35mm Arista EDU Ultra 200 BW film reviews?

[ChrisPlatt]

Arista EDU Ultra 200 just caught my eye. It is very affordable and available in 24-exposure rolls, which I prefer.

Is this film repackaged Foma Creative 200? I tried that film when introduced years ago; it had some glitches.

Other questions: Is it actually ~200 speed? High or low contrast? Graininess? Do negatives dry clear and flat?

TIA,
Chris

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Yes, Arista EDU Ultra 200 is Fomapan Creative 200.

 

[shawn]

Foma 200 is good film. I develop it stand in HC110 at 100:1 for an hour with 4 inversions at the start and at the 30 minute mark.

M5, Voigtlander 35mm f2.5

HorizonT

Leica R8, 21mm Super Angulon

 

[mconnealy]

Here is a recent one on Arista 200 from my Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim processed in HC110e. I usually shoot color in that camera, but the results from the Arista has encouraged me to do more b&w.

steps by Mike Connealy, on Flickr

 

[Timmyjoe]

I've used the Arista EDU 100 speed and 400 speed in 2x3 sheet film (hard to get sheet film for the old Graflex 2x3 cameras) and have had awful luck with it. Got a couple of bad boxes of each. Once processed, it looked like someone spread black pepper all over the negatives. This was about four years ago, so hopefully they've got whatever caused that fixed. And I have never used the 35mm size, so maybe that is not affected.

Best,
-Tim

 

[dourbalistar]

Here is a recent one on Arista 200 from my Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim processed in HC110e. I usually shoot color in that camera, but the results from the Arista has encouraged me to do more b&w.

steps by Mike Connealy, on Flickr

Great photo with the VUWS, @mconnealy!

 

[wlewisiii]

Gotta admit I always preferred the 100 & 400 over the 200. It just wasn't as ... something. It's been too long since I used it though to give a coherent answer so you're probably better off doing your own comparison. FWIW, to me the best of them remains the 100, especially in 120 format.

 

[Nitroplait]

Other questions: Is it actually ~200 speed?

Probably more close to 100, but a very nice film for the price.
Less grain than their 400 AND 100.

 

[shawn]

I've used the Arista EDU 100 speed and 400 speed in 2x3 sheet film (hard to get sheet film for the old Graflex 2x3 cameras) and have had awful luck with it. Got a couple of bad boxes of each. Once processed, it looked like someone spread black pepper all over the negatives. This was about four years ago, so hopefully they've got whatever caused that fixed. And I have never used the 35mm size, so maybe that is not affected.

I never shot it in sheet film but have shot a bunch of 100 and 200 in 35mm and 120 and it has been great in both.

 

[Ororaro]

I dislike this film. Soft grain and sensitivity towards red. What is this good for?

Each and everytime I’ve developed this film with another film, and then proceeded to printing, this film always came out as subpar.

The extra buck or two for hp5/tx/fp4… is absolutely worth it.

Fomapan 100, on the other hand, is amazing.

 

[Coldkennels]

I dislike this film. Soft grain and sensitivity towards red. What is this good for?

It's a weird film - if I remember right, Fomapan 200 is a hybrid between traditional emulsions and more modern T-grain emulsions, and that makes it a bit of an odd one to work with. I think it shines in certain developers, but it definitely just looks like shit in others. This guy is far from the best photographer in the world (in style and darkroom technique/practice), but this does at least illustrate how different Foma 200 looks in certain developers: Film Review Blog No. 14 – Fomapan 200

Fomapan 100, on the other hand, is amazing.

Agreed. Fomapan 100 and Rodinal 1:50 is a bulletproof and reliable combo. Don't skip over Fomapan 400, though. That's also a great film - it's just the 200 that's a bit of a strange middle child.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Some get good results; some do not. Seems there still may be problems.
Another option I am considering instead is Kentmere Pan 100 @ EI 200.

Chris

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Thanks. Fomapan 200 sounds a bit too iffy for me, so I do not plan to go that route.

Kentmere Pan 100 is reliable; I have read it pushes well, so I think I'll give that a try.
EI 200 should give it a small bump in contrast, and it comes in 24-exposure rolls. 🙂

Chris

 

[shawn]

Foma 200

Pentax 6x7 105mm HC110 100:1 Stand

Leica R8, 21mm Super Angulon HC110 100:1 Stand

Leicaflex SL2, 50mm Summicron v2, HC110 100:1 Stand

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

I kind of like it for a high-contrast look out of doors. I shot these in a Nikon FE; can't recall for sure what lens I used but I think a 50mm f/2. I always shoot this film at 125, per recommendation of Roger Hicks.

 

[David Murphy]

I'ved used Arista 200 and 400 always with very good results and with anomalies encountered when self processed. I would say it's slightly lower contrast than Tri-X or some Ilford emulsions, but I like the results.