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  1. #1

    Kodak TechPan

    I am wondering if somebody can tell me about using the Kodak TechPan B&W film. I have been working with Velvia exclusively in 4x5. Recently, I bought some T-M ax 100 to start to dabble with, although I have not developed any of it. I know that the T-Max is an excellent film, but I am curious what are thew advantages of the TechPan in terms of tonality or other qualities not readily apparent. I am only going to use it as a continuous tone film. Thank you for your responses gvl

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Sep 2000
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    Farmington, MI
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    206

    Kodak TechPan

    Based on using it a lot for 35mm, it really isn't appropriate for 4x5. It would be difficult to develop evenly in sheet film size, it's tonality isn't the best and it's main claim to fame is extremely fine grain, which is not much of an advantage for 4x5. I think you will find TMax 100 virtually grainless in 4x5, even for large prints. It also has better tonal scale and should be easier to develop.

  3. #3

    Kodak TechPan

    I used to use Tech Pan in 4x5. I used it for portraits, and it works pretty well for that.

    I quit using 4x5 Tech Pan because of

    A) pinholes in the negatives. Supposedly TP is very sensitive to stop bath, and it is best to use a simple water stop instead. This was never a problem for me in 120 or 35mm, however.

    B) dust. The thin base seems to be a dust magnet, particularly post- development.

    C) reciprocity. The speed difference between it and TMX isn't such a big deal until you get exposures beyond a few seconds, and then things get even slower for TP.

    I really liked the effect of TP in portraiture -- your neg is always contrasty enough, and blemishes really don't show up very well -- but you can get the same effects from overdeveloped TMX with an orange filter. But the above problems make the stuff impossible for me to live with in the long haul.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    21

    Kodak TechPan

    I agree about the preferred use of TMax (or other more "normal" tonal scale films) over TechPan for 4x5. There are circumstances that have warranted its use over the years (very low contrast situations), but I think you will find yourself fighting the contrast for little gain, if any, over 4x5 TMax. BIG enlargments maybe, but still you won't have the tonal control you would have with other films without more trouble than it's probably worth.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Nov 1998
    Posts
    339

    Kodak TechPan

    Tech Pan can be mighty finicky to work with; it has an odd spectral sensitivity, it's slow, and it curls and flops around with changes in humidity. I think that due to various tolerances and slop in the entire system you won't gain anything in sharpness over TMX, Acros etc.

    Try Rodinal 1:100 5'/72F or C-41 developer (dev only) 8-9'/68F, EI 12-25.

  6. #6

    Kodak TechPan

    Tech Pan would, in my opinion, only be useful in 4x5 for:

    1. Special spectral sensitivity (extended red);

    2. High contrast, as it was designed, which isn't you're intended use, as you say

    3. Extremely slow speed (for extended exposure)for some special purpose.

    With 4x5, you rarely have a concern over excessive grain. I use older technology emulsions (Tri-X, Agfapan, etc.) frequently in high energy developers (read: emphasized grain) and have never felt a need for finer grain. With TMax 100, I just can't imagine needing to get finer.

    That plus the extra processing hassles & special developers: why give youreself the headaches & pay the extra money?

  7. #7

    Kodak TechPan

    Thank you all for your responses. At least now I have one less thing to worry about.

    Regards,

    gvl

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Posts
    14

    Kodak TechPan

    Just to bolster your decision, and others' opinions, I recently saw a show in NYC of prints 40 inches square made from TMax 100 in d-76 1-1 negs shot with a rollie. That means 20x enlargements, you could see grain at 2', but not much of the image! And they were vey sharp.

    A

  9. #9

    Kodak TechPan

    When I started out in photography about 35 years ago, Kodak Tech Pan was called High Contrast Copy Film. There were some magazine articles written on how to use exotic developers to turn it into a continuous tone film. Eventually Kodak seized upon this and changed the name to Tech Pan (and came out with its own developer for it). In the early 1970's, I struggled with the 35mm version in order to achieve high resolution and fine grain, but the results were almost always unsatisfactory. Seems unnecessary for 4x5.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    IL
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    720

    Kodak TechPan

    Has anyone used Kodak Tech Pan for the extended red effects? I have used the Kodak IR emulsions in b/w and color in 35 mm and really like them. It's a shame that Kodak discontinued the IR film in 4x5 sheets.

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