My Techpan!

[GerardF]

Hi All,

From being out of B/W for a long time, I shot a bunch of Techpan @ ASA25 only to discover that Technidol isn't available any longer. It's all 4 x 5 sheet film.

A lab I use says that D76 for 5 minutes MAY work but....

Is anyone else been in the same predicament?

 

[david b]

Technidol is still available at B&H.

 

[John Bartley]

D23 works fine. Just add a bit of borax to it.

 

[DrPablo]

Technidol is all over the place and cheap.

I've had a hard time (though limited) with Tech Pan and Technidol. It just gets far too contrasty to print. I recently did 15 minutes in xtol 1:2 agitating for 2 seconds every minute. That was a bit better, but next time I'll do 1:1 with more frequent agitation for a bit more density.

 

[GerardF]

Thanks all. I'm in Australia so I guess I need to get it shipped from B&H or the like. Thanks also for the other tips using xtol and D23

 

[fhovie]

formulary has TD3 - which is a weak catechol based developer that works well with Tech Pan

 

[Peter De Smidt]

Edwal TEC is a good choice, too.

 

[Murray Kelly]

I have some 1L packs of BlueFire HD developer designed for microfilm. (Agfa Copex Rapid actually.) It is fresh powder - if you're interested, send a private message.
You may even get a speed increase.
Murray

 

[Murray Kelly]

Make that Bluefire HR developer
Murray

 

[bob100684]

I have technidol, but no techpan....want some?

 

[Murray Kelly]

Forgot to add - I am in Brisbane.
Murray

 

[Michael W]

There's a lab in Bondi that has Technidol & will sell it. The Lighthouse. PM me if you want his email.

 

[Neal]

Dear GerardF,

I have been using Kodak Flexicolor C-41 developer for some time. 7-1/2 minutes in a Jobo rotary system at EI32. Normal tank development (no special agitation) at 9-1/2 to 10 minutes is another good place to start.

Neal Wydra

 

[Michael W]

I was in the big Ted's shop on Pitt St (Sydney) today & they had lots of Technidol. Not sure if they'll post, or you might be able to get it via a Ted's shop in Melb.
Also at Ted's I saw good stock of Ilford DDX, various other Ilford & Kodak chems, a good range of film incl some Super 8, a decent enough selection of Ilford paper & various other useful items, eg bulk load cannisters with & without DX coding.
The guy I spoke to there was friendly & well informed.

 

[craigclu]

Some of the softer working tanning developers work nicely. If you have access to WD2D+, I think you would like the combination.

 

[AgX]

Other developers for the Technical Pan (not for real microfilms) are:

-) SPUR Docuspeed Professional (80-100 ISO)

-) Laborpartner LP- docufine LC (via Maco)

-) Tetenal Neofin doku (not longer produced by Tetenal)

 

[Richard Man]

I know the last reply was ... 2007 (!!) but I'm just to try out my first roll of 120 Tech Pan. I will probably rate it at ISO 25, and use TD-3 in a Jobo at the slowest rotary setting for 12 mins or so.

Any other recommendation? I only have 8x rolls, so want to minimize mistakes as much as possible.

 

[Craig]

Before Technidol, Kodak's reccomendation was POTA: See the recipe here: https://www.digitaltruth.com/produc...Extended Range Developer (POTA) [01-0070].pdf

It's a very low contrast developer, so I would rate it less than ISO 25. I have the original Kodak data sheet from circa 1980, let me see if I can find and scan it.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Technical Pan? Wow, a blast from the past. The last time I used it was 1985 in Athens, Greece. I never quite tamed the contrast, but did not try it enough to learn its characteristics.

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2023/06/kodak-technical-pan-film-at-acropolis.html

 

[OrientPoint]

I would follow the agitation instructions that come with your TD-3. They're fairly specific and they work. Continuous agitation is not your friend with this film.

 

[Craig]

Here is the Kodak datasheet with the developer formula. Note that the developer has a very short life, mix it immediately before use and use it one shot, then discard.

 

[Craig]

I would follow the agitation instructions that come with your TD-3. They're fairly specific and they work. Continuous agitation is not your friend with this film.

Yes, this film is very sensitive to agitation technique.

 

[Richard Man]

Yea, the TD-3 instruction does not mention rotary, hence asking. I was afraid that it wouldn't work well with Jobo. Ah well. I will follow their recommendations then. Thanks.

 

[loccdor]

Technical Pan? Wow, a blast from the past. The last time I used it was 1985 in Athens, Greece. I never quite tamed the contrast, but did not try it enough to learn its characteristics.

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2023/06/kodak-technical-pan-film-at-acropolis.htmlexperiment

Very nice images. There was a problem with the URL, this one works: https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2023/06/kodak-technical-pan-film-at-acropolis.html

Having been to the Parthenon in recent years, it's fun to see how much and how little things changed. As far as the photo results, I think Adox HR-50 available today will give very similar images. The contrast and detail immediately reminded me of it.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I wish Techpan was still around. It would be great for carbon transfer printing.