Replacement B&W papers

[Dakotah Jackson]

The stock of Forte Polygrade V is almost gone as is the Agfa Brovira 111. I had a big freezer full of both but now need to restock and they are no longer available. (glossy, fibre only)

Are there papers on the market now that are as easy to work with as Polygrade V? That easy to tone and as forgiving? Or as crisp and deep as Brovira 111?

Azo is a lost cause until Michael gets his new paper on the market so that is on hold for awhile. But I do need to find a replacement for the other two.

Any solid experience/testing/observations are a help. I don't really want to start some kind of major testing program and the benefit of those who have been in this situation is appreciated. I would like to match, as closely as possible, the quality I got with these two papers. Are there current offerings that will do the job?

[vinny]

I was in the same boat. I'm down to a bunch of 16x20 polygrade, a bunch of 5x7 that i use for testing and some not so good 8x10. I just tried Kentmere glossy, actually both the arista 2 and kentmere which are the same. Very nice paper and it dries much flatter than the Forte did. The base is a nice bright white. I don't see much of a difference between the forte and kentmere. Toning in selenium is about the same too. The reason i tried it was freestyle has it in all sizes and rolls, ilford now owns the kentmere machinery so it should be around for a long time.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Dakotah,

I have some (3-4 boxes) Forte V left in my freezer - mostly 11x14. PM me if interested.

Mike

[IanG]

The new Bergger papers, manufactured by Ilford/Harman, are now available, they should be in the US soon. I read a test report in a French photo magazine back in November, and Bergger had a full page advert in the same magazine.

They should be a good alternatives to Forte papers, as a lot of Guilleminot know-how for the Bergger papers also went into improving the Forte products like Polygrade and Polywarmtone.

Ian

[PViapiano]

Looking forward to the Bergger...

I've been trying some Bergger Prestige VCCM FB lately, finding it about 2 stops slower than Ilford and not as contrasty, still working with it, though.

Anyone have thoughts or ideas about the VCCM?

[Joseph O'Neil]

Have your tried any of the Kentmere papers? I am just starting to test them out myself, and while not a replacement for the Agfa paper (which I used a lot myself), I kinda like what I am seeing
joe

[Michael Alpert]

Looking forward to the Bergger...

I've been trying some Bergger Prestige VCCM FB lately, finding it about 2 stops slower than Ilford and not as contrasty, still working with it, though.

Anyone have thoughts or ideas about the VCCM?

Lately I've been using the glossy version of this paper. Yes, it is slower, depending on the light source. I recently switched from an Aristo variable-contrast cold-light head (on a 4x5 enlarger) to an Aristo cold-light head (not variable-contrast) on a 5x7 enlarger. Using Ilford filters on the new 5x7 enlarger, the paper has about the same contrast and speed as Ilford VC paper. Bergger Warm Tone is a great paper, whose tone is influenced by the developer used (so you have more options in the processing stage than with cold-tone papers). If the new version is as good as the original paper, we will have reason to rejoice.

[PViapiano]

Thanks, Michael...

I have a dichroic color head (diffusion) so I'll experiment some more with filtration or run a wedge test...however, I like the finish of the paper, more of a semi-matte with slightly more tooth than Ilford's semi-matte; dries and flattens very nicely.