Re: [Leica] (Tech Pan) Leica vs medium format debate

["Dan S" <dstate1@hotmail.com>]

Andrew, if you really want to see an improvement in your image sharpness and 
granularity try Kodak Tech Pan.  Rate it at 25 asa, and develope in 
Technidol at 72F for 8 minutes, with agitation for 2 seconds every 30.

Since you are using a tripod anyhow the loss of a stop will not bother you.  
I have used Ilford 50 and many others and I think you will appreciate the 
increase in quality.  I have seen resolution figures of 400 lines/mm for 
this film, so if you don't like the sharpness you will be able to blame your 
lens fairly(if your enlarger is a good one).

Best wishes
Dan States


>        The negative size of 35mm  x vs  medium format ( 6 x 6 cm )
>         or ( 6 x 7 cm ) alone is a disadvantage. When you have
>         a good size enlargements made 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 size,
>         the quality of the print will not be grain free. If you have
>         enlarged a 35mm negative and enlarged it to the above sizes,
>         the grain will be noticeable. The professional films that are
>         available in 120 and 220 sizes are basically the same as in
>         35mm with a few exceptions. When judging color slides
>         side by side , the larger format one always look sharper.
>         Just lay on any lightbox 35mm, 6x6 cm, 6x7cm, 4x5 inch,
>         color slides  and compare all of them with a loupe.
>         The larger slides will appear sharper. If you want crisper,
>        sharper,
>         larger images and do not care about the added bulk and
>        slowness
>         of medium format go for the Hasselblad system.
>
>         I have always been using 35mm and medium format cameras
>         on tripods, with mirrors prereleased ( locked up ) and
>         using fine grain films asa 50 to 100 in speed. This is to
>        minimize
>         vibration and to get the most out of lens and film
>        combination.
>         You can try to hand hold both types of cameras. The best way
>        is
>         run your own personal testing and see what works out for
>         your subject matter and method of photography.
>
>         In the old days Kodak used to market Panatomic X B&W film,
>         ASA 32. I have used it in 35mm  cameras and developed it
>         with Microdol X developer.
>         I found out that it was the best combination for my style of
>         photography, now I use Ilford Pan F plus ISO 50 film.
>
>        Opions are mine and not of my employer.
>
>        Andrew Churak


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