A couple of questions for those of you who use, or have in the past used Verichrome Pan: What do you especially like about it versus other low/medium speed films? What developer (and film speed) has worked the best for you? If you stopped using it, why? Finally, how much do you believe the rumors that Kodak will cease producing it?

-- Ben Crabtree (bcrabtree@mn.rr.com), April 12, 2002

Answers

It's a wonderful forgiving old-fashioned film. I rate it at 80 and soup it in HC110 diluted 1:14 for 8 minutes. The negs are easy to print with nice shadows and subtle highlights.

I don't believe rumors. But I do believe what Kodak says on it's Web site -- that VP is going the way of the Dodo and XX this summer.

I'm going to use the ten or so rolls I have left and call it a day. Maybe it's time to see what FP4+ can do for me in MF.

-- David Parmet (david@parmet.net), April 12, 2002.

I was looking forward to getting to know Verichrome Pan but, much to my regret, that won't be possible. The discontinuance of it is, unfortunately, a fact rather than a rumor, as a visit to this link will confirm: http://www.kodak.com/cluster/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f 7/f7.jhtml

From my limited experience with it, it strikes me as a more brilliant version of Plus-X, with wonderful highlight detail and separation. I'm very disappointed with Kodak's decision.

-- Ollie Steiner (violindevil@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

Thanks for the info, even though it's bad news. What are people moving to as a reasonable substitute -- or should I go out and buy a few years' supply of VP?

-- Ben Crabtree (bcrabtree@mn.rr.com), April 12, 2002.

Ben:

I too find it has a wide range and is very forgiving. I develop it in HC110 Dil B for 4 1/2 min.

I have just last week bought the last 50 rolls the local dealer had, with july 2004 exp dates. In the freezer I am sure I will have 5 yrs worth. I alos use HP5, TRI-X and XP2, each having it's own character. Oh well, John Sexton makes beautiful prints on T Max fiilms, so I guess I can also if I do it right.

"Sic transit gloria mundi artis." Cheers

-- richard ilomaki (richard.ilomaki@hotmail.com), April 12, 2002.

I use it in PMK, with which it works very well. Given that Kodak is discontinuing it, I likewise just bought a 5 year supply from B&H

-- John Lehman (al7jj@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

It has more base fog than T-Max 100, but I've never had any trouble printing through it and, as someone said above, it is very forgiving. I like it because it is nearly a stop faster than T-Max 100 in PMK.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), April 12, 2002.

If you're looking for a tolerant/forgiving medium speed film, try Efke R 100 (KB 100 for 135-film, and PL 100 for sheet film). It's an old fashioned film, made after the Adox R21 formula from 1949. I've heard that it's also sold as Fortepan 200 and Bergger 200. Many people say it works very well in PMK.

I have never tried Verichrome since I never found it here in Sweden. I didn't even know it existed before I got internet. :-/

-- Patric (jenspatricdahlen@hotmail.com), April 12, 2002.

Too late to stock up!B&H hasnt had a roll in months!

-- Edsel Adams (mrchippy628@aol.com), April 19, 2002.