Ilford Pan F Plus Film Review
Ilford’s Pan F Plus (which I sometimes condense to PanF+) is probably my overall favorite film. I discovered it shortly after I started shooting film and I quickly latched onto it as my “go to” film for outdoor situations.
Before we get into the film review, I just want to mention that this is a non-technical review. We won’t be examining the grain structure, sharpness, color rendition, or anything else overly technical. Think of this as a practical review from a regular photographer.
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About Pan F Plus
Ilford Pan F Plus is an ISO-50 black and white film available in 35mm
Shooting with Pan F Plus
Bright light and fast lenses are your friends when you shoot with Pan F Plus. The film is ideal for outdoor sunlit situations, though it can also be used to gain extra exposure time in lower light.
The ISO speed rating for the film is 50, but it can be exposed between (exposure index) EI-12 and EI-400 depending on the developer and processing. I’ve only taken it to EI-25, EI-50, and EI-100 with no problems using Rodinal.
I typically expose at EI-25 so I can achieve wider apertures with my older cameras. When you have a camera that maxes out at 1/400 seconds on the shutter, you have to lower the speed of the film if you want to move away from small apertures and gain some extra DOF. If I need a faster film, I’ll just use something that’s more well suited — the grain in Pan F Plus becomes more apparent at EI-100.
Developing Pan F Plus
It seems that just about any developer will work on Pan F Plus, but check the massive dev chart if you’re unsure.
I’ve used Ilford Ilfosol 3 and Agfa Rodinal to develop the film. The Ilfosol 3 seems to work fine at EI-50, but I’ve never tried pushing or pulling with it (and there’s no data in the chart for that). The Rodinal appears to do a good job of keeping the grain down, and it has the added benefits of being able to push/pull (time) and control contrast (dilution).
In my experience, Pan F Plus is fairly susceptible to contrast changes when pushed or pulled with Rodinal. At EI-25, the negatives are fairly low contrast. And at EI-100, the negatives are fairly high contrast. Of course, these contrast levels can be somewhat compensated by varying the dilution.
Examples of Pan F Plus
Pan F Plus tends to have somewhat of an “oldschool” appearance to it, probably because of the slightly lower contrast than most films. The midtones are usually creamy smooth and transition well between highlights and shadows, and skin tone/contrast is captured well. When properly exposed and developed, the sharpness is like none other. Here are some varying examples of this amazing film.
photo credit: Brian Auer
photo credit: maz hewitt
photo credit: Brian Auer
photo credit: maz hewitt
photo credit: Brian Auer
photo credit: PhilPankov.com
photo credit: ManWithAToyCamera
photo credit: tim_dvia Ilford Pan F Plus Film Review.
Exposure Meters – A good write up by early photography
Exposure Meter Notes
Information on the types of meter, what is being measured, different methods of calibrating film speeds and film speed comparisons.
Tables & Calculators
Simple exposure guides were often included in books of the period or supplied by manufacturers in boxes of film. Popular forms were included in diaries. More elaborate examples had sliding or revolving scales.
Actinometers
Actinometers or tint meters use sensitive paper to gauge the light. Popular especially in Britain from the 1890s to the 1930s, popular models were the Wynne and Watkins.
Extinction
These were popular in the 1920s through to the 1950s. The light is judged by what is ‘just visible’ when looking into the meter. The tubular form, where the photographer looked into an eye-piece, was very popular in the 1930s. The open pattern was popular for a short while in the 1950s, it was cheap and answered the need of the rising number of amateur photographers.
Photoelectric
Popular from the 1930s onwards; increasingly found built into cameras and coupled to the shutter and diaphragm settings.
Comparison Meters
The scene is compared to a standard light source such as a bulb. These designs were never popular with amateur photographers but were used professionally as spot meters from the 1950s.
Sensitometry
Sensitometers and Densitometers were mainly used by commercial emulsion manufacturers but simplified forms were used by photographers to test sensitive plates and processes.
Illumination Meters
Illumination Meters are non-photographic meters typically used to measure light levels in buildings. Late, photoelectric, models share many of the characteristics of photographic meters and are often mistaken for them.
via Exposure Meters.
Ross Portable Divided – A Special Twin Lens Reflex
Lens:
f8, 7 ½”, 6″ x 5″ Rapid Symmetrical, iris diaphragm to f64 with click stops. Serial no. 50527 .
Viewing lens: similar but without iris (unused slot for Waterhouse stops). Serial no. 52147 .
Shutter:
T-P Time shutter, without speed indicator. Serial no. H8238.
Construction:
Black stitched hide covering on wood, black painted interior.
Format:
4″ x 5″ plates held in double dark-slides.
Focusing:
Bellows to 8 feet.
Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen. Eye-level mirror in hood. The lens retracts to close the door.
Movements:
Cross front.
Serial Number:
670 .
Lens:
f8, 7 ½”, 6″ x 5″ Rapid Symmetrical, iris diaphragm with external pointer to f64. Serial no. 52234 .
Viewing lens: similar but without iris (unused slot for Waterhouse stops). Serial no. 52243 .
Shutter:
T-P T & I shutter, speeded 1/15 – 1/90. Ross label. Serial no. O8295.
Construction:
De-luxe finish of brown stitched hide covering on mahogany, polished interior, aluminium fittings.
Format:
4″ x 5″ plates held in double dark-slides.
Focusing:
Bellows to 8 feet.
Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen. Eye-level mirror in hood. The lens retracts to close the door.
Movements:
Rising front.
Serial Number:
915 .
Notes:
Address label on case: Ross & Co. 111 New Bond St. London.
With:
- 6 double dark-slides (1 – 12), mahogany with aluminium fittings.; Lens cap.
- Ross focusing magnifier, screw adjustment with locking ring. Two lenses. In box.
- Extension back. Focusing with combined lens is to c 2′ 4″, with single element focusing is from infinity to 11 feet.
- Velvet hood for focusing screen with wooden eye piece panel.; Focusing cloth.; Canvas case.
The 
Portable Divided was one of several twin-lens reflex cameras put on the market in the late 1880s and early 1890s. The concept was not new, there had been models made previously but not in great numbers. At this time hand-held detective cameras were available as were folding bellows cameras, single-lens reflexes were just making an appearance. The Portable Divided appealed to the user who wanted a larger finder that showed exactly what would be in the negative and was quick to use. This was true of the Ross, which was able to be used in the hand; advertisements stressed how, with the neck strap, it could be steadied against the body and used for action shots, the image remaining visible at all times. Advertisements recommended it for yacht photography.
It is fitted with a good lens but has only a small focusing distance and limited movements. The lenses can be racked back past infinity allowing the door to close with the lens and shutter in place. A swing back was available.
These are early models of the Portable Divided with a single door, later an improved folding model with double doors was introduced. The doors of the later model when open became the sides of the camera allowing a more compact design.
The De-luxe model, finished in brown stitched hide and aluminium, dates to c.1897. The improved model, with double doors, was also sold in a de-luxe finish. The extension back with this example is a bellows unit with two side struts. It slots into the normal position for the dark-slide.
References & Notes:
BJA 1892, p. 51.; BJA 1893.; BJA 1897.; BJA 1913, p. 60.; YBP 1893, p. 15A.; BJA 1898, p. 78 (focusing hood).
Illustrations:
Christies Cat. 6/5/05 lot 317. Unusual model with polished mahogany finish.; Christie’s cat. 6/10/83 lot 332. Improved model with pigskin finish, lens no. 59216.
TLRgraphy 