A lot has been written about Bergger Pancro 400 on this website, so this is me just adding my small bit to the general happiness people get from using this film. These images were shot at the Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire. That wonderful movie, The Railway Children, was filmed on this railway….for those of you old enough to remember. I was reviewing the pictures I’d shot with this film and realised there was a nice set of railway people shots which I hope are worth sharing.
This was my second roll of Bergger Pancro 400, the images were shot with a Leica M2 and 50mm lens. I was very pleased with the images I’d had from the first roll which I’d exposed at EI 400. I wondered though, if the negs were a bit thin so this 2nd roll was exposed at ISO200. The strange thing was that whilst the EI 200 negs looked to be nicely exposed, they were grainier compared to the first roll. I measured exposure for both films the same way, to make sure I got plenty of shadow detail. The films were processed at the same lab in Fuji Negastar developer.
The negs are denser and I would have expected less grain and can’t explain why there is more grain. I have also had this happen to me with Kodak T-Max 400. Despite this, it didn’t detract too much from the nice look of the Pancro 400. I find the film, despite my problem, to be well worth recommending.
~ Phil Harrison
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9 responses to “5 Frames… With Bergger Pancro 400 (EI 200 / 35mm format / Leica M2)”
@BERGGER_FRANCE I’ve been wanting to try this film. I have 2×120 rolls waiting for the right photoshoot
Probably they didn’t compensate the developing time or they used another developer. BTW great film (i use it too) and great photos
Thank you Scott. The lab didn’t adjust the dev time. I was just after a slightly denser negative, because I use a lab I’ve found it easier to just increase exposure rather than ask for an increased dev time. Usually works fine.
Very nice. I especially like number 3, with the girl in the white jacket and the engineer peering out of the cab.
You didn’t mention; did the lab adjust the development for the increased exposure? Generally with increased exposure and decreased development you should see less grain. I haven’t shot the Bergger film, but that’s my normal procedure with Tri-X.
Great photos, being a newbie photographer I have enjoyed it a lot even it was so educative to me to learn the cool photography tactics. Cheers & Enjoy!
Thank you. Most kind. There are 3 more pics taken at the East Lancashire Railway, where I volunteer as a signaller, at the end of my article on Ferrania P30, on this site.
Particularly like the light in the first photo. As a train nut myself, I can only say, “Show me more.”
Thank you. My lens is a Leica 50mm f2.5 Summarit-M.
Wonderful shots. May i ask what 50mm lens did you use?