Kodak Panatomic-X was a black-and-white film with a panchromatic emulsion and extended red sensitivity. It was identified for its very fine grain higher resolving energy and medium to higher contrast. It was excellent for substantial prints that retained a ton of detail and sharpness.
Panatomic-X was 1 of the slowest films ever created by Kodak with a speed of ASA 32. It was also 1 of the most steady and extended-lasting films as it could be shot decades soon after its expiration date with minimal degradation. It was a film that appealed to photographers who valued excellent more than quantity and who wanted to capture the finest information of their subjects.
Panatomic-X was not only a film but also a portion of photographic history. It was introduced in 1933 as a sheet film for aerial photography and it went by way of many revisions and formats more than the years. It was discontinued in the late 1980s or early 1990s but it has left a lasting impression on quite a few photographers who applied it or admired it.
In this short article we will discover the history and versions of Panatomic-X its qualities and applications the motives for its discontinuation and some sample pictures taken with this film. We will also spend tribute to this film as 1 of the finest ever created by Kodak.
History of Kodak Panatomic-X and Versions
Kodak Panatomic-X was very first introduced in 1933 as a sheet film for aerial photography. It had an initial speed of ASA 25. It was portion of Kodak’s line of “X” films which have been made to have extended red sensitivity and enhanced tonal rendition.
More than the years it went by way of many revisions altering speeds to ASA 32 and at 1 point ASA 40. It was also obtainable in 35mm and 120 formats for common and expert use. The film had unique names based on the format and application such as Panatomic-X Specialist
Panatomic-X Aerographic Panatomic-X Aerecon and Panatomic-X Scientific.
The film was discontinued by Kodak in the late 1980s or early 1990s but it has a reputation for becoming really steady and extended-lasting. Lots of photographers have reported shooting expired rolls of Panatomic-X with outstanding final results often at box speed or slightly overexposed.
1 of them is Mike Eckman who praised the film’s longevity and overall performance:
Regardless of when Pan-X was truly discontinued is largely irrelevant for the reason that the most remarkable attribute of this film is how it continually defies aging (sic). I’ve shot rolls of Pan-X discontinued in the 1980s 70s and 60s and the film virtually often shoots at box speed with tiny in the way of degradation.
He continues
My experiences with the seemingly immortal life of Pan-X are not special to me as I’ve spoken to quite a few other photographers who have witnessed the identical items themselves. If you come across a roll of 35mm Pan-X from 1977 in a closet someplace just shoot it at ASA 25 and you will probably get a complete roll of wonderful shots.
Mike Eckman “Keppler’s Vault 70: Kodak Panatomic-X” | mike eckman dot com
Yet another photographer who shared his encounter with Panatomic-X is Alex Luyckx who described the film as “a fine-grained common goal film and it appears the slowest of the X-Series of films (Plus-X Tri-X Double-X). And what a film Panatomic-X is […] I’m a lot more a slow film junkie and delight in Panatomic-X far a lot more than Plus-X.”
I keep in mind the very first time I encountered a box of Panatomic-X and seeing the film seep of ASA-32 my thoughts was blown. I had by no means noticed a film slower than ASA-50 (Pan F+). And then I sent it off to the lab to create it and was even a lot more amazed at the final results.
Alex Luyckx Classic Film Overview – Kodak Panatomic-X | Alex Luyckx | Weblog
Alyssa Chiarello also wrote about her encounter with expired Panatomic-X mentioning that “it has an great name […] Atomic! You cannot get any far better than this!”:
Initially released in 1933 as sheet film Kodak Panatomic-X film has been reformulated many occasions given that its original release […] The roll I shot expired in 1987 so it is older than me! […] I shot it at box speed […] The pictures came out really sharp with wonderful contrast.
Alyssa Chiarello Expired Film: Kodak Panatomic-X | Aly’s Vintage Camera Alley
This relative indestructibility of the film renders it 1 of the legendary emulsions for these of us in search of to rediscover the a lot more classic B&W film appear. Whilst newer emulsions have been introduced that render Panatomic-X redundant in pure technical terms (for instance Kodak T-Max 100) the appear and really feel of a classic cubic grain film of such resolution is complicated to reproduce.
Panatomic-X was not only a film for amateurs and enthusiasts but also for experts and scientists. It was applied for numerous purposes and applications such as aerial photography mapping reconnaissance studio photography and scientific analysis.
Traits and Applications
Kodak Panatomic-X had a thin and very hardened emulsion that offered higher image sharpness and permitted fast processing at elevated temperatures in contemporary continuous-processing machines. It also had a dyed-gel backing for antihalation purposes and curl manage.
The film was greatest applied for medium to higher altitude mapping reconnaissance and other earth sources applications. It was also appropriate for studio photography specifically when a higher degree of enlargement was required. It provided outstanding separation of highlight tones and really fine grain.
The film could be processed in a range of Kodak black-and-white developers such as HC-110 D-76 Microdol-X and Xtol. The advisable improvement occasions varied based on the developer temperature and agitation technique.
Alex Luyckx shared his encounter with unique developers on his weblog. For instance in Xtol:
The really very first developer mixture I identified for Panatomic-X was Xtol […] this is my individual favourite for this film […] displaying off the fine grain of the film even a lot more however sustaining a sharp image.²
and in D76:
[…] there’s definitely nothing at all you can do to the film to make it seem grainy. And that surely comes across with D-76 all the things is close to great the contrast is low but you get an remarkable tonality across the variety. You even get your whites and blacks nonetheless present. Zero grain in any of the pictures surely a wonderful selection for this film.
Alex Luyckx Classic Film Overview – Kodak Panatomic-X | Alex Luyckx | Weblog
Factors for Discontinuation
Kodak Panatomic-X was discontinued due to many aspects such as:
The decline of the market place for black-and-white films in common as colour films became a lot more well-liked and economical.
The emergence of newer films with finer grain and larger speed such as Kodak T-Max 100 and Ilford Delta 100.
The difficulty of sustaining the excellent and consistency of the film’s production due to its complicated emulsion formula and coating course of action.
The environmental and wellness issues linked with the use of some chemical substances in the film’s manufacture and processing.
Jim Grey lamented the loss of this film on his weblog:
As quicker films came and went […] Kodak would discontinue Pan-X only to bring it back […] It would remain in continuous production for the subsequent many decades as the professional’s selection when absolute detail have to be maintained in black-and-white pictures.
He also commented on the film’s versatility and excellent:
For the sort of shooting I do — handheld outdoors — slow films want wonderful light. I went out with my ME only on complete-sun days and I nonetheless got shallow depth of field. But if you know that going in you can function with it.
Jim Grey “Shooting Kodak Panatomic-X” | Down the Road
Conclusion
Kodak Panatomic-X was a outstanding film that provided very fine grain higher resolving energy and medium to higher contrast. It was excellent for substantial prints that retained a ton of detail and sharpness. It was also really steady and extended-lasting even soon after expiration. It was a film that quite a few photographers loved and miss nowadays.
Panatomic-X was portion of Kodak’s legacy of making higher-excellent black-and-white films for numerous purposes and applications. It was a film that captured the beauty and complexity of the globe in shades of grey. It was a film that challenged and rewarded the photographers who applied it with care and talent.
Panatomic-X might be gone but it is not forgotten. It lives on in the pictures it made and the memories it preserved. It is a film that deserves to be celebrated and remembered as 1 of the finest ever created.
Why never you comment under on how you keep in mind this legendary film? Do you miss it or have you moved on? Let us know!