Foma 200 in 8x10?

[axs810]

Anyone have any experience with Foma 200 in 8x10 format? To keep my mind at ease I would love to hear back from people who shoot the orange label Foma 200 in 8x10 (not arista rebranded stuff) because Freestyle currently has a short date special on this film and I'm on the fence whether or not to stock up because I haven't seen too great of results on flickr/google. A lot of the stuff I'm finding seems to be really contrasty.


If anyone has any examples using this film please post up! I'm really trying to convince myself to buy it while they still have the special.



Thanks!


edit/ Here's the link

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/420281502-Foma-Fomapan-200-ISO-8x10-50-sheets-SHORT-DATE-SPECIAL

[karl french]

I really like it. If I didn't already have a big stash of other 8x10 film I would consider standardizing on it. I shot a box of it recently. Rated it at 100, souped in Rodinal 1+25.
Freestyle's film prices are always high. (Except the Arista.Edu) You can get fresh Fomapan 200 from Fotoimpex for not much more if you order enough of it to offset the shipping cost.
Also consider that Arista Edu 200 is the same as Fomapan 200. That's the best deal in the US.

Here are my Fomapan 200 shots:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=fomapan%20200&sort=relevance&user_id=26027328%40N00

[andreios]

I use it and like it too.. But my primary use is for some altprocesses like kallitypes and such... I don't have much of that stuff scanned at the moment..

[Drew Wiley]

There's no difference in the emulsion between Arista 200 and Fomapan. Probably the custom label portion of the film is cut first to pretty much pay for the batch,
then the remainder for Foma labeling. This might allow a longer cure or seasoning of the brand-label emulsion, which might or might not affect its fragility, but
apparently nothing sensitometric. It's different, with a very long straight line, and develops quite quickly, but otherwise is capable of being developed to any
contrast level needed. Not a true 200 speed by any mean, and bad recip characteristics, but that's been frequently discussed. Will handle extreme lighting ratios
better than any other film currently on the market. The alleged complaint about it being "too contrasty" is simply an artifact of people not having learned how
to correctly expose and develop it yet. I gave up on it due to quality control issues, namely, scratches parallel to the edge of the film that somehow transpired from roller transport during mfg or packaging. Maybe that problem has been solved... I dunno. An issue that wouldn't even show in a contact print, but did under
enlargement. This film is a bargain that with a bit of practice can produce stunning images, so I don't want to discourage anyone from testing it.

[Scott Davis]

I used it a LOT in 5x7 for alt process printing, and as such it is fantastic. As has already been said, it builds contrast quickly, so if you learn to expose it properly and develop it properly it will yield outstanding results. Shoot it at 100, and if you're silver printing, go short if anything on the development time.

[Drew Wiley]

I used ASA 100 in pyro, with a very short (6min) "N" dev time at 68F as my starting point. Had a love/hate relationship with this film. It's certainly not as forgiving in tray dev as a premium film like TMY. The film base is nice and thick, but the emulsion surface is fragile and the corners of the film are exceptionally sharp. Next time I might put a tad of photoflo or sulfite in the presoak tray to make sure none of the sheets tend to stick together, and do no more than 4 sheets of 8x10
at at time, being extra careful. And hopefully none of the film will be scratched at the plant. And not the best film for a windy day. But the separation of the shadows goes way way down there, easily Zone 1 or 0, while holding highlights clear over the roof. If that kind of thing is your priority, this is the film for you.

[John Kasaian]

Yeah, I like the 100 ASA stuff as well. I've never tried the 200 though.

[David Karp]

I have used the Arista.Edu Ultra 200 in 5x7. I rate it at 100 and develop it in Barry Thornton's variant of Divided D23. I think the divided developer easily helps prevent it from becoming too contrasty. This film has a very nice character. For me it is a good option when I want a "true" 100 speed film.

[logan.egbert]

I just bought a box of 50 sheets from Freestyle (short date special) before I head to Korea for a year. I shot the stuff in 35mm and really liked it developed in Spur HRX. I'm hoping I have a similar experience in 8x10.

Has anyone had issues with the emulsion scratching during development? I know it use to have a reputation for being a very soft emulsion. Since I'll be developing in trays in Korea, I guess this is more of an issue than developing in a Jobo tank like I do now.

[David Karp]

I developed mine in a Jobo drum. For tray developing, maybe you could build or purchase a "slosher" which will hold the sheets in place and separate them while they are in the tray. I made mine out of plexiglass sheets. It holds six sheets of 4x5. Put the sheets in emulsion side up.

There is a photo of a slosher in this thread: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?55969-Photographer-s-Formulary-8x10-slosher-tray.

Here is another version: http://www.summitek.com/slosher.html.

[Drew Wiley]

You misunderstood, John. I use the "200" products but rate it at 100. Like old school 200 Super XX and Bergger 200, Foma "200" has a very long straight line with almost no toe, but differs notably in other characteristics. It would make a great film for contact printing because of its exceptional range and ability for high contrast, even though it's easy enough to tame to normal contrast levels as well.

[John Kasaian]

You misunderstood, John. I use the "200" products but rate it at 100. Like old school 200 Super XX and Bergger 200, Foma "200" has a very long straight line with almost no toe, but differs notably in other characteristics. It would make a great film for contact printing because of its exceptional range and ability for high contrast, even though it's easy enough to tame to normal contrast levels as well.
Ahhhh!:o

[IanG]

Drew makes a good point about determining your own effective EI and development time. Foma films need taming to get the best results, I've used a lot in 120 & 5x4, and bought some 7x5 last month, I use the Fomapan 00 & 100 at half their box speed and develop in Pyrocat HD they need about 75% of the dev time of other films.

