Pan-X 35mm Film Info Needed

[bobwysiwyg]

I came across a bulk loader I have had for years. It's loaded with the remains of a 100' roll of Pan-X. I loaded a cartridge just for kicks, but in trying to come up with some development info I came up blank. The Massive Dev Chart did not include this film. I have D-76 on hand, but have no clue if this will suffice and if so, no clue on times. Not expecting anything, but would like to satisfy my curiosity. :confused:

 

[bill@lapetelabs.com]

My Photolab index says that Panatomic-X exposed at 32 ASA should be processed in D-76 for 5 min, D-76(1:1) for 7 min, Microdol-X for 7 min, Polydol for 5.5 min, at 68 degrees. Speed loss due to age or storage is any body's guess. I never throw any information out, This is the compact edition, printed in 1979, published by Morgan & Morgan, Inc.!

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Thanks, I did a bit more Googling and came across some posts with similar info. Very curious to see what comes of this after all this time.. probably little to nothing.

 

[jim appleyard]

Pan-X is not listed, but the MDC does have a section for discontinued films/devs. This may be useful the next time you find a bulk loader loaded with film

http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?doc=discontinued

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Thanks for the link. As it happens I do have another with some Tech Pan.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Well, I loaded up a cassette with some of the Pan-X and shot various objects with my Nikon N90s (sorry, most with 'program' ) using a Sigma 28mm f1.8. The negatives are still drying, but I am pretty impressed if not amazed. This film must have been sitting in the bulk loader a min. of 25 years, but realistically more. Once it is dry, I will post an image or two and see if I'm still as enthusiastic. I did increase the development time by 20%.. just a seat of the pants, last minute decision.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Pan-X was a very nice film and I shot many, many rolls of it. I was very sorry when Kodak decided to end its production. I mainly developed it in either the Beutler formulla or Rodinal.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Well, no prize winners , but I was just trying to see what it would look like. I probably should have skipped the +20% on development at least, but I am surprised at the image quality for 25-30 year-old Pan-X. It sat in an Alden bulk loader in the basement all this time. Our basement is very dry (for a basement) and the temp never gets above 70F.

I always had a soft spot for fine grain so shot a good deal of Pan-X and Tech Pan. In case you might be wondering why it is so old, I, sadly, strayed to the D-world and only returned to film a year or so ago. I feel like I've come back home.

 

[fschifano]

Panatomic-X is no more, but if you like that sort of thing, we still have an old school slow B&W film in Ilford's PanF+. Used under the correct circumstances, it's pretty good; but if it's really fine grain you're after without the inherently high contrast of PanF+, there's TMX from Kodak and Acros from Fuji. Either will work better (if I dare use that term around here) under a wider range of lighting conditions. The attached photo was made on PanF+

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Since returning to film, I've been shooting T-Max 100/400 in both 35 mm and 4x5 with the latter being new to me, but I always wanted to give it a try. I shot 35 mm for years before my D-break.

I have and do favor fine to no grain most of the time. I shot the Pan-X out of curiosity only, but since it seems quite useable, I will shoot the rest over time as well. About 70' of the 100' remains. I loaded another cartridge worth and noticed I ha marked the purchase date under the lid. It was March 13, 1983. I have some Tech Pan as well and have located some Technidol so I will be giving that a try at some point as well.

 

[Athiril]

Pan X is a slow speed film so it wont deterioate and build up fog at the same rate a higher speed film would

I had a roll of HP5 (non-plus) from the 80s I shot at 400 and pushed to 1600 in dev, came out nice.. to be fair it had spent most of its life in Sweden in a drawer though, which might be similar to being in a fridge

 

[stevebrot]

How cool to find a stash of vintage Pan-X! An online friend recently sent me a couple of rolls from his 100' stash and it was so nice to work with that film again. I looked in my 1985 vintage Kodak Darkroom Dataguide and here are the times for Kodak developers:

D-76
20C, 5 min
21C, 4.5 min

D-76 (1+1), Microdol-X
20C, 7 min
21C, 6.5 min

Microdol-X (1+3)
20C, 12 min
21C, 11 min

HC-110, Dil. B
20C, 4.5 min
21C, 4.2 min

As for me, I did not use any of the above, but chose my old favorite:

Edwal FG-7 (1+15), shot at EI 64
21C, 11 min

The results were not too bad for old film!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28796087@N02/5100382741/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28796087@N02/5100382527/


Steve

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I agree, great film. I shot it at box speed but over developed. Now that I know it's usable and I have a fair amount left I'll get busy with it.