Arista.edu Ultra in 5x7 and 4x5, can someone remind me what it is again?

[sully75]

Hi all,

I'm thinking about buying a 50 sheet box of Arista.edu in either 100 or the (new?) 400 in 5x7. I thought that I've read many threads describing what this film is, or what it's similar to, but just searched and can't find them.

So some questions:
are the 35mm and 120 films likely to be the same as the LF films?
What are the 100 and 400 similar to or the same as?

Are you using this film now? Are you happy with it? Currently I'm using HP5 and getting used to it, but I'm on a micro budget and the price is really good. I'd prefer not to go Chinese if I can avoid it.

Thanks!
Paul

[MIke Sherck]

On Freestyle's web site, they say "Made in Czech Republic". That would make them Foma.

Mike

[Scott Davis]

If you call them and ask, they will confirm it is in fact Foma film. And it's great stuff too. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that my favorite emulsion (the Fomapan 200) is no longer available. That and they don't make it in any ULF or "odd" (read 6.5 x 8.5) sizes.

[sully75]

So it's simple enough to say that it's more or less Foma 100 and 400?

[Juergen Sattler]

This might help with your question:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80192

[sully75]

Juergen, that's awesome. Done.

[Michael Graves]

The sheet films are actually quite good. I suppose the roll film is, too, but it has an unmerciful curl. 120 film curls up in a very tight roll after it dries and nothing makes it lie flat.

[sully75]

I just realized I have two rolls of Foma 100 in 120 in my fridge, so I might try that out and see. But it would be nice to use it in 5x7, it's less than half the price of HP5.

[Brian C. Miller]

The sheet films are actually quite good. I suppose the roll film is, too, but it has an unmerciful curl. 120 film curls up in a very tight roll after it dries and nothing makes it lie flat.

Try this: take an iron (yeah, for clothes) and sandwich the film between two pieces of tracing paper. Set the iron on low and then iron the film, but very gently, just enough to take out the worst of the curl.

[David Karp]

The Foma 400 and Arista.Edu Ultra 400 films are no longer available. Apparently, Foma was not allowed to use some of the chemicals they had been using to manufacture that film. They are supposed to be working on a replacement. Last time I dropped by Freestyle, the person I talked to said that they had not heard anything about progress toward the new version.

[sully75]

huh...I just got the catalog and it lists the 400 in both foma and arista. It's also on the website?

[David Karp]

I mis-typed. It is the 200 speed that is not being manufactured anymore. When I went to the store I was looking for Arista.Edu Ultra 5x7. They were out of it, and will not be getting any more of it unless they come out with a new formulation. Sorry for the goof up.

[sully75]

Gotcha. Is there something about the 200 in particular that's missing in the 400 or 100? Other than just being 200? Not being snarky! Just wondering.

[eddie]

Gotcha. Is there something about the 200 in particular that's missing in the 400 or 100? Other than just being 200? Not being snarky! Just wondering.

yeah, the 200 is missing all together....:) lol.

[Scott Davis]

there's some chemical (or chemicals) that they used in the 200 which they no longer have a source for, therefore they have had to cease production of the 200. Freestyle sells the Foma-branded film, and also sells the Arista.EDU Ultra (which is their house label) which is re-packaged Foma. They don't state it on the website but if you call and ask they will verify over the phone.

[MIke Sherck]

As far as sheet films go, 200 used to be as fast as they went; there was no 400. Then the 200 disappeared and all Foma had in sheet film was 100. Now Freestyle lists a 400, so I'm curious as to whether that's an actual product or just wishful thinking.

Mike

[sully75]

Well...I may end up buying a box of the 400. So if it's crap, let me know!

I generally shoot portraits, and feel like 400 speed film gives me a little more speed to prevent blinking accidents and what not. Not sure if that's really a logical decision though, so I'm open to using 100.

[David Karp]

And last night, no 400 in 5x7.

[venchka]

The Arista/Foma 200 is missing about 100 ISO. It seems to work best for me @ ISO 100 developed in Xtol 1:3 in a Jobo 3010 tank. YMMV.

If you want a REAL 400 ISO film, shoot New Tmax 400. Expensive, but good. Which makes it cheap in the long run.

[Rick Moore]

If you want a REAL 400 ISO film, shoot New Tmax 400. Expensive, but good. Which makes it cheap in the long run.

Sadly, TMY-2 is not readily available in 5x7.



--
Rick

[venchka]

Alas. I overlooked the 5x7 requirement. Maybe the 5x7 400 film holds it's speed better than the 4x5 200 that I have.

[Drew Wiley]

The EDU ultra 200 was a straight-line Fomapan film rougly analogous to Super-XX. The 400 is a completely different bird. I've been shooting the last of my 200 8X10 sheets. This film has wonderful scale and unsurpassed shadow separation, but is really around 100 ASA and has a lot of quality control issues (scratches, spots in the emulsion). I'm switching over to TMax400, despite the high price; it's a lot more
dependable.

[sully75]

Has anyone used the 400?

[Scott Davis]

Drew-

I'm surprised you had such quality control issues with yours - I've shot probably close to 1000 sheets of it in 5x7 over a several year period and had none of the issues you report, other than noting it is a somewhat soft emulsion, therefore vulnerable to mis-handling. Running it through my Jobo Expert drums I've had no problems with it.

[sully75]

One more shot...can't make up my mind between a box of hp5 or a box of Arista Ultra 400 (can only afford 1).

So has anyone used the 400 in sheet film? I'll probably just give it a try but was hoping to get someone's experience with it.

[venchka]

One more shot...can't make up my mind between a box of hp5 or a box of Arista Ultra 400 (can only afford 1).

So has anyone used the 400 in sheet film? I'll probably just give it a try but was hoping to get someone's experience with it.

Given that choice...HP5+. No brainer.

[sully75]

not a no-brainer in any way. it's half the price. just wondering if anyone has actually used it.

[venchka]

Economical: Buying cold stored, slightly out of date HP5+ for half price. Works for me.
My only box of Arista/Foma 200 was free. In that light, it's a very good free film.

[sully75]

Wayne, where do you buy it? I'm all ears.

[venchka]

Anywhere I can. Right here in the For Sale area. Rangefinder Forum. Friends. I'm full up now & haven't been looking. I'm sure there deals around. I buy from folks who actually use film as opposed to ebay.

[sully75]

Wayne,

Good call. Have half a box of just out of date (January) HP5 5x7 coming to me at $1 a sheet. I'll have burned through it shortly. I have a new box coming to me from Adorama too, to tide me over. But I'll try to keep an eye out for other people's scraps.

The arista 5x7 400 apparently will not be available till last September anyway.