FOMA iso 100 negative film: any opinions?

[Robbie Shymanski]

I think the title says it all. Am shooting 5x7. Anyone have an opinion shooting or processing? How does it complare to FP4 or tri-x?

[Brian Schall]

I've been shooting the Freestyle version (Arista.EDU Ultra) in 4x5, developing it mostly in HC110 Dil H. I like it, enough that it's my prefered film right now. Of course, a negative scan viewed on a monitor may not be the best way to judge, but here's one for you.

[Ross Chambers]

Dear Brian,

As Arista cum Foma 100 has a NR note I've cautiously avoided using HC110.

However your print looks pretty good on my monitor.

Times, agitation, temperature?

I use trays for 5x7 BTW.

Regards - Ross

[Gene McCluney]

HC-110 is "not recommended" in the stronger dilutions, such as HC-110b. HC-110 "E" should be just fine. The key is to get the developing time over 5 to 6 minutes, otherwise one can get uneven development.

[Paul Butler]

I've recently used Fomapan 100 in 2 different sizes and have gotten some excellent negatives. No issues with the sheet size or with QC problems. I recommend shooting a box and seeing if it suits you. I've been taking my negs to a lab for processing as I don't want to put developer down my septic system, they do a great job with it but I don't know what developer they are using.

Be forewarned that there is no inner box inside the box, just a pouch of film so make sure you are in the dark when opening the (outer) box.

[Walter Foscari]

I've been using this for a while along with the 200 version. Develop in Pyrocat HC in a Jobo drum and rate it @ about 64 (the 200 I rate @ 100). In my experience I did notice though that it's a bit prone to uneven development. Just a little extra attention during development seems to take care of it. Other than that excellent film.

[Brian Schall]

Dear Brian,

As Arista cum Foma 100 has a NR note I've cautiously avoided using HC110.

However your print looks pretty good on my monitor.

Times, agitation, temperature?

I use trays for 5x7 BTW.

Regards - Ross

The image was shot at 64 EI, HC110 Dil H, 7m40sec @ 68 degrees F, 30 sec initial gentle inversions, gentle inversions on the minute, in a Combi Tank.

Brian

[Jiri Vasina]

I shoot it in 9x12cm and 13x18cm (and 120rolls too), develop in R09 (Foma's Rodinal equivalent) and like it a lot. I develop the smaller sheets in HP Combi Plan tanks, the larger in trays. It's my main slow film...

[Gary L. Quay]

I've been using dilution H on Arista/Foma 100, agitating every 15 seconds. I need higher contrast with my Chromega enlarger.

By the way, Don't even consider push processing this film for night shots on dilution H. I spent 30 minutes just developing, and still got shallow negatives. I shot at ASA 200. I forgot to read my notes before putting the film in the soup.

--Gary

[Kirk Gittings]

Question for you guys. What are the reciprocity qualities of this film. Robbie will be doing some natural light interiors on this job?

[Jiri Vasina]

Well Kirk, the reciprocity characteristics is not that good - check the datasheet at Foma's website (http://www.foma.cz/Upload/foma/prilohy/F_pan_100_en.pdf) - basically, you have to adjust exposure starting at times of mere 1sec (add 1EV), at 10sec you have to add 3EV (expose for 80sec), and instead of 100sec exposure, you have to wait for 1600sec (like 27minutes) with the shutter open!!

But if your exposures are not limited by the time, if your composition and idea permits exposure for so long, the resulting negatives are nice and good to work with further...

[Ron Marshall]

I've used the 200 and found it to be close to FP4, with a bit more contrast. A very nice film, which I shoot at EI 125. Can't comment on the 100.

[cobalt]

I use the Arista.edu Ultra also. I love this film. I prefer to develop in in Tmax or Acufine.

[cobalt]

One more...pardon the sloppy repair (light leak!) via Photoshop.

[Joakim Ahnfelt]

I shoot it in 9x12cm and 13x18cm (and 120rolls too), develop in R09 (Foma's Rodinal equivalent) and like it a lot. I develop the smaller sheets in HP Combi Plan tanks, the larger in trays. It's my main slow film...

I've just bought the same things. 18x24 and R09 but haven't tried it yet. What times do you use for 18x24? Just curious for a starting point.

Cheers

[Jiri Vasina]

Joakim, my maximum size (so far :p ) is only 13x18cm. But anyway, I expose the sheets at EI 80, develop in tanks in R09 1+40 @ 20°C for 10:30min, agitation first 30sec continuosly then one inversion every minute. I do a presoak of 5mins.

For the larger sheets developed in trays, I don't do a presoak (not enough trays, not enough space to place all the trays; and I always fear someone will run into the bathroom, so want the sheets to be safe as soon as possible). I develop for 12mins with continuous agitation (rocking the tray all the time). But I finally got a Jobo 2830 tank and will also develop the 13x18cm sheets in a daylight tank...

Please, use these times only as input for your tests, not for something important...

[eddie]

hi,

i use it and love it. i use it for pinhole and lens photography. i use the pinhole designer to figure my reciprocity. it works great.

i develop it with hc110 dil g (1:119) for 18 min. 68 degrees. agitation for teh first min and then every 3rd after that. i also use dil. h for 9 min with agitation every 1.5 min.

enjoy.

eddie

[Scott Davis]

I do the Fomapan (the Arista.EDU variant) 200 5x7 in Pyrocat HD, 1:1:100, in a Jobo Expert drum. I rate it at 100, and I have no issues with uneven development. I use mine for pt/pd printing. Yes, it has horrible reciprocity issues, so for shots I'm planning on using longer than 2-3 seconds indicated exposure, I switch to FP4+. At 5x7, The two films (Fomapan 200 and Ilford FP4+) are very hard to distinguish, except that the Foma is less red-sensitive. It's less than full panchromatic, more than orthochromatic.

[Jiri Vasina]

Foma 200 and Foma 100 are very different animals, they have different sensitivity, different speed, different reaction to developers. Do not generalize knowledge with one to knowledge with the other.

But I like both of them, too (although the 200 variant I know only in rolls)...

[Joakim Ahnfelt]

Thank's Jiri