Film specifications#
- Manufacturer
- Ilford
- Film
- Pan F
- Speed
- 16/25/50
- Process
- B&W
- Formats
- 135
- Base
- Triacetate
- Made in
- UK
- Status
- Discontinued — replaced by Pan F Plus
Character & history#
Fine grain Panchromatic film. Speed increased to ASA 25 in 1956. Speed doubled after the new ASA standard was published in 1960.
Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of discontinued photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Exposure guide at ISO 16#
Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 1/15 s in bright sun. Negative film tolerates 2–3 stops of overexposure; slide film needs accuracy within about ⅓–½ stop.
| Light | f/2 | f/4 | f/8 | f/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 16 · Snow / beach, bright sun | 1/2500 s | 1/640 s | 1/160 s | 1/40 s |
| EV 15 · Bright sun | 1/1250 s | 1/320 s | 1/80 s | 1/20 s |
| EV 14 · Hazy sun | 1/640 s | 1/160 s | 1/40 s | 1/10 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright | 1/320 s | 1/80 s | 1/20 s | 1/5 s |
| EV 12 · Overcast / open shade | 1/160 s | 1/40 s | 1/10 s | 0.4 s |
| EV 10 · Sunset | 1/40 s | 1/10 s | 0.4 s | 1.6 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior | 1/10 s | 0.4 s | 1.6 s | 6 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 0.8 s | 3.2 s | 13 s | 1 min |
| EV 3 · City street at night | 3.2 s | 13 s | 1 min | > 1 min |
Push & pull options#
Tell your lab how many stops you pushed or pulled so development is adjusted for the whole roll.
| Adjustment | Rate the film at | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pull 1 stop | EI 8 | Lower contrast, finer grain |
| Push 1 stop | EI 32 | More contrast and grain |
| Push 2 stops | EI 64 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
| Push 3 stops | EI 128 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
Long exposures#
Most films suffer reciprocity failure beyond about 1 second: they need more exposure than the meter says. As a rule of thumb add ⅓–1 stop for 1–10 s and 1–2 stops beyond 10 s for older emulsions; modern T-grain films (and Fuji Acros) need much less. Check the manufacturer's datasheet.
Similar films#
Other black-and-white negative film around ISO 16.
- Lomography Babylon Kino ISO 13
- ADOX CMS 20 II PRO ISO 20
- Agfa Isopan FF / IFF ISO 16 · disc.
- ADOX KB 14 / R 14 ISO 20 · disc.
- Efke KB14 / R14 ISO 20 · disc.
- Film Washi 'A' ISO 12 · disc.
More Ilford films#
Frequently asked questions#
What ISO is Ilford Pan F?
16/25/50 — set your meter to ISO 16 for box speed.
Is Ilford Pan F still made?
No, it has been discontinued (1948–1992).
How do I develop Ilford Pan F?
B&W process. Traditional black-and-white development (e.g. D-76/ID-11, HC-110, Rodinal, XTOL) — easy to do at home.
Is Ilford Pan F available in 35mm?
Yes — formats: 135.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: List of discontinued photographic films — CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources