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Bergger Pancro 400, anyone?

I've shot it in 35mm, was thinking about trying a box of 4X5, out of stock the places I've looked.
 
  • Auer
  • Deleted
I like Pancro 400 a lot, but its not the easiest film to work with: for my needs, it must be exposed at 160 ASA to get sufficient shadow information. I found it to be horrible in Rodinal/R09, since that developer makes the shadow detail even more difficult to retain. (not to mention the horrible things Rodinal does to its grain). I find Pancro 400 to be too coarse in 35mm format, and barely usable in 120, but the sheet film sizes can be exquisite when exposed and developed properly. This photograph is made on 8x10 inch Pancro 400 @ 160 ASA, processed in PMK Pyro:

 
Pyro may require additional exposure but in D76 I have shot it at 320 and gotten good results. I am using straight D76 at 24C and developing in Expert Drums. This shortens the development time to a much more reasonable 12 minutes.

In 35mm I quite enjoy the grain. It gives it a moody look when combined with a P&S camera. In 120 they have mottling issues so I've been avoiding it until some new batches can work their way into the marketplace. If you use Bergger Superfine developer (a very weird developer), it yields excellent results. You must expose it at 200 and follow the instructions precisely, but the results can be worth it.

On the other hand, HP5+ is SO versatile and higher quality, that I'm not sure if I'll keep using it in sheet film. I can get ISO 1600 out of HP5+, which is quite useful on an 8x10 camera.
 
Auer said:
Anyone else like this film?
Click to expand...

Yes, me!

Last December I made the complete unrationale decision to use Bergger Pancro 400 exclusively for at least one year. Due to Covid I have not done many shoots/projects, but until now I haven't used anything else. I'm developing my films in replenished Edwal 10.
 

HP5 lacks personality
And I got a bunch of film in the mail the other day from ilford to replace their mottled 120 I had
Did you notice pancro and Ilford use identical backingpaper....
"Higher quality" lol
 
Auer said:
HP5 lacks personality
And I got a bunch of film in the mail the other day from ilford to replace their mottled 120 I had
Did you notice pancro and Ilford use identical backingpaper....
"Higher quality" lol
Click to expand...

Yeah I believe Ilford packages their 120, and thus the same issue. I am hoping they fixed whatever was causing it but AFAIK they did not release any further info other than to say they're aware of the problem.

Bergger claimed user error but did replace my rolls. However the rolls were from the same batch and still mottled.
 
Auer said:
HP5 lacks personality...
Click to expand...
Exactly what I seek in a film. In my opinion, a photographer's personality is the only one that belongs in image making.
Auer said:
...I got a bunch of film in the mail the other day from ilford to replace their mottled 120 I had
Did you notice pancro and Ilford use identical backingpaper..."Higher quality" lol
Click to expand...
Don't laugh too hard. That HARMAN "confections" 120 Pancro 400 is not evidence that the film itself isn't higher (or lower) quality than Ilford 120 film. Absent insider information, we don't know whether it's still coated for Bergger by InovisCoat or some other actual film manufacturer.
 

Before people get too over their skis, I really like Bergger Pancro 400 and yes quality is in the eye of the beholder etc etc. However I think it can be stated that HP5+ is a more versatile film with finer grain. Bergger does not push well and is incredibly grainy. That being said, it's a great option, I like it a lot. I'm just saying there are lots of +1 and +2 situations in my work and it's harder to justify stocking up on Pancro when HP5+ does the job.
 

Not everyone has such a personaility that requires no outside help.

I'm not afraid of things that I complement rather than dominate.
 
Same reasons why I like the film
Great image.
 

Very cool. I never used Edwal 10 but I understand it has similarities to D76?
 
Auer said:
HP5 lacks personality
And I got a bunch of film in the mail the other day from ilford to replace their mottled 120 I had
Did you notice pancro and Ilford use identical backingpaper....
"Higher quality" lol
Click to expand...

HP5 lacks personality... for you, maybe . Many of my images have been made with this film in 35mm up to 8x10. Lots of personality, as far as I'm concerned. In regards to panchro 400, even though it has really high base fog (bad for alt printing), it does have really nice tones.
 
It reminds of the one roll of Acros I shot ages ago. Maybe these images look different when viewed in person, but on my monitor they look like they have low contrast and little tonal range. Of course, if that's the look someone likes, fine.
 
momus said:
It reminds of the one roll of Acros I shot ages ago. Maybe these images look different when viewed in person, but on my monitor they look like they have low contrast and little tonal range. Of course, if that's the look someone likes, fine.
Click to expand...

Not sure what you are seeing. It's definitely contrasty. "Tonal range" is harder to pin down so I'll just say I think it is quite reasonable.
 
I like what I've seen of it but am waiting for @NortheastPhotographic to tell me the mottling issues have been fixed before I try it in 120.
 
Lovely image with a quiet elegant feel.
 

It does scan nicely too.

I havent seen any 35mm in stock for a while now, unfortunately.
 
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