Uses for 5 inch Panatomic-X aerial film

[nickandre]

Panatomic-X Aerecon II Film was made for aerial photography. "Panatomic" is a brand name, the emulsion has no relationship to Panatomic-X FX/ 5040/6040/ in 135, 120 or sheet film.

This roll was made for a military aerial application. Probably fixed wing. Satellite films were never perforated.


Support is 2.5 mil Estar compared to 120-size that is 3.2 mil acetate

Design speed is around 32

Spectral sensitivity is pan with extended red to may be 680nm. Little sensitivity at 700nm.

The design gamma is 1.3 to 2.2 while pictorial films are designed for lower contrast .41-.56

If you want to attempt pictorial photography try HC-110 1:63 . Scanning might yield results that with Photoshop adjustment will make usable. Printing the negatives on AgX paper will probably be too contrasty for full range quality. If you print for the highlights you will lose shadow detail.

Fog should be low. It is not very sensitive to cosmic radiation.

Bob Shanebrook
www.makingKODAKfilm.com

Thanks Bob! That sounds consistent with what I saw on the negatives (has plenty of punch with a relatively short tray development in Rodinal). I’ll try some developer shenanigans to tame the contrast. Or buy a U2 spy plane

I have acquired some 122 roll film spools and backing paper. Seems to have 1973 expired Verichrome Pan attached which I was not expecting. I am working on acquiring an appropriate slashing apparatus for my plexiglass sheets to construct a film slitter down to 120 width.

 

[nickandre]

Yes, Linhof sold the Aero-Technika in the 1970s and later. They offered a vacuum motorized back.

1972/73​

The Aero Technika, a large format aerial camera system was developed: use of 126 mm rollfilm, motorized transport of 150 frames in one cassette with vacuum technique for exact film flatness. Interchangeable lenses from 90 to 250 mm with focusing facilities. The Aero Technika was regularly used in space by American or European missions delivering superb photos.

That’s a big boy:

 

[Kodachromeguy]

That’s a big boy:
View attachment 307231

That is a great picture. He is weightless, so it does not matter how much his Linhof weighs on earth! He can lock the focus at infinity and use sunny 16 for exposure. Notice:
1. A roll of gaffer's tape or electrical tape. Tape down loose floating junk?
2. The astronaut is wearing an early-vintage Casio electronic watch. These were rugged little devices.
3. Above his right shoulder, a plastic rectangle with a tube coming out of it. Drinking water? He pees into it? Remains of his instant breakfast? Do any of you remember Tang, which was supposedly invented for astronauts?

 

[AnselMortensen]

Possible use:
Somebody with a Cirkut banquet camera would love to have some of that film.

 

[nickandre]

I saw an old Polaroid roll film camera in the Goodwill and it occurs to me I could shove this in there.

 

[Hunter_Compton]

If you do end up deciding to sell some lengths of this, I'd love to have some. I have a 3A Autographic Kodak Special with rangefinder which uses 122 (3.5 inch wide) film which it would be nice to have some new(-ish) film for.

I also have a No.2 Bulls Eye Kodak which uses 101 rollfilm which is 3.75 inches wide and a No.4 Cartridge Kodak which uses 104 rollfilm which is 5 inches wide, although finding suitable backing paper for those two could be challenging.

 

[nickandre]

If you do end up deciding to sell some lengths of this, I'd love to have some. I have a 3A Autographic Kodak Special with rangefinder which uses 122 (3.5 inch wide) film which it would be nice to have some new(-ish) film for.

I also have a No.2 Bulls Eye Kodak which uses 101 rollfilm which is 3.75 inches wide and a No.4 Cartridge Kodak which uses 104 rollfilm which is 5 inches wide, although finding suitable backing paper for those two could be challenging.

DM me if you want some. Need to find some suitable packaging.

I did grab some 122 spools and backing paper. I was wondering about the 104 rolls — could probably load it in the dark without backing paper.

 

[nickandre]

Ok successfully loaded it into 120 rolls. Here’s a test shot with a flat scan:
View attachment 5DAA8079-6A0C-4347-8077-09E2073F736D.jpeg

Anyone had success controlling contrast with higher dilution Rodinal? I’ll give that a shot and run a zone test.

 

[AgX]

Ok successfully loaded it into 120 rolls.

You mean type 122.