Found Film... What's Wrong?

[Logan Becker]

I just pulled the leader out of the cassette and I want to know if this is safe to shoot, Attending a graduation ceremony tomorrow and was hoping on trying this out...(The red banding on the emulsion matches the color of the film backing)

 

[MattKing]

Kodak Technical Pan 2415 is awfully slow and finicky for a graduation ceremony.
What you have there is probably at least 20 years old as well.

 

[jimjm]

It's a slow, fine-grained film that Kodak stopped making in 2004. Unless you know it's been stored properly (refrigerated or frozen), I wouldn't risk photographing an important event with it.
The discoloration of the leader might not mean anything, but pull a bit more out of the cassette to see if it continues up the roll.
Developing with a standard developer like D-76 will result in a lot of contrast. Unless that's the look you're going for, I would try a dilute developer like Rodinal 1:50 or 1:100.

 

[BrianShaw]

This may sound like a crazy suggestion, but for an occasion as special as a graduation it might be prudent to use an in-date film so you know what to expect. I know that's crazy sounding, but...

 

[summicron1]

looks like moisture damage -- toss it and buy some fresh film.

 

[pdeeh]

This may sound like a crazy suggestion ... I know that's crazy sounding, but...

you're crazy

 

[railwayman3]

I used quite a lot of Technical Pan back in the day. Great film, but not the easiest to use, and I'd definitely not attempt to use it for anything special, particularly as it's probably 15+ years outdated. (And not sure what the red banding is....looks very suspicious, so another reason to keep to a fresh general-purpose film for unrepeatable shots.)

 

[zanxion72]

Pull out a bit more from the canister. You may be lucky and it is just on the topmost part of the roll. Test a piece of the leader before using so that you get an idea of its state.

 

[bvy]

I thought I would "try out" some fresh Ilford Pan F+ for my sons' graduation party a few years ago. I processed it maybe two months after shooting it and was rewarded with a nearly clear filmstrip. If it's important, fresh film and film you know and trust.

 

[zanxion72]

^^^ Indeed! For events of such a high value, it would be wise not to risk with film of unknown state. We all learned it the hard way.

 

[Chris Livsey]

Processing Tech Pan to get a full grey scale of "normal" contrast is not easy, Delagi8 is useful but requires some dedication to the task.
I would never shoot it if I wanted a reliable result from a one off important occasion, "trying it out" is fine when it doesn't actually matter what the result is,I use it for fun.
A graduation is like a wedding where you carry a back up for the back up and double up on on every frame if you can, belt and braces and crossed fingers.

 

[removed account4]

I just pulled the leader out of the cassette and I want to know if this is safe to shoot, Attending a graduation ceremony tomorrow and was hoping on trying this out...(The red banding on the emulsion matches the color of the film backing)

hi logan
i'm all for using expired film and developing it in some sort of home brew concoction .. but seeing it is a graduation cerimony
you probably want to memorialize on film and prints it would be tricky to expose your film ( probably 20 years old so that might be
like iso 6 in formulary technidol ? or if you want high contrast iso 50 in dektol // cut iso in half every 10 years ) not to mention the leader shows the film might
have started taking the dirt nap since it is weirdly discolored. if you have your heart set on expired film i'd go for some tri x or tmax400
or fuji superia200/400 ... or since it is something important maybe some fresh film ...

have fun at the graduation !

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Please forgive me for shouting but IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH A FILM DO NOT USE IT FOR IMPORTANT IRREPLACEABLE PHOTOS.

 

[GarageBoy]

I thought I would "try out" some fresh Ilford Pan F+ for my sons' graduation party a few years ago. I processed it maybe two months after shooting it and was rewarded with a nearly clear filmstrip. If it's important, fresh film and film you know and trust.

That's another issue all together with pan f's reputation for not having any latent image keeping

Tech pan was slow to begin with- definitely would save it for your experimental landscapes or something like that

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If you do decide to use that film, you'd better have a backup plan!!

 

[Logan Becker]

That's another issue all together with pan f's reputation for not having any latent image keeping

Tech pan was slow to begin with- definitely would save it for your experimental landscapes or something like that

Thanks! I'll probably shoot a few frames and snip it for a test.

 

[mpirie]

Don't risk it.

Film is cheap.....graduation ceremonies are not!

 

[railwayman3]

I thought I would "try out" some fresh Ilford Pan F+ for my sons' graduation party a few years ago. I processed it maybe two months after shooting it and was rewarded with a nearly clear filmstrip. If it's important, fresh film and film you know and trust.

Nothing intrinsically wrong with Pan F+, but your experience again proves the importance of keeping to regular known films for any unrepeatable shoots. I can't understand the OP's insistence on using this untrustable film.....I'd bin it, or keep it to practice loading dev reels.

 

[trendland]

I just pulled the leader out of the cassette and I want to know if this is safe to shoot, Attending a graduation ceremony tomorrow and was hoping on trying this out...(The red banding on the emulsion matches the color of the film backing)

If you like this film you should search on Ebay this special emulsion.
But beware of incompetent offers like
"stored in the dark" !!!
Best chance is sometimes from retired proffesionals.You will easily identify them
on their big ammounds of films in special
formats : 4x5 , 8x10, 120.......Just look in addition on the kind of emulsions they offer - so you will have the best chance
to get "realy frozen" films.
Most films on Ebay today are frozen only a coupple of years - and that is not ok
with films expired before 2010.Or let us say long before.
Films from 1981,1992 a.s.o are to decorate your room in a showcase.

So it can be a hard job to find Kodak Technical Pan.And this film is expensive.
Last price I remember from 2003 :
Over 100 bugs (45m).......

But to use you film, obviously damaged
in addition, should be more hard.

I just remember a szene of a film -
"Kentucky Fried Movie" one of its protagonist is well known as
DANGER SEEKER..

It you'll be this guy today - Just use your
film to your graduation ceremony.

Bon chance...........

 

[trendland]

Sorry "over 100 bucks" of cause.
Smartphone is a little dyslexic in its
prediction mode.......

 

[David Lyga]

I stored some Kodak VR 200 color film in my crisper (at the bottom of the refrigerator). I had the same effect. The rolls were without canisters and, apparently, I dropped some liquid that seeped downward, then dried. It left its mark. Your film was involved with such moisture. - David Lyga

 

[trendland]

I stored some Kodak VR 200 color film in my crisper (at the bottom of the refrigerator). I had the same effect. The rolls were without canisters and, apparently, I dropped some liquid that seeped downward, then dried. It left its mark. Your film was involved with such moisture. - David Lyga

Yes David I had the same sugesstion - but I did'nt say it.
Because if we know for sure if this Kodak
Technical Pan is from the year 2002,2004 the expired date should be 2006,2008 (4years at a max.) and we expect the moisture damage should be only at the first beginning of the film - it would not impair the very first frame.

But it is hard to say, and the film should be much older so as others stated here.

If it is indeed an 10 Years expired emulsion with only smal moisture damage at the beginning Technical Pan would give acaptable results with ISO
12/12Din.

But there are much more doubts to give
a serius recommandation to do so.

I noticed a couple of experiments with
results from old films I had never expected.
But I can't remember just one with
perfect characteristics!!

with greetings David

 

[trendland]

Make a little mistake so sorry about :
E.I. 12/12Din. of cause !

with regards

 

[Gerald C Koch]

If you wish to use Tech Pan for continuous tone negatives you must use a special developer to tame its contrast. There are about a dozen or so that I have counted. I would recommend H&W Control developer or Perfection XR-1 in that order. You will have to mix your own as neither one is commercially available anymore. Formulas are available on the net. Kodak used to make such a special developer but it too has been discontinued.

 

[trendland]

If you wish to use Tech Pan for continuous tone negatives you must use a special developer to tame its contrast. There are about a dozen or so that I have counted. I would recommend H&W Control developer or Perfection XR-1 in that order. You will have to mix your own as neither one is commercially available anymore. Formulas are available on the net. Kodak used to make such a special developer but it too has been discontinued.

Yes Gerald there are indeed so much more parameters wich spoke much again
to use this special "wrong film" for a
gratuation ceremony tomorrow that my idea at the beginning of reading this thread was : "This should be a joke"
But meanwhile I noticed the OP understood : The idea to use this film was bad.
But to become familiar with this sort of
bw film in general (outside a wedding in 2 hours) ...is very good from my point of view.

with regards