Opinions RE: Ektapan and Plus-X

[mikewhi]

Hi:

I have a lot of experience with Plus-x but not with Ektapan. Can someone with experience with both (or just Ektapan) expound on the virtures on Ektapan and possibly compare to Plus-X?

I am aware of the state of their production status or lack thereof. I am just asking for technical and aesthetic feedback.

Thanks.

-Mike

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Ektapan is a really nice portrait film. The tonal range is kind of like Plus-X, but the spectral sensitivity is a little different--maybe more like T-Max. It responds nicely to ABC pyro and prints beautifully on Azo. I've used it in 8x10" and 11x14".

 

[mikewhi]

Why would it be nice(r) for portraits? Is it not as sharp as Plus-X so maybe it doesn't show show many 'defects'? Is it not as contrasty as Plus-X can be? Do you know how well it responds to plus\minus development? If it prints well on Azo, I'd imagine it is capable of a lot of contrast, no?

Thanks.

-Mike

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

It's hard to describe what makes it such a nice portrait film. I'm using it in large format for contact prints, so it's not really a resolution issue. I think it's a spectral sensitivity issue--skin just looks different with Ektapan. Maybe the gradation in the midtones is also somewhat smoother.

I didn't find it as satisfactory for landscapes, but maybe I would need to use it more to figure out what situations called for it. Since it's out of production, though, I'll probably keep my remaining sheets for the application I like it for.

It is capable of expansion and contraction and prints well on Azo, but since I'm using it in the studio almost exclusively, I always process it normally and control contrast with lighting.