Development
| Ilford Pan 100 (100 ISO) | Agfa Rodinal |
| Format: | 35mm |
| Shot at: | 100 ISO |
| Developer dilution: | 1+25 |
| Development time: | 9 minutes |
| Temperature: | 19°C |
| Agitation: | 8 inversions, then 4 inversions every minute. |
Ilford Pan 100
Ilford Pan 100 is a film intended to be affordable; here and there you can read that it may be a rebranded FP4 without the “plus.”
It is a classic grain film.
Rodinal at 1+25
Rodinal is a non-solvent developer, which means it offers better acutance.
Since the photographed scenes were cloudy and low in contrast, I used a 1+25 dilution to bring contrast to the negatives.
Interesting dynamic range
There is detail everywhere, even in the hedge at the bottom left of this sunrise image.
Good tonal rendering
It is said that this emulsion is less capable than FP4+, with less variation in tones. That’s true, but personally I find it usable.
The dynamic range has also its limit with this dilution, and you have to be precise with your exposure to avoid burned or black area on you negatives.
I also found it difficult to get good tonalities when the exposure is not absolutely right.
A solid result can be achieved by reworking the scanned negative.
As you can see the portal on the left is burned due to a slight over-exposure.
Relatively fine grain
It may not be the finest grain available, but it remains relatively fine and pleasant.
I found that with this film and Rodinal diluted 1+25, the tones were often a bit dull and lacked character.
A correct film
Despite its budget positioning, Ilford Pan 100 is a film capable of producing perfectly usable images.
But does it stand out compared to other budget films ?
I’ve used Foma 100 and I found it to have much more character than Ilford Pan 100, but I guess it’s a matter of taste.
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