neopanSS 100 developing

I have shot a bit of Neopan SS over the years. Mostly rated @ 100 and done in D76 1:1 for 8 min. Also in Fujidol and Pyrocat HD.
It is regarded as a "school film" - often used for photography lesson in high-schools. Great latitude, almost a Panatomic X look to it. Not a fine grain film - but I heard that it is based on a movie-stock emulsion (a Fuji version of the Kodak 5231 +X?).
I did try it in Rodinal - somehow the two dont mix well. The grain is "rough" and tonality is "short" - with easily fried highlights.
Acros is sharper and more finegrained - but SS still has a nice mid-range in a classic MQ developer (D76) and with something like Beutler you get a bit of enhanced edge effect and moderate grain (I run it 1:10 for 7-8 min Beutler).

the one Fuji emulsion I do miss is the Neopan F. Rated at iso 40 and developed in Beutler - it was remarkably fine-grained - but without the contrast of many fine grained, slow films in this dveloper.

i should look in my "slow film" drawer in the freezer - I think there are some Neopan SS still in it. Just have to wait for a couple of nice, sunny days to finish them off (or go shooting with the Nokton 50f1.1 and the 35f1.2).
 
Here's a shot with Neopan 100, shot at ISO 50, with a hexar AF, developed with d76 (1:1) at the standard time tables for 100. I like it, less grainy and contrasty than TriX, very neutral, and hard to get bad images:

354544458_PsSfs-L.jpg
 
Thanks Tom, that explains a lot as it came to me via a teacher! It's not a film I would usually use but hey free film! the roll I did shoot and dev in Rodinal sounded exactly as you described! I'll find something to use it for I'm sure.
 
Somewhere in Kiwi-land there must be a dealer with some old bags of D76 or ID11. Pick up enough to use up the SS. It is actually a good film, very forgiving and as stated, maybe not fine grain, but with the right developer - smooth mid-tones and it will hold highlights very well.
If you go to our Flickr site and tag "Neopan SS" there are some samples with various developers.
 
Last edited:
Actually Tom, right after you mentioned you must look through your freezer for slow film, I had a good look around my darkroom, and wouldn't you know there right at the back of a shelf was a bottle of LC29 and a packet of ID11, they must have been there for a long long time as I cant remember getting them!

Cheers
 
I really like this film in D76 !
I shot it at ISO 100 and developed in D76 1+0 for recommended time from the massive dev chart:
Here are some examples... the last two shot w/ the Hexar show how contrasty the lens is on this camera (good and bad):

Nikon w/ 50mm lens:
U1714I1343990163.SEQ.0.jpg



Nikon w/ 50mm lens:
U19407I1251504667.SEQ.0.jpg



Olympus Stylus Epic
b_house.jpg



Nikon w/ 28mm lens:
U19407I1290641695.SEQ.0.jpg



Nikon w/ 28mm lens:
U19407I1290638344.SEQ.0.jpg


Hexar AF:
U19407I1252016183.SEQ.0.jpg



Hexar AF:
U19407I1252016181.SEQ.0.jpg
 
Even better its an unopened bottle! After that I had a real good look in the deep dark corners of my darkroom and unearthed a few treasures long forgotten 🙂

Thanks for the inspiration Tom.
 
thanks Bill, were fine thanks, my place is right in the central city of Christchurch where the earthquake hit, it was a wild ride! my building has been badly damaged but still standing, its two story wooden built over 100 years ago with good hardwood and nails as long as your arm, I was sitting upstairs having a sandwich at the time, I tried to get off the couch a couple of times but got thrown back in, so just sat there for the duration!. I lost my Chromega enlarger as it did a headplant onto the concrete floor of the darkroom, and my epson 7800 printer too the brunt of a book case falling on it! hopefully my insurance will cover everything!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom