Pan Films

[DieHipsterDie]

A google search tells me that Pan is "a term describing a type of black-and-white photographic film that is sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light. A panchromatic film therefore produces a realistic image of a scene."

So are not all black and white films pan films? Why is the term still in use? :confused:

 

[Claire Senft]

Because there are still films being sold that are orthochromatic..very little red sensitivity, blue sensitive only, and Infra-red sensitive which is not part of the visible spectrum.

The choice of film type, pan, ortho, blue or IR can make very major changes in the appearance of the subject that has been photographed. If no information about sensitivity is offered then one could ordinarily presume that the film is panchromatic.

 

[Gerald Koch]

Then too, not all panchromatic films are created equal.

 

[photobum]

Because you can still buy orthochromatic and infrared films. Ortho films are mostly used for darkroom copy work. ie. enlarged negatives for alt printing. And infrared film for those who like white trees.

 

[DieHipsterDie]

But Ilford Delta 100, FP4 and XP2 are all pan films, correct? Even though they don't include the word pan? Yet they have a film that is designated as pan.

 

[Woolliscroft]

But Ilford Delta 100, FP4 and XP2 are all pan films, correct? Even though they don't include the word pan? Yet they have a film that is designated as pan.

Yup, as is HP5 and Delta 400.

David.

 

[DieHipsterDie]

So the lack of the word Pan in a film description really means nothing now. Kodak Plus X Pan and Tri-X are both pan films.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

So the lack of the word Pan in a film description really means nothing now. Kodak Plus X Pan and Tri-X are both pan films.

I think that to the extent that the term is used, it is a historical artifact and is mostly found on products that predate pan films becoming the standard. One exception might be Fuji Neopan, but that could also just be a nice way to incorporate a popular old photographic term as part of your trademark.

I do think you are safe in the assumption that a film is not orthochromatic unless it says so on the box. Although I hear that Efke/Adox films are close to orthochromatic in their characteristics.

 

[DieHipsterDie]

I think that to the extent that the term is used, it is a historical artifact and is mostly found on products that predate pan films becoming the standard.

Thanks. That was my thought also.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I do think you are safe in the assumption that a film is not orthochromatic unless it says so on the box. Although I hear that Efke/Adox films are close to orthochromatic in their characteristics.

Efke/Adox 25 and 50 films have less red sensitivity than most panchromatic films but more than ortho films. Efke/Adox 100 is a normal panchromatic film.

 

[Jim Noel]

There was a time when it was necessary to list a film as orthochromatic or panchromatic since some films were made with both kinds of sensitivity.

The most obvious example of this was Tri-X Pan and Tri-X Ortho. I still carry Tri-X Orhto as Well as Ilford Ortho Plus when using the 4x5 in the field. Ortho films being more blue sensitive are wonderful for opening up shadows.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Then too, not all panchromatic films are created equal.

In a copy of the Kodak Encyl. of Practical Photo I found something about panchro films type A,B, and C. IIRC, they correspond to orthopan (like efke 25/50), normal daylight, and tungtsen.

 

[copake_ham]

Is it correct to consider XP-2 as a panchromatic B&W? It (and it's Kodak counterparts) is a chromogenic B&W that uses C-41 processing. So I'm curious if the term "panchromatic" would apply to this class of films?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Yes. XP-2 is more or less sensitive to all visible wavelengths of light, just like traditional panchromatic films, so it's also a panchromatic film.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

BTW, all color films are panchromatic (ok, except for IR film)... The discovery of panchromatic dye sensitization in the early 20thC was the breakthough that allowed the first color processes like the Autochrome &c.

 

[Black Dog]

The 'P' in FP4, HP5 & XP2 means 'panchromatic'.

 

[Bob F.]

Pan F was first produced in 1948. The F in FP4+ means Fine-grain and the H in HP5+ is Hypersensitive (so HP5 becomes Hypersensitive Panchromatic 5) The original Hypersensitive Panchromatic (160ASA) in 1931 was for plates only...

Potted Ilford history here: http://website.lineone.net/~mauricefisher/Ilford Chronology.html

Cheers, Bob.

 

[Black Dog]

If you read Ag magazine you can also find various articles on this and related subjects.