• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Panatomic-X questions...

alan doyle

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Messages
137
Format
Multi Format
i have seen some lovely results recently with 35mm panatomic x.
a friend had some with a use by date of 1986..
it was stored in the fridge for years...
then taken out and had about 8 years in a suitcase in his garage,he eventually shot some and rated it at 32asa...
i also see images on the net some great examples of frozen and non frozen outdated film..this seems pretty impressive to me..
so my question is why is this stuff not having the usual base fog,asa issues.
and Is There Anything,better or close to this product being made..

thanks
 

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator
Moderator
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
20,020
Location
Honolulu, HI
Format
Large Format
In general, B&W lasts longer than color, because there are no color shift issues, and slow films last longer than fast films, because they are less sensitive to cosmic rays, which fog all films eventually, so Pan-X is a slow B&W film, and it lasts a long time.
 

dpurdy

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
2,688
Location
Portland OR
Format
8x10 Format
I recently inherited 60 rolls 120 Panatomic X that had been in a freezer since somewhere around 1988 and according to my tests it is good as new. No base fog at all and nearly box speed.
 

Vaughn

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
10,275
Location
Humboldt Co.
Format
Large Format
Pan-X (in my Rolleiflex) in Microdol-X (1:3) was my film/dev combo back in the late 70's. Nice 15"x15" prints! That's quite a bundle of film, Mr. Purdy!

Vaughn
 

dpurdy

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
2,688
Location
Portland OR
Format
8x10 Format
It was a recent gift from a friend who has gone all digital. I used to use it with Rodinal 1-100
Dennis
 

Curt

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
4,618
Location
Pacific Nort
Format
Multi Format
No, there is nothing like it available today. It was a one of a kind and when it went away nothing could come close.
 

keithwms

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
6,220
Location
Charlottesvi
Format
Multi Format
I recently shot panatomic x from the 1950s, inherited from Jack Mitchell. That was stored outside a refrigerator... it was still pretty good. Perhaps a bit more grain than fresh but totally acceptable and no major issue with fog. I'm sure that it lost some contrast, but not much.

An aerial version of panatomic x is still available fresh. I have a big quantity.. and will probably buy more. The stuff speaks to me.
 

Attachments

  • px35mm1004_sm.jpg
    133.3 KB · Views: 137
Last edited by a moderator:

dpurdy

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
2,688
Location
Portland OR
Format
8x10 Format
Back in the days before Kodak tried it's hand at instant polaroid type film and before Polaroid sued them and they had a falling out, Polaroid type 55 used to use Panatomic X film. I would sometimes use the type 55 like ready loads and pull the packet apart in the dark and process the film in trays.
 

Curt

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
4,618
Location
Pacific Nort
Format
Multi Format
And it's only in good condition!
 
OP
OP

alan doyle

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Messages
137
Format
Multi Format
thanks for the ebay link...
if i use an olympus pen f half frame on that ebay roll how many shots will i get out of it...
just kidding.
so guys was this film really that special or are we in extinct product glorification syndrome..
 

donbga

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Nov 7, 2003
Messages
3,053
Format
Large Format Pan
alan doyle said:
so guys was this film really that special or are we in extinct product glorification syndrome..
Click to expand...

Yes it was a great film, I shot a lot of it back in it's day. The first photo I ever sold was made on Panatomic-X. And what a great name Pan Atomic-X!

Pan-X and Agfa Pan 25 are great loses for the small format B&W shooter.
 

keithwms

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
6,220
Location
Charlottesvi
Format
Multi Format
This may be lore, but I think panatomic x was so named because it was used to film the atomic bomb tests. I think for this purpose they were developing it with POTA.

I am not finding a good reference on this though. Ron???
 

Vaughn

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
10,275
Location
Humboldt Co.
Format
Large Format

Curt

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
4,618
Location
Pacific Nort
Format
Multi Format
And Kodak still makes Panatomic-X for aerial photography. Only $770 for a 5"x500' roll...but there maybe a 10 roll minimum
Click to expand...

I started to drool on my keyboard then reality hit me, think Rollie Pan 25 and Ilford Pan F 50. :munch:
 

Christiaan Phleger

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
1,218
Location
Hawaii
Format
35mm RF
I've found what I think is as close as you can get to the Pan-x look, Tmax 100 at 50 in Microdol-X 1:0. When Kodak came out with TMax 100 they actually recommended it as a replacement, and I personally think that Pan-X look was a target when they made it. I have a small stock of 35mm and 120 (!) and have compared them to the Tmax 100 and the look and character is pretty close, not perfectly exact but perhaps close enough. Try it for yourself, see what you think.
 

Vaughn

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
10,275
Location
Humboldt Co.
Format
Large Format
Curt said:
I started to drool on my keyboard then reality hit me, think Rollie Pan 25 and Ilford Pan F 50. :munch:
Click to expand...

Yes, Curt, but how many 5x7 negatives could one cut from a 500 foot roll!

Vaughn

PS...about 860!
 

jim appleyard

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Nov 21, 2004
Messages
2,421
Location
glens falls, ny USA
Format
Multi Format
Pan-X was great stuff and IMHO, blows away T-Max; Pan-X had some guts to it!
APX25 was a very close second.
There are some films that can be subbed for Pan-X,
Efke 25, Pan-F, and some of the "tech/copy" films.
I've gone on to Pan-F.
 

df cardwell

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jul 16, 2005
Messages
3,358
Location
KY USA
Format
Multi Format
Funny, after years of shooting FX, that first roll of TMX converted me.
Haven't missed good old Panatomic.

It's really hard to be a photographer,
whose job is to be-in-the-moment and record it,
while longing for something 'better' that you can't get anymore !

All Kodak managed to do with TMX was make a film that equalled FX in some things,
excelled it in others, and boosted the film speed 2 stops (yeah, I mean two stops).

And make it in sheet film. Wonderful. AND you can get it new !

FX has been dead for 23 years. If you have some, shoot it. If not, don't worry about it.

Oh. TMY2 is MUCH better than Verichrome.

There, 2 cults offended in one post !!!


.
 

Vaughn

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
10,275
Location
Humboldt Co.
Format
Large Format
DF...I used Verichrome Pan, then Panatomic-X in 120, then switched to 4x5...using whatever I could buy locally. Super-XX, Royal Pan, Plus-X...can't remember using any Tri-X back then. When TMax 100 came along, I was very happy with it. And if I were to enlarge using 120 film, I'd be very happy with TMax 100.

But one thing about Pan-X...it taught me to use a tripod!

vaughn
 

jimgalli

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
4,238
Location
Tonopah Neva
Format
ULarge Format


DF, I almost never disagree with your posts. To me the grain in Tmax is completely intolerable and the results are flat. The grain in Panatomic X is invisible and the results are alive. And yes, I've used a bit of each. I'm also the fool that paid $4.50 a roll for the 60 120 rolls on Ebay. When I go traveling I like to leave the big cameras at home sometimes and simply limit myself to the Autocord.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register