Treena Harp inquired regarding Kodak Tech Pan 2415:
> What is the best use for this film, and in what should it be
> processed for best results?
Hi Treena,
For one thing, this is a favored emulsion of professional astronomical
observatories -- extremely fine grain. Also used by amateurs doing B&W
imaging of celestial objects. It has a lot of the favorable characteristics
of the old and discontinued Kodak spectroscopic emulsion (O-something or
other -- can't remember the number of that stuff). Unlike most other B&W
emulsions, it's panchromatic and has an excellent sensitivity to hydrogen
alpha emission at 656 nm -- the reddish glow of celestial emission nebulae.
Noted astrophotographer Michael Covington recommends developing to a speed
of 25 to 100 in HC-110. For improved sensitivity, you can "hyper" the
unexposed film by baking in an atmosphere of a few percent hydrogen in
nitrogen. (This is safer than it sounds.) You can also obtain hypered Tech
Pan directly from Lumicon in Livermore, CA. Lumicon apparently holds
current patents related to hypering, but they also sell kits which allow you
to hyper your own film.
You may wish to check the following links:
http://www.kodak.com/cluster/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f33/f33
.shtml
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/p255/p255.shtml
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/e103bf/e103bf.p
df
http://www.CovingtonInnovations.com/astro/films.html
http://www.lumicon.com
Hope this helps.
Bill Peifer
Rochester, NY
-
This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe,
go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to
visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
