Ilford Pan F Plus 50

Ilford Pan F Plus 50 is Ilford's slow cubic-grain B&W film — at ISO 50, the slowest current-production B&W film from Ilford and one of the few slow-speed B&W films still in production globally. Pan F Plus excels at maximum-resolution work where its ultra-fine grain and high contrast produce results no faster B&W film can match.

Key features

• ISO 50 rated; very fine cubic grain (the finest of any current Ilford film)
• Higher contrast than HP5+ or FP4+
• Narrow latitude (±¾ stop) — narrower than Ilford's faster films
• Excellent for wet enlargement — the fine grain compounds across enlargement size
• Available in 35mm, 120 (no 4×5 sheet in current production)
• Compatible with most developers — D-76 1:1 (preferred), Microphen, HC-110, Rodinal

Workflow

• Box-speed development: D-76 1:1 at 7:30, or HC-110 Dil B at 4:30, or Rodinal 1:50 at 8:30
• Pan F+ does not push well — gain a stop with care but EI 100 produces visibly compressed shadows
• Pull to EI 32 in dilute developer for high-contrast scenes
• Reciprocity failure sets in by 1 second; long exposures need correction

Practical notes

• Pan F+ is the choice for landscape, architectural, and fine-art B&W work where maximum resolution matters
• 35mm enlarged 16×20 from Pan F+ shows almost no grain — this is the practical case for choosing Pan F+ over faster films
• Tripod required at base ISO 50 in most lighting
• Cold storage extends shelf life
• The discontinuation of Adox CHS 25 II (~2020) makes Pan F+ effectively the only current ISO 50 B&W film; the Rollei RPX 25 is comparable

Related films

• Ilford FP4 Plus 125 — faster Ilford cubic-grain sibling; same family
• Ilford HP5 Plus 400 — fastest Ilford cubic-grain sibling
• Ilford Delta 100 — closest T-grain Ilford alternative
• Rollei RPX 25 — alternative slow-speed B&W
• Kodak T-Max 100 — Kodak T-grain alternative at slightly faster speed