Developing Tech Pan

[Geoffsco]

I just bought a bulk film loader, and was delighted to find 2/3 of a roll of Tech Pan inside. I've never used it before, and it's not listed on the massive dev chart, I am wondering how I should process it?

I was thinking of using Rodinal or HC 110, or would I be better off trying to find some Technidol?

 

[mopar_guy]

Kodak votes for Technidol.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Use Technidol.

You can try Photographers' Formulary TD-3 (?), I haven't tried the stuff personally so I can't vouch for the stuff.

You can get an image with Rodinal or HC-110 (or horse piss for that matter) but the result won't be up to Tech Pan's capabilities and you would have been better off using TMax-100.

There isn't much Tech Pan left, best not to waste it. Properly developed in Technidol or TD-3 it can be quite magical.

 

[redrockcoulee]

The Camerastore in Calgary had a fair amount last time I was there (summer). They do have a web page although it may not be listed there. It is the liquid packages that I noted. We bought some a few years ago from there enough to do the rest of the 35mm and 4X5 i have.

 

[darkosaric]

I developed it in rodinal 1+100, I think 14 minutes, but not sure any more. I got little too high contrast, but in acceptable limits.

Here are 2 examples:

Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed

regards,

 

[mpirie]

I would vote for Technidol liquid too, assuming you can find it.

HC110 can also be used.

You're a lucky man, the last time I used Tech-Pan i was gob-smacked at the resolution, though it takes very careful processing if it's to be used pictorially......to the extent that the film had to be lowered into the dev, rather than the other way round!

Mike

 

[removed account4]

if you exposing it at asa 200
use regular print developer ...

 

[Denis R]

it's all in what you want

suggestions:
refer to patents 4,363,869 and 6,083,671

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

D-19 also

 

[Steve Smith]

http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Times/TechPan/techpan.html

 

[Neal]

Dear Geoffsco,

I use 10 minutes in C-41 developer (not my idea, stolen from an old Photo Techniques article). It works very nicely.

Photographer's Formulary sells a product called TD-3 for Technical Pan but I've never tried it. http://www.photoformulary.com/Deskt...tabindex=2&categoryid=31&selection=0&langId=0

Neal Wydra

 

[Darkroom317]

I just good a hold of some tech pan from 1988. It was in the refrigerator along with a packet Technidol. Would these items still be good?

 

[tjaded]

It is on the Massive Development Chart, just kinda hidden:

http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?Film=Technical+Pan&Developer=&mdc=Search

I have a bunch that I need to shoot--nothing has inspired me enough just yet though....

 

[Dave Pritchard]

Rodinal at 1+100 works quite well.

Tech Pan is usually contrasty, regardless of the developer used. My old darkroom buddy used to walk outside on overcast days and declare "It looks like a Tech Pan day." It pays to look for low contrast scenes.

I do have some Technidol which I bought recently from a camera store which still had some on the shelf. I also have some Tech Pan in 4x5. I am really having a hard time deciding what scene is really worthy of this film.

I really miss Tech Pan in 35mm, bulk loaded.

The original speed was ASA 25. Most people think that the film is now so old that it should be de-rated to ASA 10.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Tech Pan properly developed in Technidol has the same contrast as TMax in D-76 and it's curve shape is ruler-straight over a 13-stop range.

It is interesting to peruse the comments in Unblinking Eye: "I hate this film"; "I too don't really like TP."; "The curve shape is weird"; "Tech Pan has driven me nuts"; all from people who have developed Tech Pan in Ethol TEC, Xtol, Rodinal, Burton 195, TDLC-103, C-41, TD-3, PMK .... every thing above, in or under the darkroom sink except Technidol.

It's not the film that's weird, folks, it's all the weird things people try to develop it in. Kodak only makes one developing recommendation for getting pictoral results out of Tech Pan. If someone tries something else and gets crappy results it isn't the film that's at fault.

The primary use of Tech Pan isn't pictoral photography but high contrast technical photography - hence all the instructions for developing Tech Pan in Dektol and HC-110 and D-19 that are in the data sheet. These only apply if you are doing microscopy or scientific recording.

 

[Dave Pritchard]

But Nicholas, you need a bit of contrast with Tech Pan in order to have good transition edges in the negative so you can focus the enlarger. Printers soon discover that a grain focuser is not very useful with a Tech Pan negative.

 

[gandolfi]

I have been using TP for 20 odd years (Loving it!), and I have always developed in TETENAL Neofin Doku (not made any more, alas..) Perfect developer methinks...

I always exposed as 100 iso - pre rinsed and developed for about 6 minutes.

When using it for portraits/nudes, it gives amazing results. LOTS, and LOTS of details - and skin tones as porcelaine..

I still have some 120 filma and a box of 4x5 left - and a little (too little) Neofin Doku left.