Arista film...anyone used it?

EcoLeica

EcoLeica

Check out my blog!!!
Local time
2:22 PM
Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
499
Hey just about to do my bulk order of film from freestyle. I was gunna grab me a 100ft roll of rollei 400asa ($37) but i noticed that Arisita was there in bulk rolls for almost half the price!...I have never come across this stuff, so does anyone here use it?...ive heard it is very much like HP5+
 
I was just reading in another thread about that theory. Roger Hicks commented that it was but is not any longer which I had also read elsewhere.

I have seen some great results with Foma film (which is also very cheap) from Sanders McNew in a lot of his posts .... he really likes the stuff and you can't argue with his pics. The tones are always excellent!
 
I have used and developed the stuff. I had issues getting it to work with ID-11 and Ilford Rapid fixer. If you are going to give it a shot either try a different combination or take it some where for development. On the shooting side it tends to be a little grainer than similar Ilford ASA products. Personally I'd go with the Rollei.
 
I've used it in my college photo class bulk rolled. It's the same as HP-5+ (from what i could tell) We developed everything in in D-76 though, can't remember the ratio but it usually took 11-13 minutes depending on temp.

Nice and cheap, I got good results pushing to 1600 and making 11x14 enlargements.
 
cheers for the help....apparently Arista has been made all over europe. The Arista II that i have just ordered is some german stock, there has been some rumors floatinga round the web that it is similar if not the same as the AGFA 400 film. I also aordered 20 rolls of rollei 400 medium format for 54 bucks..that is so cheap for me!
 
EcoLeica said:
cheers for the help....apparently Arista has been made all over europe. The Arista II that i have just ordered is some german stock, there has been some rumors floatinga round the web that it is similar if not the same as the AGFA 400 film. I also aordered 20 rolls of rollei 400 medium format for 54 bucks..that is so cheap for me!
Click to expand...

I hope you ordered some real film as well! (50 - 100 ISO) :p

400's great for poor light but I've ordered a heap of 50 and 100 from Freestyle which should arrive any day ... the beautiful fine grain and much better tones of 100 ISO really do it for me at the moment! :D
 
Only used Arista.Edu Ultra 100 in 120 size. It is Foma 100, it says made in Czech Republic right on the box. :) A good substitute for Agfapan 100. Freestyle is worth supporting.
 
I have used Arista II. 10 minutes in D-76 (or 7 in T-Max) do the trick. It's very pushable... all the way to 1600 without a terribly noticeable grain (at least, not in my eyes). I like it, and intend to purchase some of the stuff. This post is a good reminder. :)
 
According to digitaltruth.com Arista II is the remaining Agfa APX that Freestyle bought when Agfa went out of business; it probably won't be around forever. Arista EDU Ultra is apparently rebranded Fomapan. I've just finished processing and am now scanning a bunch of Fomapan 400, it's not as flexible as HP5 but sometimes I think I like it more; it's got quite a distinct look (though that may be what I've done to it; underexposed and overdeveloped a stop in XTOL).

This is underexposed a stop and overdeveloped in XTOL. As you can see it's quite contrasty like this; highlights are hot, shadows lacking. Straight from the scanner, no adjustment.

7THA04.jpg
 
Last edited:
I've used quite a bit of Arista branded bulk film. I have a couple hundred feet of frozen Arista Ultra Pro 50 (Pan F+) and just finished a bulk roll of Arista II (APX 400). I've always enjoyed using it and have never had any problems.

You can usually work out who made the stock by checking the country of origin listed on the web site. They change over time, but I think the current information on Digitaltruth is currently accurate. Freestyle's naming scheme is also a bit confusing, since Arista II, Arista.EDU and Arista.EDU Ultra are different, and people often don't refer to them by the full names.
 
My experience with Arista Edu Ultra 100 was the same as itf's. It was very contrasty and the histogram seemed to have two humps at each end. This made for blocked shadows and blown highlights. I used HC-110h to develop, fishtek (Don) on the forum has had good success with Arista, and he has discussed his development technique.
 
Timely post, I just went over to Freestyle and ordered 10 rolls of Arista 100. While I was there I ordered some D-76 as well.
Thanks.
 
I've tried Arista.EDU Ultra 200 (Fomapan 200), which is one of the best in the Arista lineup. It produces a classic 30's look because it doesn't have an antihalation layer IIRC. I think Roger Hicks has some experience with this film.

When it's wet, handle the negatives carefully because this is a pretty soft emulsion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom