If I loved using Panatomic X 25 years ago, what should I be shooting today?

True. I'm (slowly) working through a brick that I bought off eBay about 5-6 years ago. The rolls have an expiration date of September '91 & the boxes are marked "Discontinued, replace with T-Max 100."

Tom A said:
The good thing with old Panatomic X is that it does not really age. Some years ago i found a 100 ft roll that had rolled into the back of a cabinet in the darkroom. It had been there at least 17 years!!!!! I shot it - rated at 50 iso and it worked fine. Some nominal fogging, but nothing that could not be scanned or printed through!
Click to expand...
 
stephaneb said:
I find Rollei 80S amazing. It is the best replacement I have found for the Agfa APX 25.
Click to expand...
Its NOT a replacement for APX25. Perhaps, at best, Technical Pan in some applications. Aviphot Pan80 (the stuff in the Rollei box) is an aerial surveillance film. It has an extended spectral response into the near IR (750 nm)--- the human eye can capture hardly much beyond 650 nm (deep red) and that's also where the Agfaphan (APX) films also nosedive. APX emulsions have been tuned to the visible spectrum. Aviphot due to haze and their application need and get extended red response. This might good for a kind of light "IR effect" with a red filter but..
 
Question for TomA.

Question for TomA.

TomA,

Have a question for you. Now that I have 100' of Panatomic-x coming my way, how do you recommend I expose and develop it? I normally use ADOX Borax with my XX, but maybe something else would work better? Maybe Microdol-X or HC-110? What did you use for your expired Panatomic-X?

Thanks!
-Dan
 
The next best thing to Panatomic-X is Agfa APX 25 which doesn't exist anymore either.
If you're wanting a similar look, you're going to be disappointed. That kind of tonality is a rare bird these days. I think a good strategy is to decide which is more important to you: Is it the rich tonality, or the fine grain of Panatomic: because you can't have them both anymore.

If fine grain is important, I would highly suggest Fuji Acros, maybe in Rodinal, or in XTOL if you only care about grain.

If tonality is your game (which I suspect it is), Fuji Neopan SS or maybe Plus-X would be my choice, but you will have more grain.

I don't personally like PanF+.

If you can settle for a more modern look, I would go for Fuji Acros with either Rodinal or maybe something more exotic like Pyro, or TFX2, and shoot it around EI50. That would be my choice.
 
This Just Arrived Today From Canada.

This Just Arrived Today From Canada.

100' of unopened Panatomic-X.

I've sent 100' of Fuji Neopan Presto 1600, in exchange.

I think we'll both be getting what we want.

BTW TomA recommends I use the Willi Beutler Leica developer, I happen to have some mixed up and available. Less base fog with the Beutler, than my usual ADOX Borax MQ.
 

Attachments

  • DSC03573.jpg
    DSC03573.jpg
    40 KB · Views: 0
  • DSC03574.jpg
    DSC03574.jpg
    50.5 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
I guess I fall under the lucky stamp too, just got 500 ft of APX 25, 200 ft of Pan 25 and 100 ft of Ortho 25 for 50 dollars =)
 
Nokton48 said:
100' of unopened Panatomic-X.

I've sent 100' of Fuji Neopan Presto 1600, in exchange.

I think we'll both be getting what we want.

BTW TomA recommends I use the Willi Beutler Leica developer, I happen to have some mixed up and available. Less base fog with the Beutler, than my usual ADOX Borax MQ.
Click to expand...

I used my last Panatomic X with Beutler. Rated the film @ 50 iso and Beutler 1:1:10 for 7 min. It does depend on how much residual fog it will have - though it is quite resistant to it. Stock MQ developer gives a bit more fog and I find the speed drops to around 32 iso.
Only replacement for Panatomic in my mind is the Fuji 100 SS and the now discontinued Fuji Neopan F ( rated ar 40 iso). The modern films (Efke/Agfa/Adox) has a bit too much contrast in my opinion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom