For around 20 years there has only been one fine-grain film champion – Kodak Technical Pan. This amazing film was originally invented as a high contrast document copying film. Special developers were formulated by Kodak and others to allow full tonal range utilisation. While other slow films have come and gone, Tech Pan has always had by far the finest grain, and it continues as a unique emulsion capable of stunning results, making 35mm look like medium format, and medium format look like 5 x 4. But this requires the most careful and precise exposure and development, otherwise fierce contrast with bullet-proof highlights and black-hole shadows can easily ruin fine images, and ultra smooth and fine as the grain may be, the apparent sharpness can disappoint; it can look a little soft.

Now there is TechXactol. This developer brings super-tanning to tame the contrast by restraining those galloping highlights while shadow density and separation are coaxed up. The fine grain is fully retained, and indeed enhanced by the rich brown stain which fills the spaces between the grain clumps to mask it even more. The ultra definition components give unrivalled acutance and a completely new image crispness, and even gives a slight speed increase to EI 32! It can be used for other films too, where contrast control is needed. It comes in two 100ml packs of very

long–life concentrates which dilute 1:1:100 with water for a basic capacity of over 30 films.