nor scanned the negatives as these aren't fully dry yet.

Does anybody has an enlightening thought?

(*) printing at F 8 with a Rodagon is sacred to me.

 

[lecarp]

If you do a quick search here you'll find it has a notoriously high base fog. Also there have been some issues of mottling
with the paper as well.

Paul Barden reports achieving improved base fog by developing in divided D-23.

 

[markjwyatt]

I noticed that a few years ago, created this thread: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/fuji-acros-and-bergger-pancro-400.162832/#post-2124298

 

[pentaxuser]

By now it is fairly clear to me that Panchro 400 is characterised by high fog levels. It is mentioned by Greg Davis in his Panchro 400 compared to Tri-X video. This brought similar comments from those who had seen Greg's video and a whole host of similar posts in a Panchro v Acros thread

pentaxuser

 

[otto.f]

Although I don’t like the base fog of this film, I thus far didn’t meet any printing problems because of it. In the LF forum Paul Barden made excellent scans with the negatives in the thread ‘What did you compose at water’s edge’.
Btw Bergger’s papers are my favorite way above other current brands.

 

[AgX]

I held the lead-in of the film against a 0.3 ND filter, I use these in the enlarger to lengthen the exposure times so to have the time for carefully dodging and burning (*), and the film's base looked even a tad denser.

Such test only shows gross density, but not necessarily fog.

To determine fog an unexposed and processed piece of film has to be compared/metered to an unexposed but just fixed piece of film.

 

[AgX]

Such gross density is partly formed by the density of the base, a surprisingly high gross density maybe due to high grade of dye in the base. More so when a film is of unknown origin and there is no allegedly same base to compare it with.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Such test only shows gross density, but not necessarily fog.

To determine fog an unexposed and processed piece of film has to be compared/metered to an unexposed but just fixed piece of film.

It was never in my intention to conduct a scientific test, but just to satisfy my curiosity...

Here is that non-scientific comparison with ND filters, on a non-professional LED light table taken with an amateur iPhone, and the film is curling a little thus not equally enlightened, but you get an idea...

BTW, the straight exposure, marked with a '0' (= box speed) looks not that bad.