Re: [Leica] Black and White Film//Nachtwey//Rapidwinder

[Richard Comen <rpcomen@mcn.org>]

Mark,  I have felt for years that we are not getting the full potential out
of our Leica cameras and lenses and the shortcoming to my thinking is
mostly in the film we use. It seems logical thast the film with the
greatest resolution would be best for us. This  with out a doubt to me is
Kodak Technical Pan. The big drawback for all around use is its very slow
ASA with the conventional developers. So, several years ago a friend and I
undertook to formulate a brew that would give a satisfactory ASA and also a
satisfactory range of tones and we definitely aarrived aat such a formula.
I have been using the method I will outline below for about four years now
and it works beautifully for  very diverse types of subject matter. I now
use it for portraiture, theatre, symphony orchestra publicity, street
photography, landscape and  most anything else you can name. I have placed
a few examples on:

http://beta.content.communities.msn.com/Leicausers/PhotoAlbum

After opening the above page, scroll to the bottom to my album entitled
Tech Pan at ASA 100. I am currently adding to the album as I get time and
am adding only imaages that are chalenging in the darkroom due to their
great range of values.

The brew is easy to formulate and very inexpensive. The keeping qualities
are excellent. The brew is as follows.

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 ). 


                                         
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 The measuring spoons mentioned above are just fine, extreme accuracy is
not necessary. Filter through coffee filter  that is placed in a funnel.
The filtration is necessary as minute portions of the phenidone might not
disolve and your negs will dry spotted  if filtration is not used. Cool to
68 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 68
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 68 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
assuming of course good camera and enlarger lenses and a well alligned
enlarger.

For what it is worth!   Richard


 





                                                      


                                                     

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At 10:26 PM 9/1/00 EDT, you wrote:
>Hi Guys/Gals
>
>Anyone willing to share any preferences on a really nice Black and White film
>and Developer combo.
>I've been a commercial/stock shooter for many years and have been shooting
>almost exclusively in color.For personal work of late I'm shooting more and
>more in B & W but I find something 'lacking',especially since I'm using M6's 
>and
>feel I'm not getting the full potential out of them.
>I'm currently using TMax 100/400 and they are being developed by pro lab
>here in Montreal-I believe they are using D-76??
>
>SNIP