Ian

[axs810]

There's no difference in the emulsion between Arista 200 and Fomapan. Probably the custom label portion of the film is cut first to pretty much pay for the batch,
then the remainder for Foma labeling. This might allow a longer cure or seasoning of the brand-label emulsion, which might or might not affect its fragility, but
apparently nothing sensitometric. It's different, with a very long straight line, and develops quite quickly, but otherwise is capable of being developed to any
contrast level needed. Not a true 200 speed by any mean, and bad recip characteristics, but that's been frequently discussed. Will handle extreme lighting ratios
better than any other film currently on the market. The alleged complaint about it being "too contrasty" is simply an artifact of people not having learned how
to correctly expose and develop it yet. I gave up on it due to quality control issues, namely, scratches parallel to the edge of the film that somehow transpired from roller transport during mfg or packaging. Maybe that problem has been solved... I dunno. An issue that wouldn't even show in a contact print, but did under
enlargement. This film is a bargain that with a bit of practice can produce stunning images, so I don't want to discourage anyone from testing it.


Are there any examples you can show me of this type of extreme lighting using this film?


I found some good portraiture work using this film on flickr by "D-tach" seems for all the shots I liked on his stream were all developed in XTOL. Heck...so far his portraits are the only examples I like using this film. I know alot of testing would need to be done to figure out a good workflow for my own work but it kind of gets me thinking maybe I should just stick with 320txp. Although I'd love to buy 50 sheets of fomapan with that short date special price...it would just be nice to have that much film to shoot but I guess expectations are high after using 320txp for so long :\

[axs810]

If anyone else has any examples they can share please post up! (fomapan 200 only please)

[aflc]

Would you be interested in scans of foma 200 shot in 4x5, developed in pyrocat? I have some. PM me.

127114

All the best,

Alexandre

[logan.egbert]

127146

This is Foma 200 35mm in Spur HRX.

[axs810]

aflc - PM'd for more! :)

Is that image you posted have vignetting? I'm kind of thrown off..it looks like the midtones are a little dark but the highlight in LPAM are good. :confused:


logan.egbert - Thank you that's a nice image. What iso did you end up shooting this at? Is there any other developers you've used with this film? I haven't tried Spur HRX before. Have you shot in a similar lighting condition but developed with XTOL or HC110 dil B?

[aflc]

The vignetting comes from shifting a schneider 72 xl without the center filter.
I metered the highlights from the white buildings barely visible on the right and the midtones came out a little dark. Also this a Imacon scan that was a little disppointing (amateur scan). I have a v750 scan that is a little better (more shadow detail).

[Colorado CJ]

I'll show some of my shots with Foma 200, but in 4x5 and a couple in medium format. Foma 200 has been my go-to film for 4x5.

My images are more contrasty than normal though (I LOVE shooting through a 25A filter). I develope in HC-110 Dilution H at 8.5 minutes.

4x5

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/14768094699_3525c1215c_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/14768094699/)
Life on the Edge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/14768094699/) by Colorado CJ (https://www.flickr.com/people/55229792@N03/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15303460086_3bb025629b_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/15303460086/)
Shoshoni Peak Through the Trees (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/15303460086/) by Colorado CJ (https://www.flickr.com/people/55229792@N03/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5553/14915131920_c922936a86_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/14915131920/)
30-Aug-2014-4 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/14915131920/) by Colorado CJ (https://www.flickr.com/people/55229792@N03/), on Flickr


https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3867/14849547346_7c485ef906_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/14849547346/)
An-Evening-by-the-Lake (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/14849547346/) by Colorado CJ (https://www.flickr.com/people/55229792@N03/), on Flickr

[Colorado CJ]

Medium Format 6x7

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/12602085624_8889b72549_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/12602085624/)
wickenburg-1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/12602085624/) by Colorado CJ (https://www.flickr.com/people/55229792@N03/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5521/10956239533_88939c3109_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/10956239533/)
Storm-on-the-Mountain-2 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/10956239533/) by Colorado CJ (https://www.flickr.com/people/55229792@N03/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/14848021525_0046c4fb99_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/14848021525/)
Grand-Canyon---Mamiya-RB67 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/55229792@N03/14848021525/) by Colorado CJ (https://www.flickr.com/people/55229792@N03/), on Flickr

[logan.egbert]

aflc - PM'd for more! :)

Is that image you posted have vignetting? I'm kind of thrown off..it looks like the midtones are a little dark but the highlight in LPAM are good. :confused:


logan.egbert - Thank you that's a nice image. What iso did you end up shooting this at? Is there any other developers you've used with this film? I haven't tried Spur HRX before. Have you shot in a similar lighting condition but developed with XTOL or HC110 dil B?

I rate it at 125 when I dev it in HRX. I rate it at 100 when I soup it in Rodinal. I've never used hc-110 with Foma.

[Colorado CJ]

I forgot to add, I always rate it at 125 ISO.

[Colorado CJ]

...I've never used hc-110 with Foma.

Try it, you'll like it! Especially with higher dilutions

[axs810]

wow alright I'll definitely try Fomapan 200 now...great results Colorado CJ! Thanks for sharing :)