Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/10/04
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On 2003-10-04 roland@dnai.com (Roland Smith) thoughtfully wrote:
>Does anyone use this film or have experience with it for general photography
>and especially landscapes?
>
>I want to try this film and am not sure what developer to use and for what
>duration for the development at 20c. Please advise the ISO it yielded.
I use technical pan in the developer specified by Kodak for photographic use:
Technidol. It comes in little packets that you mix up on a case by case basis
which makes it a bit expensive.
I've been shooting it at 25 - it has extremely fine grain. I follow the
development instructions religiously.
Now if you look back in the archives, maybe a year or so, you'll fine some folks
who process it with their own chemistry and get a speed of 100 or so. It's a
LITTLE more grainy but very impressive. I think one of the guys is from the
North Bay area.
It was Richard Comen who was doing it. Here's what he wrote back in 2001 (wow
longer than I thought)
I hope this helps. I like tech pan and intend to be doing some more photography
with it in the next month or so.
- --------
Adam, if you are interested in experimenting further with Tech Pan you
might try the following brew which I formulated after many years of
experimenting. I now use Tech Pan exclusively for everything but low light
photography. I shoot it at iso 100. It works beautifully with the split
filtration enlarging. If you try it, let me know what you thin,.
Richard
Mendocino CA
Directions for Pota-HC110 developer for processing Tech Pan at ASA 100:
In 300 ml hot water mix 1 tablespoon Sodium Sulfite and 1/8 teaspoon
Phenidone . I use the set of plastic measuring spoons that come in a set
for kitchen use. To the above add 2 ml. HC110 syrup ( measure with a
child's medicine syringe found at any pharmacy ).
2
The measuring spoons mentioned above are just fine, extreme accuracy is
not necessary. Filter through coffee filter that is placed in a funnel.
Cool to 69 degrees F. Use stainless nikkor tank for one roll only. Discard
developer after one roll, ( Phenidone developer oxidizes rapidly and should
be discarded after one roll). I place tank in a tray of water that is 69
degrees to keep temp constant. Develop for 6 minutes. After filling tank,
rap tank to dislodge air bubbles, then give one gentle inversion over and
back. Place tank in water bath of 68 degrees. Agitation: Do not agitate
until beginning of third minute and at that time one gentle inversion over
and back. Repeat at top of each remaining minute. At end of 6 min., drain,
use short stop, and follow with rapid fix for aprox 2 min. Wash as usual,
rinse in distilled water for final rinse, then instead of foto flow, pour
in rubbing alcohol ( I prefer it to foto flow. It is often on special at
pharmacies for 39 cents a bottle ). Let sit in alcohol for a minute or so,
discard alcohol and hang film to dry ( no squeegee or sponges as that is a
terrible thing to do to wet film). Hang in dust free place. Because of
variations of meters, camera shutters, thermometers, and other variables,
you might want to adjust your time of development slightly.
Since concocting the above brew formula, I have found that it simplifies
life to mix 3 liters of the above brew ( use 10 x the brew formula ),
filter as above and pour into 8 Oz. Brown glass bottles obtained from a
pharmacy. Fill each bottle so that there is no air and screw on top
tightly. I have found that using my last bottle 6 months after mixing gives
the same results as with the first bottle used right after mixing. All I do
is place a bottle into 69 degree water bath and when brew reaches the bath
temp, I pour it into the tank.
ASA 200 can be achieved by increasing the developing temperature to 70
degrees F. and following the rest of the above procedure. There will be a
loss in shadow detail however.
The above gives me the best negatives I have ever made and they print
beautifully. The negs may appear a bit thick to some but with split
filtration even the most dense appearing highlights print beautifully. The
beauty of Tech Pan is that one can take a small portion of the neg and
enlarge it to 11X14 with very little loss in quality. In full negative
printing the detail is exquisite unlike no other film I have ever used.
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