Here is something which is bugging me for sometime, and I cannot figure it out:

I have been shooting Fomapan 100 for quite some time now in 4*5, at 50 Asa, souped in Xtol (actually Instant Mytol). As we all know Fomapan has a bad reciproke failure, requiring longer exposure times at 1 or even at 1/2 seconds.

Here is my problem: even shooting at 1/8 or 1/15 seconds I think I have a reciproke problem, that is, I see quite consistently that my shadow regions are too dark, ie underexposed.

I usually spot meter the important shadow area, and place that in Zone III (so for the final exposure I open up 2 stops). When using FP4+ this method worked quite well, but with Fomapan I end up with almost empty dark areas were I would have liked more detail.

Can it be reciproke failure ie if my exposure is say 1/8 for Zone V, its 1/2 for Zone III, and 1 for Zone II, reciproke territory.

Am I barking up the wrong tree and this is a misconception ?

Exposing more would not help since my times would get even longer (I already shoot at 50 ASA) and I get a bullet poof negative in the highlights and mid tones.

I might add that my negatives print fine on grade 2 1/2 when judged by de mid and high values.

Thanks for any insight,

Best,

Cor