I will be travelling to Barcelona-Spain in a week and half. I have bought 5 rolls of Tech Pan film and I was wondering at what ISO rating will this film utilize it's finest results? And whatever ISO you'll suggest please indicate its processing time and temperature.

Thanks,

Adrian.

NB, remove "X" in order to respond directly to me.

-- Adrian Ng'asi (angasi@xbellantlantic.net), March 02, 1999

Answers

For best pictorial results with Tech Pan, shoot it at EI 25 and develope in Technidol Liquid. Any of the other developers that I referenced in my answer to your question in the Film area of the board will give you increasing contrast. That said I have shot Tech Pan at EI 100 and developed in D76 and got printable negatives but they were extremely contrasty. I had to work hard to print them and the results weren't anywhere near what I have done shooting at EI 25 and developing in Technidol. If you are shooting in low light (like doing building interiors or shooting at night) use a tripod. Alternatively you can take faster film for those times when you don't need really fine grain and reserve the Tech Pan for architectural photos of cathedrals and such. Tech Pan is a really wonderful film if you are willing to work within its operating parameters.

-- Fritz M. Brown (brownf{DHWTOWERS/TOWERS3/brownf}@dhw.state.id.us), March 04, 1999.

How long are you staying? Have you been there before? 5 rolls strikes me as entirely too few.

-- Sean yates (yatescats@yahoo.com), March 05, 1999.

You should absolutely test any new-to-you film before going on a trip! I expose Tech Pan at EI 32 and develop in Microphen diluted 1+5 for 14 min @ 75 deg. F.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), March 05, 1999.

same experiences as Fritz. I've seen it in HC110, but it's too contrasty and even grainy.

-- Lot (lotw@wxs.nl), March 06, 1999.

Oh and I forgot to add to Fritz's comment that it's not only lack of grain which is a reason to choose for TechPan (which you already did, so what am I saying here), but it gives special results because of the color-rendition (red-sensitivity), special skin-tones, surreal sometimes. So, not only suitable for architecture.

-- Lot (lotw@wxs.nl), March 06, 1999.

I've had more trouble with Tech Pan than any other film I have shot. The few truly magnificent negatives were not worth the many failures.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@earthlink.net), March 12, 1999.

I have shot Tech Pan for about a year at ISO 40, and processed it in Kodak HC110. There is some slightly noticeable increase in contrast, but not bad. If you plan to shoot Tech Pan very often, the price of the Technidol becomes outrageous. Kodak will mail you an info sheet on Tech Pan, which offers a variety of processing options depending on the ISO used which directly affects the contrast. I have also done some interesting high contrast shots exposing at ISO 200 and 250. Tech Pan is a very touchy film and I have always tried to shoot many more exposures than I need, at different exposure settings, to provide more chances of a really great negative to work with. Also, if you are doing your own processing, at times it is very difficult to load on the reels. Good luck.

-- robert linebarger (jeneric@ponyexpress.net), March 18, 1999.

I've been using tech pan for nearly ten years as my only B&W film in 35mm (except for ocassional HIE). I use Ethol TEC and rate at 100. I develop about one mimute longer than the manufacturers recommendation. This development time averages about a 21/2 contrast grade filter on MC Ilford. I love the results and I can print to 16x20 if I do everything right. With top of the line nikkor lens, my f3's become formatible B&W machines.

Ethol TEC in the 2 solution form is about 5 cents a roll. Bulk loading the film also cuts cost by 2/3($1.60 for 20 exposures). Thus I can shoot a lot of film.

Adrain, do some testing before you go. The above informtion was obtained after much testing and reading.

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@emji.net), March 19, 1999.

The ISO speed of tech pan depends upon developer and dilution.

In subminiature photography world, due to the small size of negative, tech pan is a favourite film along with Agfa Copex Rapid as the films which provide good accutance and grain. The favorite soup for subminiaturists is diluted Rodinal, with sodium sulphite added.

First prepare 1 litre of distilled water, with 56 g of sodium sulphite disolved. then use 100 part of this solution add 1 part of Rodinal to make 1:100 dilution.

Development 20 degree C for 6 minutes.

Agfa also makes a fine grain version of Rodinal, called Rodinal Special.

Technical Pan is my standard film for my Minox TLX B&W photography, I develop TP ins 1:80 Rodinal-Special for 15 minutes at 20 degree. The negative is neutral grade 2, enlargeable to at leasst 8x10" without grain, that is equivalent ot 24x36" poster size from 35mm negatives. Some Minox photographer even enlarge to 16x20". Highly diluted Rodinal provide added accutance due to "edge effect"

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), September 02, 1999.

I shoot TP at EI 25 on MY cameras.

Microdol is also popular with subminaturist using TP.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), September 02, 1999.