Panatomic X question

BruceN · Sep 20, 2004

A friend gave me an old bulk loader the other day, and I discovered it had a spool of film in it. I loaded some on a reel and gave it 8 minutes in ID-11 to see if I could find out what the edge printing was. It turns out I have some 20+ year old Panatomic X. It seems to be ok, but I have no experience with this. I'd like to play with it, so can anyone tell me something about it? Especially what ASA to shoot it at and what developer/time to start with?

Thanks,
Bruce

Tom Hoskinson · Sep 20, 2004

Panatomic X was one of my favorite films. It produced beautiful results developed in Rodinal.

I rated the 35mm version of Panatomic X at 32 and developed it for 9 minutes at 68F in the 1:50 dilution of Rodinal. Agitation was 10 seconds of gentle torus inversion every minute.

BruceN · Sep 20, 2004

Thanks!

Bruce

fschifano · Sep 20, 2004

You lucky guy! You're gonna have some fun with that.

glbeas · Sep 20, 2004

Panatomic is a little weak on the red end of the spectrum so if using a red filter the factor is a bit higher than normal film. And be careful of any blemishes showing doing portraits. It's great film!

ecarme · Feb 28, 2005

I was given about 50 36 exp rolls of Panatomic-X from a friend who retired. Does anyone have any experience with using this film for portraits? Also is HC110 ok or what are your thoughts?

Joe Lipka · Feb 28, 2005

The ultimate source for film and development time is www.digitaltruth.com, and click on the massive development chart. That's the first place to look for film and developer answers.

Paul Howell · Feb 28, 2005

As odd as it sounds Microdole X was developed for Pan X. I used a lot of Pan X with microdole and found it work very, as did D 76. I do not recommend Pan X for portraits, every little thing shows up.

Tom Hoskinson · Feb 28, 2005

Panatomic X is ok in Microdol -X.

However, in Rodinal 1:100 or 1:50 IT SINGS!

amurray · Feb 28, 2005

I use to shoot a lot of Panatomic-X, I always shot it at ASA 32 and would develop it for 5 min. in HC-110 dil. B at 68F I found this to be an excellent combination.

ecarme · Feb 28, 2005

Thanks. That probably explains why I was also given a big brown bottle of liquid Microdol X with the film. I think I'll try a few rolls and test the developer as well as the film. Also thanks for the website info I'll go take a look and see what developes (bad pun).

ecarme · Feb 28, 2005

Can you really dilute Rodinal 1:100? Sounds like you could really bring out the Detail in the shadows provided it was exposed properly. I was also given 100 sheets of Tri-X, 100 sheets of Agfa Pan 100 all in date and 25 sheets of Plus X. I'm not a big fan of 400 speeds films because of the grain but I've seen pics taken with TriX that were very contrasty and seemed very sharp. Is there some secrete to exposing and or developing it to get it this way?

Lee L · Feb 28, 2005

See my gallery for Panatomic-X in Rodinal 1+100. I used EI 32, 12 minutes @ 20C, and added sodium sulfite at the rate noted. These days I'd probably add a little borax as per Gainer rather than sodium sulfite, but I haven't tested that yet. The Galveston Wharf shot is one that a photography prof (reviewing my portfolio to see if I qualified for his class) thought was MF, in spite of the even gray sky showing up any grain and a condenser enlarger. When I told him what I had used he inspected it close-up for about 5 minutes. Don't know if he ever tried the combo, and I was surprised he hadn't heard of it.

Lee

Tom Hoskinson · Feb 28, 2005

You absolutely can dilute Rodinal 1:100!

Panatomic X rated at 32, developed in an invertible tank: Rodinal 1:50 for 9 minutes at 68 deg. F. Agitate by 10 seconds of inversion per minute.

Virtually identical results (D Log E curve) can be obtained with the Rodinal 1:100 dilution.

Panatomic X rated at 32, developed in an invertible tank: Rodinal 1:100 for 13.5 minutes at 68 deg. F. Agitate by 10 seconds of inversion per minute.

Claire Senft · Feb 28, 2005

Panatomic x I s great

Panatomic x was very much my favored film before being replaced by 100Tmax. I would shoot it at asa 25..32. I would develop mostly in HC 110B. Although 100Tmax is a very nice film Panatomic x had a very different character, a character that I loved. Here are the reccomendatuins at 68ºF that are listed in an old Photo lab index that I have:
D76 7 min
D76 1:1 9 Min
Microdol X 9min
Microdol x 1:3 --- I do not know if kodak is indicating not having a time or is indicating it as not being advisable to use.
Polydol 7min
HC 110 Dil. A 2 min 45 Sec
HC 110 Dil B 4 minutes 30 seconds

You should be aware that Kodak's data is for diffusion enlarging and may be more than is advisable for enlarging thru condensers.

Non Kodak infirmation

Acufine asa 100 5 min 45 sec. I would take that asa 100 statement with a very large grain of salt.

I find no other information to be readily available in this large book.

I remember using Rodinal with Panatomic X. I do not remeber the times or dilution.

