New Project-Panatomic X!!

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

Last year I made a trade in the RFF classifieds, one frozen 100' roll of Kodak Panatomic-X (in good condition), which I traded for a fresh 100' frozen roll of Fuji Neopan 1600.

Today I am (carefully) spooling up the film in 36 exposure rolls, using Kodak cartridges from the one-hour, Watson Bulk Loader, and scotch tape. Carefully dusting and cleaning each cartridge before loading. Each cartridge is relabeled with masking tape label, as are the plastic Kodak film cans.

Haven't used Kodak FX since the seventies, but I'm looking forward to it 😀 TomA suggested to me Willie Beutler (Leica) Developer, I will finish loading the cartridges later today. So far, I have eight loaded, so I'm about halfway done with the initial task. I figure I will get 16-17 rolls out of the 100', and if I get a partial roll at the end, I will shoot that one first. TomA also suggested shooting a test roll at EI50, EI 25, and EI12, which sounds good to me. The fellow that sold me the film was getting great results from a similar roll, that I guess he used up.

I be using this up when the warmer weather comes around 😎

 

[Nokton48]

All done loading now. Taking the film counter to 39 exposures on my Watson loader for each roll, I ended up with nineteen rolls (35-36 exp approx) plus a partial roll of 26 exp, which I will start up with.

Found the original film box, this film is from Kodak Canada, and expired in June 1977. I do have Benzotriazole already mixed up, should I need it. Fun ahead.

 

[Vics]

I can't wait to see the pics. Was FX originally ASA 32?

 

[Tom A]

This is from a test roll with Panatomic X - expired in 1987. I did run tests @ 12/25/50 iso and later fine tuned it @ 25/40/50. The best result was Beutler 1:1:10 for 7.5 minutes, agitation for 30 sec. at beginning and then 10 sec/60 sec. Very smooth film - grain is not super fine with the Beutler, but accutance is very good. This was with no Benzo added - if you add Benzo, you might have to drop the speed a bit (25 iso) as it generally slows down the film a bit.
Will be interesting to see what you get - so lease post.

 

[Nokton48]

I can't wait to see the pics. Was FX originally ASA 32?

Yes ASA 32.

 

[Tom A]

Another "vintage" Panatomic X shot. Again, 23 year old - and badly stored Panatomic X (hidden behind some stuff in my darkroom!).
This time rated at 32 iso and Beutler 1:1 :10/7.5 min.
Bessa R3A and Summicron 75 f2.0.
Every year the local merchants on West 4th Avenue put on "Hippie Days" as West 4th was the center of the movement. Lots of tie-dyed T shirts and peace signs. "Vintage" hippies rummage through their wardrobes to find appropriate jewelry and dress the part. Ain't nostalgia fun - at least it is only one day a year!

 

[Nokton48]

Thee best result was Beutler 1:1:10 for 7.5 minutes, agitation for 30 sec. at beginning and then 10 sec/60 sec. Very smooth film - grain is not super fine with the Beutler, but accutance is very good. This was with no Benzo added - if you add Benzo, you might have to drop the speed a bit (25 iso) as it generally slows down the film a bit.

Will be interesting to see what you get - so lease post.[/QUOTE]

Hi Tom,

Appreciate the "fine-tuning". I will start with what you were doing with FX.

Can't post anything here (all filled up) but can link results to Flikr.

Thanks for the photos - looks to me like a sharper finer-grained version of XX. The tonality looks similar to me.

 

[Nokton48]

I've just loaded a "short" roll (26 exposures) of Panatomic-X into my new Canon P. Out in bright (key light) sun, with the Canon 100mm F2 RF lens.

Shooting 1/250 at F4.5, F5.6, and F6.3 which should equate to EI 25, 32, and 50. When I finish this roll, I think I will process it in a Nikor two-reel tank, along with a roll of Eastman XX. Developer will be the Willi Beutler "Leica" Developer, using TomA's recommendation for time and temp.

Been looking forward to this. Will mix fresh Beutler concentrates, as what I have has been sitting around for over a year. And also been looking forward to trying Beutler with XX.

Panatomic-X was my favorite film back in the '70s.

 

[Travis L.]

Any updates on this?

I've got a few hundred feet of FX myself. I've shot a few rolls over the last couple years. Always @32asa and souped in D76 with good results.

 

[Nokton48]

A few hundred feet? Niiiice.

I'm still burning through my first roll. Good to know D76 does the job, ADOX Borax MQ is my standard developer, which is a D76 derivitive.

Any updates on this?
I've got a few hundred feet of FX myself. I've shot a few rolls over the last couple years. Always @32asa and souped in D76 with good results.

 

[Travis L.]

I had a friend that ran the darkroom at Clark State (in Springfield). He was cleaning out the freezer several years ago and ran across two 100ft rolls of it, long outdated.
He knew I was into that kind of thing so he gave them to me. I've spooled one roll up and still have one unopened.

I'm not much of a chemist so I'd like to find an "off the shelf" developer that may be better than D76.

 

[Pirate]

Speaking of Beutler, I've read that this stuff is what Neofin Blue is, which is great for slow speed film. I just bought a box of this stuff from Adorama and will be trying it on some Pan F+ 50 ISO soon:

http://www.adorama.com/PYNB.html

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Summicron 50mm f/2 rigid, Panatomic X.

Amsterdam 1986.

Erik.

 

[Nokton48]

Leica M3, Summicron 50mm f/2 rigid, Panatomic X.

Amsterdam 1986.

Erik.

Hmmmm....

Lovely Tonality!

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Nokton!

Leica M3, Summicron 50mm f/2 rigid, Panatomic X.

Amsterdam 1986.

Erik.

 

[Film explorer]

Leica M3, Summicron 50mm f/2 rigid, Panatomic X.

Amsterdam 1986.

Erik.

Hi Erik,

As someone learning the craft, I'v been fascinated with other peoples results. I realize that everyone has their own look that they want to achieve. One of my mentors suggested to me that with regards to tones, I should aim to get a jet black and a brilliant whites and everything in between.

So, this leads to my question - when I see your photos, they are quite grey. This isn't criticism - I do like that look for some subjects. I was wondering if you aim for this look, or is it a result of using older glass etc

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hi Film Explorer,

I aim for this look.

Leica M3, Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v2, Panatomic X.

Amsterdam, 1986.

Erik.

 

[johannielscom]

You mean to say I can still put this stuff to use?

😎😎

Kodak Panatomic-X expired in 1988​

 

[Nokton48]

Lovely, Erik.

Thanks for reviving this thread. I have now found my (first) partially-exposed roll of Panatomic-X. I had to pull it out of my Canon P after 26 exposures. I then sold off my entire Canon RF collection in one transaction, to one of the local camera dealers.

Now that roll is going into one of my Minolta SRT's, to be finished for initial development.

I consider every frame to be precious.

 

[Nokton48]

Johann,

YES!! And it will probably look as good as when it was still fresh.

Selling for over a hundred Bucks on Ebay, if that tells you anything.