Kodak Tech Pan 25, 35mm roll left-over, expired 2003. EI compensation and development?

[lpt10]

Hi
I have a left-over roll of Kodak Tech Pan 25, 35mm, from 2001 which expired in 2003. It wasn't kept in a fridge, but in a cool place, around 21°C all year around, plus minus 1°C. I plan on using it, however i have a few doubts. What EI should i rate this film to, taking into consideration it's 20 years over its expiration date? What about development? If my memory serves me right, it required a special developer, Kodak Technidol to tame its contrast.
In your view what would be the expected tonal range for such a film and which would be the ideal developer or development method these days for it?
Thanks

 

[lamerko]

I would shoot it at 25 EI. But you really need to tame its contrast

 

[Alan Johnson]

https://125px.com/docs/film/kodak/p255-2000_02.pdf

See page 2, for a more normal contrast the EI is given for developers that are (were?) widely available.

 

[lpt10]

Thank you for your time. So, do i understand correctly that even after all these years, expired in 2003, you would still expose it at 25 EI?

 

[Romanko]

I have a roll of 70 mm Tech Pan expired about the same time and it seems to work at EI 16 to 25. I am still experimenting with developers. Barry Thornton's 2 Bath gave the best results so far. I will try POTA next.

 

[Craig]

When tech pan was still current, I exposed some at 25 and developed in Technidol and I thought the negatives were thin. They were hard to print, but scanned well. An extra stop would not have hurt them, so I'd start at an EI of 12.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

It should be close to box speed. I expose at EI 12 and develop in Technidol adhering to Kodak's instructions but with a 10% pull on developing time.

I have 500+ft of Tech Pan and a brick of carts in the freezer but I'm running out of Technidol. Not sure what I'll do then. Die of a broken heart?

I've tried POTA with no joy. Haven't tried the Photographers' Formulary developer though I have some sitting in the chemicals cupboard.

 

[OrientPoint]

I have 70mm Tech Pan expired in 1990 that I shoot at EI 25 with good results. I don't think you'll go wrong with the advice to shoot at EI 12 or 25. This particular film doesn't seem to age.

 

[OrientPoint]

It should be close to box speed. I expose at EI 12 and develop in Technidol adhering to Kodak's instructions but with a 10% pull on developing time.

I have 500+ft of Tech Pan and a brick of carts in the freezer but I'm running out of Technidol. Not sure what I'll do then. Die of a broken heart?

I've tried POTA with no joy. Haven't tried the Photographers' Formulary developer though I have some sitting in the chemicals cupboard.

I've used Photographer's Formulary TD-3 often. It works really well, but in my experience it only keeps for a couple of months and then dies. Since it's not cheap I tend to only use it when have a bunch or sheets or rolls to process. Otherwise I've used C-41 developer and dilute Rodinol with stray rolls of TechPan with some success... but you do lose that etched sharpness that you get with Technidol and TD-3.

 

[Bill Burk]

Thank you for your time. So, do i understand correctly that even after all these years, expired in 2003, you would still expose it at 25 EI?

Yes. A developer like Technidol will help you get the most from this naturally high contrast film.

You can be experimental, shoot it at 200 and get stark graphic results in a regular developer.

 

[Romanko]

Anyone knows what's in Technidol or TD-3 and how they are different from POTA?

I've tried POTA with no joy.

Still too much contrast compared to Technidol?

 

[Bill Burk]

It should be close to box speed. I expose at EI 12 and develop in Technidol adhering to Kodak's instructions but with a 10% pull on developing time.

I have 500+ft of Tech Pan and a brick of carts in the freezer but I'm running out of Technidol. Not sure what I'll do then. Die of a broken heart?

I've tried POTA with no joy. Haven't tried the Photographers' Formulary developer though I have some sitting in the chemicals cupboard.

Do you use/prefer the powder or vials? How low are you? I think I have some of each, but not much TechPan … so I could spare some

 

[Tony-S]

I think 510 Pyro works well with Technical Pan. It’s easy to make from scratch and has a shelf life of a couple of years. Here are a couple of examples using an expired 100 foot roll of 135 that was in a drawer at room temp for 15 years or so. Shot with a Canon F-1n, FDn 35mm f/2, ASA 25. Processed in 510 Pyro using semistand development of 20 min at 70F. Water for 2 min, then developer (1:300) with 30" inversion, then 15" inversion at 10 min, water stop and Ilford rapid fixer.

510-PYRO
TEA 75 ml
Ascorbic acid 5 g
Pyrogallol 10 g
Phenidone 0.25 g
TEA to make 100 ml

 

[Trask]

I think 510 Pyro works well with Technical Pan. It’s easy to make from scratch and has a shelf life of a couple of years. Here are a couple of examples using an expired 100 foot roll of 135 that was in a drawer at room temp for 15 years or so. Shot with a Canon F-1n, FDn 35mm f/2, ASA 25. Processed in 510 Pyro using semistand development of 20 min at 70F. Water for 2 min, then developer (1:300) with 30" inversion, then 15" inversion at 10 min, water stop and Ilford rapid fixer.

View attachment 349654

View attachment 349655

510-PYRO
TEA 75 ml
Ascorbic acid 5 g
Pyrogallol 10 g
Phenidone 0.25 g
TEA to make 100 ml

Your photos look great. I notice that the formula you provide is the "old" 510-Pyro formula -- per Pictoral Planet (http://www.pictorialplanet.com/advanced_photography/510_pyro.html) Jay De Fehr updated the formula to 5g, 10g, 0.375 g "to optimise the three way relationship between pyrogallol, ascorbic acid and phenidone." So depending on where one gets the 510-Pyro, or mixes it oneself, the developer time may have to be adjusted.

 

[Craig]

The later datsheet for Tech Pan says that Xtol for 9 min at 21°C gives a contrast of 0.60, which is about right where you want it for pictoral use. Apparently tech pan is quite sensitive to agitation so be as consistant as possible with it.