The Atomic Film: How Kodak Panatomic-X Captured The Globe In Fine Detail
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 best for substantial prints that retained a ton of detail and sharpness.
Panatomic-X was one particular of the slowest films ever created by Kodak with a speed of ASA 32. It was also one particular 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 good quality 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 means of various 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 made use of it or admired it.
In this write-up we will discover the history and versions of Panatomic-X its traits and applications the causes for its discontinuation and some sample photos taken with this film. We will also spend tribute to this film as one particular of the finest ever created by Kodak.
History of Kodak Panatomic-X and Versions
Kodak Panatomic-X was 1st 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 had been made to have extended red sensitivity and enhanced tonal rendition.
More than the years it went by means of various revisions altering speeds to ASA 32 and at one particular point ASA 40. It was also obtainable in 35mm and 120 formats for basic and experienced use. The film had diverse names based on the format and application such as Panatomic-X Qualified
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 getting really steady and extended-lasting. A lot of photographers have reported shooting expired rolls of Panatomic-X with outstanding final results in some cases at box speed or slightly overexposed.
A single of them is Mike Eckman who praised the film’s longevity and efficiency:
Regardless of when Pan-X was truly discontinued is largely irrelevant mainly because the most wonderful 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 generally shoots at box speed with small 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 uncover a roll of 35mm Pan-X from 1977 in a closet someplace just shoot it at ASA 25 and you will most likely get a complete roll of fantastic shots.
Mike Eckman “Keppler’s Vault 70: Kodak Panatomic-X” | mike eckman dot com
One more photographer who shared his expertise with Panatomic-X is Alex Luyckx who described the film as “a fine-grained basic 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 far more a slow film junkie and get pleasure from Panatomic-X far far more than Plus-X.”
I recall the 1st time I encountered a box of Panatomic-X and seeing the film seep of ASA-32 my thoughts was blown. I had under no circumstances observed a film slower than ASA-50 (Pan F+). And then I sent it off to the lab to create it and was even far more amazed at the final results.
Alex Luyckx Classic Film Evaluation – Kodak Panatomic-X | Alex Luyckx | Weblog
Alyssa Chiarello also wrote about her expertise with expired Panatomic-X mentioning that “it has an amazing name […] Atomic! You can not get any improved than this!”:
Initially released in 1933 as sheet film Kodak Panatomic-X film has been reformulated various occasions because its original release […] The roll I shot expired in 1987 so it is older than me! […] I shot it at box speed […] The photos came out really sharp with fantastic contrast.
Alyssa Chiarello Expired Film: Kodak Panatomic-X | Aly’s Vintage Camera Alley
This relative indestructibility of the film renders it one particular of the legendary emulsions for these of us searching for to rediscover the far 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 pros and scientists. It was made use of for many purposes and applications such as aerial photography mapping reconnaissance studio photography and scientific analysis.
Traits and Applications
Kodak Panatomic-X had a thin and extremely hardened emulsion that supplied 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 finest made use of 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 necessary. It supplied outstanding separation of highlight tones and really fine grain.
The film could be processed in a selection of Kodak black-and-white developers such as HC-110 D-76 Microdol-X and Xtol. The advised improvement occasions varied based on the developer temperature and agitation process.
Alex Luyckx shared his expertise with diverse developers on his weblog. For instance in Xtol:
The really 1st developer mixture I discovered for Panatomic-X was Xtol […] this is my private favourite for this film […] displaying off the fine grain of the film even far more however preserving a sharp image.²
and in D76:
[…] there’s seriously practically nothing you can do to the film to make it seem grainy. And that surely comes across with D-76 almost everything is close to fantastic the contrast is low but you get an wonderful tonality across the variety. You even get your whites and blacks nonetheless present. Zero grain in any of the photos surely a fantastic selection for this film.
Alex Luyckx Classic Film Evaluation – Kodak Panatomic-X | Alex Luyckx | Weblog
Motives for Discontinuation
Kodak Panatomic-X was discontinued due to various components such as:
The decline of the marketplace for black-and-white films in basic as colour films became far more common and cost-effective.
The emergence of newer films with finer grain and greater speed such as Kodak T-Max 100 and Ilford Delta 100.
The difficulty of preserving the good quality and consistency of the film’s production due to its complicated emulsion formula and coating approach.
The environmental and wellness issues connected with the use of some chemical compounds in the film’s manufacture and processing.
Jim Grey lamented the loss of this film on his weblog:
As more rapidly films came and went […] Kodak would discontinue Pan-X only to bring it back […] It would remain in continuous production for the subsequent various decades as the professional’s selection when absolute detail will have to be maintained in black-and-white photos.
He also commented on the film’s versatility and good quality:
For the sort of shooting I do — handheld outdoors — slow films want fantastic 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 perform with it.
Jim Grey “Shooting Kodak Panatomic-X” | Down the Road
Conclusion
Kodak Panatomic-X was a outstanding film that supplied very fine grain higher resolving energy and medium to higher contrast. It was best 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 now.
Panatomic-X was portion of Kodak’s legacy of generating higher-good quality black-and-white films for many purposes and applications. It was a film that captured the beauty and complexity of the planet in shades of grey. It was a film that challenged and rewarded the photographers who made use of it with care and talent.
Panatomic-X may perhaps be gone but it is not forgotten. It lives on in the photos it designed and the memories it preserved. It is a film that deserves to be celebrated and remembered as one particular of the finest ever created.
Why never you comment beneath on how you recall this legendary film? Do you miss it or have you moved on? Let us know!
