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Tech pan, got 2 rolls, which developer?

Richard S. (rich815)

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I have one roll each of Tech Pan, 35mm and 120. I understand that to get the most out of this film you have to use a specialized developer but for two rolls I'm not overly inclined to go buy the special developer. Is it even worth shooting when using a developer like D-76, Rodinal or HC-110? Will I get any kind of benefit that tech pan is known for with anything but it's made-for developer? or should I just sell them off?
 
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My dad developed it in Rodinal 1+300. That worked OK. You might want to do a clip test.
 

JW PHOTO

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I agree with Thomas on the Rodinal 1+300. I used it and 1+200 for TP years ago and it worked very well. I went a little liberal on exposure and can't remember my exact developing times, but if I remember right they weren't excessively long. I do remember using a larger tank so as to have enough Rodinal stock developer in the tank to do the job since it's highly dilute. JW
 

Trask

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I recently ran some 35mm TechPan through Rodinal 1:100. I thought the film came out well. I'm attaching my developing notes and a neg scan showing the results.

Develop in Rodinal 1:100 (4ml in 400ml water). Temp 66.5F. Eight minutes total time; agitate 20 sec after pour-in, then on the minute (swirl, swirl, invert, swirl, swirl, invert, pour out). Developer came out dark grey.

Water stop bath 2X

Fix for 5 minutes in Kodak fixer at 64F (cold bathroom), drain, water rinse, then hypo clear 64F for 2 minutes, rinse several times.

Photo-Flo several minutes, hang, then wipe with damp Pec Pad in P-F

Base is totally clear. Negatives are well-developed, leader is quite black.

 

JW PHOTO

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It was an amazing film for detail, but I only liked using it for scenic and such on heavy overcast days. For me, bright sunshine and TP didn't do well together. I'd try to cut development and then the mid-tones would go to hell fast. Never got the hang of it in bright lighting and just saved it for the right kind of day or close-up projects. Just me of course...............JW
 

Nicholas Lindan

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Technidol works best. Follow agitation instructions exactly. I found exposing at EI 17 and pulling development time by 15% would match #2 paper when using a condenser enlarger. Kodak specified speeds for a diffusion enlarger, as they did for all their films.