Kodak Tech Pan

[Dream Merchant]

Does anyone use Kodak's revered Tech Pan for continuous tone work?

I was wondering what EI's you expose at, and what chemistry you use and with what results?

For those wondering about what Kodak's Tech Pan is, and what it can do ...

Quote: Technical Pan was an almost panchromatic black and white film produced by Kodak. While it could reproduce the visible light spectrum, it leaned to the red and so unfiltered outdoor shots would render blues, most notably the sky, with additional darkening and reds with some lightening. This effect was like a yellow (Y2) or even orange (O) filter. For those that valued this shift, in darkening foliage or lightening facial imperfection, this color shift together with the emulsions absurd absence of grain made up for a limited film speed since the filter factors of the emulated effects were worth one or two stops. These unique characteristics have not been replicated. It was generally used as a very slow film, rated at ASA 25 or even 16, although it could be rated at up to ASA 320 with a distinct loss of tonal range and a bunching of shadow and hghlight detail. This film had unmatched fine grain, especially when rated at a low speed, and made excellent enlargements while preserving fine details. Kodak stopped selling it in 2004. It has not been replaced by a film (from any manufacturer) with its exceptional characteristics. The film could be developed at home, mainly by using the chemical mixture Technidol, which Kodak sold for that purpose alone. Other two bath "split" developers have been used on Tech pan and well as highly dilute developers such as Agfa's Rodinal. To achieve exact results, home development was often the preferred process. Like other panchromatic films, it cannot be developed under any light. When the film was discontinued, Kodak revealed that none had been made for many years, and that it was still on the market only due to a large roll being found in frozen storage. The film was created for the military and was no longer required for that purpose[citation needed]. Consequently, Kodak cut the roll into commercially viable formats and continued to sell it. Unexposed Technical Pan is now quite valuable and very difficult to find. Tech Pan, as it is often known, was very popular among some professional photographers and astronomers, as it was capable of recording extremely fine detail, and its sensitivity curve extended much further into the red than that of most films. In particular, it was very senstitive to light emitted by hydrogen at 656.3 nm, which made it very useful for a wide range of astronomical imaging. Tech Pan was also useful for electron and laser photography. The film was popular with photographers in the art and fashion industries for its extremely high-contrast results when up-rated and processed in an abrasive, high-strength developer. This description comes from Kodak publication No. P-255, copyright 1985: “ KODAK Technical Pan Film is a black-and-white panchromatic negative film with extended red sensitivity. The 2415 Film is available in both 35 mm and 4 x 5-inch sizes; it has a dimensionally stable 4-mil (100 µm) ESTHAR-AH Base with a built-in 0.1-density dye that suppresses light piping. The 6415 Film is available in 120 size with a 3.6-mil acetate base. Both 2415 and 6415 Films have good latent-image keeping and a dyed-gel backing to suppress halation and curl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_Pan


Flickr Tech Pan Set: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=kodak+tech+pan

Not exactly TP but similar. You REALLY REALLY have to CHECK OUT THIS PAGE! http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/Fr...PHS072206.html

[alucard]

From what I have read in various books+sites, Tech Pan gave unmatched performance at 25~50 ISO. Thornton's book (I know I am beating dead dog to death) has some very nice examples with the two bath developers and Tech Pan.

http://www.unblinkingeye.com/Article...n/techpan.html

that site is a must have on the bookmark if you are doing MF and LF B&W photography and self-development.

If you want to try a similar modern emulsion, then the Ilford PanF gives very good results. fine grain and very good resolution.

PS: if you happen to have tech pan in 120, or can source some, I am interested in sharing some rolls.

[Dream Merchant]

Thanks for sharing Alucard!

I was thinking of a bit more simplicity - working the TP and Ortho materials in Rodinal (hence explaining my wanting to get Rodinal). What do you feel about this?

Pan F still has visible grain, and I may be wrong but there's probably nothing that can equal TP's 320 lpp resolution, though the modern ortho films like Ilford's Ortho plus and Rollei's ATP might be in the running.

[alucard]

Originally Posted by Dream Merchant Thanks for sharing Alucard! I was thinking of a bit more simplicity - working the TP and Ortho materials in Rodinal (hence explaining my wanting to get Rodinal). What do you feel about this? Pan F still has visible grain, and I may be wrong but there's probably nothing that can equal TP's 320 lpp resolution, though the modern ortho films like Ilford's Ortho plus and Rollei's ATP might be in the running.

Rodinal is a great developer for any situation. I have thrown every type/manufacturer of film out there at it, and it has turned out great. One thing you need to keep in mind is that it's not a great developer if you want to push film. And, it's best to shoot film at 1/3~2/3 stops less than box speed if you are developing in Rodinal. I always shoot trix at EI 250 if I know I am developing in Rodinal. The tonal range and shadow detail are very good.

The other reason I said that developer plays a major role is, usage of staining developers. If you use PMK or Pyrocat with PanF, the grain is masked by the stain, and you get smooth pictures. The enlargements from a 6x6 PanF onto a 8x10 paper is amazing. It's virtually grain free.

[sweat100]

I have tried exposing techpan at ISO 25 and developed them in technidol for EI 25. Yeah the result was really continuous tone. When I scanned the negatives, I can't spot the grains, the image looks very "smooth". I have not tried a traditional print yet, maybe I should try it one dy to see the results.

[Dream Merchant]

Printing it is quite straightforward. I used to do 11x17 rag prints on Rekord-Rapid and Selinium tone it.

But you might face one difficulty - grain focusing is a nightmare! You just can't see the 'grain'!

[plsoong]

yep, used to use TP >10 years ago when i had to do some development of negs used to take images from the electron microscope.......

but i dunno where i left them back in SG already