Panatomic-x

[Artorius]

Back in the day, I loved this film. I know about most of the others, Tri-x, HP, and others. I am going to start a project about Iron Horses(steam locomotives) and would like to get bact to a fine grained, moderate contrast film.
I tried some Plus-X but it didn't feel/look right to me. So, my question, what 35mm low ASA, fine grained B&W film today, would equal the old Pan-X?

 

[peterc]

Ilford Pan-F or Efke KB25.

 

[xayraa33]

yes, I adored Panatomic film in its day.
I agree, Pan -F is a good replacement for the 'atomic.

 

[projectbluebird]

Efke KB25 is an amazing slow film. When I used Pan F, I also shot it at 25. I can't say how they compare to Pan-X, but they are both mighty fine.

-edit-
A quick poke through freestyle shows some other options as well. Adox Pan 25, Ortho 25, CHS 25, CMS 20 high res. As well as some offerings from Rollie. Hmm, might be fun to start playing around with some low-speed films! It's not bright enough here yet, but the film in the fridge is dwindling!

 

[Al Kaplan]

You might be able to still locate some refrigerated rolls of Kodak's movie "version" of Panatomic-X, Eastman XT Pan. I liked it better, but it was discontinued a couple of years before Panatomic-X.

 

[sepiareverb]

Art I have a few rolls from the last run frozen if you have any interest. My last round with it was good- only the very slightest trace of fog- I shot it at 25.

As to a current replacement there really isn't one. Panatomic-X was unique. The Efke 25 can be close, Pan F too, but they are both have a lot more contrast.

 

[rich815]

I tried some Plus-X but it didn't feel/look right to me. So, my question, what 35mm low ASA, fine grained B&W film today, would equal the old Pan-X?

What developer were you trying it with? Plus-X really sounds like what should work for you.

 

[furcafe]

FWIW, I also have some in the freezer that I got off the 'bay (boxes say "Discontinued, Replace with T-Max 100" or something to that effect).

Art I have a few rolls from the last run frozen if you have any interest. My last round with it was good- only the very slightest trace of fog- I shot it at 25.

As to a current replacement there really isn't one. Panatomic-X was unique. The Efke 25 can be close, Pan F too, but they are both have a lot more contrast.

 

[venchka]

I would think that you can't talk about fine grain film without mentioning the developer too. What developers did Y'all use with Pan-X? With newer films? Nobody mentioned Agfa APX25. Also discontinued but perhaps newer than Pan-X? What about Fuji Neopan 100 Acros rated at maybe 50? In Microdol-X?

Internet Rumor/Urban Legend says that Polaroid Type 55 P/N is Panatomic-X film or the nearest thing to it still available. Of course you would need a 4x5 camera. What's wrong with that?

 

[payasam]

Agree that in this context, developer is terribly important.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I shot Panatomic-X developed with Microdol mixed 1:1. You could cut the Microdol 1:3 and prolong exposure time to shoot even slower than ASA 32, as I recall. The grain was finer with Microdol than with D-76.

 

[george1956]

I've been using some outdated Panatonic-X for several years and it is very fine grained. I think the Agfa 25 film is in a similar category and Ilford's Pan-F is very fined grained at ASA 50 and can be used at 125 with extended processing.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Polaroid 55 P/N was rumored to be Panatomic-X back in the 60's. If it's not true it sure is a long lived legend.

 

[michaelging]

I have found Efke 25 to be the film closest to Panatomic-x X. I used to use microdol-x, 1 to 3 , with my panatomic, but use D76 straight with Efke 25.

 

[DrLeoB]

I shot several hundred rolls of panatomic-x using it at ASA 10 with Acufine 1:3, cooled. I am now trying to get the B&W settings for my R-D1 to look the same ... so far, no joy.

 

[sepiareverb]

My few rolls of Pnatomic-X are from that same 'Discontinued, Replace with T-MAX 100' batch. Replace? Peh. Nothing will ever replace Panatomic-X. It's the Portrigia of films. And what a name George Jetson.

It's the contrast and the fine grain that I loved about Panatomic-X. It never got overly contrasty like Pan-F can, and even (dare I say it?) APX25 could. Efke 25 does this as well. I'm finally getting a handle on PanF and Efke25, but they still have more contrast than Panatomic-X did. There was a smoothness to tone, something very different than the smoothness the grain brought to the images- a very long straight line in the curve I suppose- just the longest range of tones you (well I anyway) could ever ask for.

I ran Panatomic-X in Sprint developer when I first used it (1982), then good ol' D-76 1:1. Never liked it in HC-110, don't know that I tried it in Microdol-X. I've always used Microdol-X to limit grain or pull film, no need for either with this film.

As I think of it since you've mentioned it Polaroid Type 55 would be rather close in contrast and grain- though I suspect grainier than Panatomic-X.

This might be a good substitute, if a pain in actual use and on the pocketbook.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M6ttl-Cam...ryZ30030QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Trius]

I recently shot a roll of Adox CHS 100. One roll does not prove anything, but there were actually flaws in the emulsion. I have also heard of QC problems on APUG.

I would stick with Pan F+ or work with TMX until you find its "sweet spot". My choice would probably be Pan F+, but who knows. Try Pan F+ in Rodinal 1:100, Rodinal/XTol combination or maybe HC-110 Dil. H. EI should be around 40 or 32.

 

[venchka]

No love for Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros slowed down and developed in a fine grain developer? Sounds like the beginnings of a self-directed project to me.

135 Stash:
APX25
Delta 100
Neopan 100 Acros

120 Stash:
Efke 25
Tmax 100
Neopan 100 Acros
FP-4 & Pan-F (maybe)

Developer Stash:
D-76
Microdol-X

This could be fun.

 

[sepiareverb]

Not a bad idea Wayne, ACROS at 32 in Microdol-X 1:1?

Hmmm.

 

[venchka]

Or more even

Or more even

Not a bad idea Wayne, ACROS at 32 in Microdol-X 1:1?

Hmmm.

Maybe 1:3 also. The good news: no reciprocity loss out to about 6 minutes. That means Acros is faster than HP5+ @ 400 at 3 minutes or therabouts.