I think that both HC110 B and Rodinal 1:50 or 1:100 will give you sharp negatives with pleasing contrast. The character of the fine grain films such as Panatomic x will not produce grainy negatives as might be the case with a faster film such as Tri x or HP5 when used with HC 110 or Rodinal..

I would guess that 20 years or more of age has changed the original contrast characteristic of the film and also its inherent speed.

That being said, I think that you will very much enjoy your usage of it.

jimgalli · Feb 28, 2005

Still shooting a lot of Panatomic X aerial recon. ASA 32 and Pyrocat HD 1:1:100 5 minutes. It's damn hard to focus in an enlarger though as there's no grain at all. The Rodinal sounds interesting Tom. I happen to have a bottle of that stuff that came with a 1970's camera outfit and is probably that old. Think it's any good? Guess I'll give it a go. That would make a good story.

ecarme · Feb 28, 2005

WOW! Now I see what I've been missing. I'm going to do a lot of experimenting this weekend in my pursuit of the great fine art print. Thanks for all of the help. Trying to get that Irving Penn or Horst look will be a challange.
Hey one more question. I found one of those old cardboard Zone dials. I forget the maker but you provide the reading from a zone three and then the calculator does the rest. How importnat is zone anymore and has anyone ever used one of these zone dials. Thanks

Donald Qualls · Mar 1, 2005

jimgalli said:
The Rodinal sounds interesting Tom. I happen to have a bottle of that stuff that came with a 1970's camera outfit and is probably that old. Think it's any good? Guess I'll give it a go. That would make a good story.

The overall buzz on Rodinal seems to be that if it's still liquid in the bottle, it'll work; multiple folks have reported using Rodinal that was a decade or more in an opened bottle with large airspace, and no visible difference from a brand new bottle.

titrisol · Mar 1, 2005

Is it in the glass bottle? Then it should be usable.
Rodinal tends to last forever

jimgalli said:
SThe Rodinal sounds interesting Tom. I happen to have a bottle of that stuff that came with a 1970's camera outfit and is probably that old. Think it's any good? Guess I'll give it a go. That would make a good story.

mfobrien · Mar 1, 2005

Well that Panatomic-X is going to be old...I suggest you send it to me to keep you from being occupied with it!

KenS · Mar 1, 2005

mfobrien said:
Well that Panatomic-X is going to be old...I suggest you send it to me to keep you from being occupied with it!

Panatomic-X is, as far as I am aware, still being made in the 4x5 format. All you have to do is invest in some Polaroid 55/PN.

In the field I expose the film, replace the envelope and remove the film without "processing".

Take the film home to the darkroom, prepare all the chemicals, rip the envelope apart, remove the negative sheet and process the film (as usual) in the 8x10 trays.

It is rather a bit more expensive than TMax100 (or 100TMax) but for that ocasional image, well worth the effort.

Ken

Oldtimer Jay · Mar 1, 2005

Hi All,

I am a great fan of Panatomic X and have been trying some 1981 expired 35 MM that I got recently with a number of developers and comparing the results with negatives I shot and developed in the 60s and 70s. The problem I notice with the 1981 film is that, although equal in every other way to the previously processed film from the 60s-70s, it is noticably grainer in 16X20 prints. I have tried a number of different developers including Xtol, Rodinal, Acutol, PMK, FG 7 (nice), FX15 and and have found that by far the best (which nearly equals the ultra-fine grain of fresh Pan X) is Microdol X, 1-1 for 11 minutes at 68 with 4 gentle inversions per minute. Despite statements that Microdol X is a speed reducing developer, I am getting nice shadow detail shooting at ISO 40.

The prints I am getting are really beautiful and I, like Claire, believe they have a unique tonality different from that of modern films. If any of you have any 35 MM Panatomic X that you are willing to sell, please contact me, I have two bulk rolls, but am enjoying it so much I would like to get more so I can shoot even more freely!

Cheers

Jay

Gerald Koch · Mar 2, 2005

Pan-X substitute

When you run out of Pan-X take a look at Ilford Pan F+. This is the last slow speed emulsion made by a major manufacturer. Not quite the same as Pan-X but a lovely film in its own right

fschifano · Mar 2, 2005

ecarme said:
Thanks. That probably explains why I was also given a big brown bottle of liquid Microdol X with the film. I think I'll try a few rolls and test the developer as well as the film. Also thanks for the website info I'll go take a look and see what developes (bad pun).

Is Microdol-X still available as a liquid concentrate? I think not, so be careful about using that big jug of developer. It's likely to be very old and may well have expired by now. Microdol-X is still available in powdered form if you want to use it.

Gerald Koch · Mar 2, 2005

Microdol-X and Pan-X

Microdol-X is a solvent developer and works best with medium to fast films. What you need with Pan-X is an accutance developer which will enhance the films ability to show fine detail. Suggested developers are Rodinal, Ethol T.E.C and the Beutler developer. If you wish to use Microdol or D-76 then use them diluted 1+2 to 1+3 at which dilutions they become accutance developers.

Jerry

Panatomic X question

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