Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I recall a recent discussion about grains in B/W emulsion, and characteristics of Technical Pan. A fellow poster whose name I have forgotten has stated that even though Technical Pan is practically grainless in enlargements, it does not provide the sharpness of images. To this poster, I ask the question, "was your camera mounted on a tripod?" I ask this because all of my initial handheld shots with Technical Pan indeed came out somewhat blurry, lacking sharpness. After a number of rolls, I came to attribute the lack of sharpness to camera shake, or wider apertures used with this excruciatingly slow (ISO 12-25 developed in Technidol) The microscopic grain also encourages me to scrutinise for any technical flaws further. I have a brick of Technical Pan in both 35mm and 120 in my fridge, and I now only use it with my tripod. When properly secured on a stable support, the amount of detail that this film can reveal is nothing short of astonishing. I have made 8x10 or larger enlargements in which I detect little grain, but with microscopic details when inspected with a 20x loupe. I used it with enthusiasm for landscapes. Ken Iisaka kiisaka@pacbell.net Lost in Mill Valley in Marin County, California