Classic Pan 400, finally a winner

[Eric Rose]

Well I have finally found a winner in the best developer quest for this film. I've tried Pyrocat-hd and HC110 previously. Pyrocat-hd was a total loss which surprised me. Maybe an older pyro formula would have worked better.

HC110 was "ok" if I did semi-stand but the negs were flat. Various other dilutions were tried and found to be either to contrasty or flat.

Mixed up an old friend, D76 and dug through my old notes on the film. I had used it at 1:1 for 17min, 3 inversions every min.

It's the best results so far with this maddening film.

 

[Rudeofus]

I am not surprised that D76 worked well. It's an old, established developer, and PhotoEngineer has stated, that every single B&W film about to be released is tested&verified against D-76. What did surprise me were your alleged inadequate results with HC-110. This is a standard developer and marketed as substitute for D-76, and it offers a wide variety of dilutions and development times. If HC-110 stand is your thing, but too flat, crank up concentration until contrast is where you want it.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

That's interesting, Eric. The three developers I love to use with HP5 is Pyrocat-HD, Xtol 1+1, and D76 1+1. Rudeofus, HC-110 never worked for me at no matter what dilution. The base fog was always too high, which is a no no for alt printing.

 

[Eric Rose]

Ya my go to developer for 95% of what I shoot is PyroCat-HD. I used D76 and HC110 for years but found HC110 finicky. To much testing to develop a worksheet of workable concentrations for a wide range of shooting conditions imho. Not to say it doesn't work for many photographers, it's just not for me.

Like I always say that's why they make chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

One more thing, Classic Pan 400 is by far the nastiest film I have ever used.

 

[John Galt]

who and what is this "Classic Pan 400" thou speaketh of? . . .

 

[Eric Rose]

Back in the good old days of J&C Photography they imported and rebranded all sorts of great films. I've heard Classic Pan 400 could have various European old style silver films.

 

[Lachlan Young]

It was rebranded Fortepan 400. Not bad, fairly grainy compared to newer technology 400's.

 

[MattKing]

The 120 version of the 100 speed stuff was nice, but when it came to curl, you would think they used recycled a Slinky to make it!

 

[juan]

Thanks Eric. I have about 25-rolls still frozen and haven’t used them in part because they don’t develop well in Pyrocat. I’ll mix up some D-76 and give it a try.

 

[Agulliver]

I had a few rolls of Classic Pan 200 which I finished off last year...and yes...curled like a MF.....but it did have a nice aesthetic to the negatives. Very old school of course, grain was fine in 120. I only ever tried Fortepan 100 in 35mm and again it had a lowish contrast vintage look. For 100 the grain was OK. I miss it to be honest.

My rule of thumb with unknown (to me) film is ID-11 (=D76)....really...there cannot be a B&W film from the last 80 years that cannot be developed well in D76 or ID-11