Foma Retropan 320 Soft, a more scientific approach

[mauro.casalboni]

retropan 320 soft with R09

retropan 320 soft with R09

II exposed a 135 film at approx. 160 ISO with a Zorki-4 and developed in standard way with rodinal (R09) at 20° for 18 minutes.
The tonal yield seems acceptable but I obtain a lot of grain.
After a scan (photographing with Nikkor 40 and little post production correction for enhancing the black and the contrast) I obtained the following pictures.
Could comment them please?

 

[Fotohuis]

They are not very sharp. Which lens have you used on the Zorki?

R09/Rodinal is not very suitable for this film because it even has more grain then their FP400 version.

With Foma's Retropan special developer you can reach easily the box speed from iso 320 too.

A lot of grainy dog ....

Retropan 320 soft in Rollei Supergrain 1+9, an Amaloco AM74 copy. Zorki-6 + I-50 (F/3,5-50mm).

 

[Kent]

I agree, Rodinal is definitely not the best idea with that film.
I still have to try it in the special developer and I also plan to bath it in fx39 which should be better than Rodinal.

 

[Fotohuis]

FX-39 or FX-37 will be also to grainy. It's best benefit is for Tgrain type films.

I would suggest: Retropan special developer, Rollei Supergrain/AM74 1+9 or Xtol/Fomadon Excel W27 1+0.

 

[Nokton48]

Here is an approx 6x9cm scan of a 9x9cm (exposed on 9x12cm) Foma Retro 320 sheet film, processed in Freestyle Mic-X straight replenished developer. Medium format helps a lot with the graininess. Wish they made this film in 120!

Plaubel Makiflex, 360mm F11 Kern Arau process lens This was a cold dreary overcast day in late Fall; Most of the leaves are gone.

Makiflex Retro 320 - 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[x-ray]

According to Fotohuis, "This film is looking like the old Tri-X 400 but then with a lower contrast."

Here's a short review on the large format Retro 320:

http://thelargeformatblog.com/2015/08/17/review-foma-retropan-320-soft

I shot thousands of rolls and sheets of old TX and Retropan is nothing like it.

 

[x-ray]

Entered same post twice, deleted.

 

[sebastel]

I shot thousands of rolls and sheets of old TX and Retropan is nothing like it.

don't forget that mr. fotohuis has a business to support. just take his statements as advertisement. as long as it remains technical, it's still helpful info!

anyway i found, that i need to try out film/developer combinations myself to see whether i like them, or what purpose they might serve me. i can take other people's results and experiences only as a rough estimation, since my processing and conditions may vary considerably from theirs.

 

[Fotohuis]

These films I am using myself in photography and has nothing to do with advertising. For advertisement see my advertising on Marktplaats.nl and the local photographic magazines.

 

[Nokton48]

B&H now has Retropan Soft 120 in stock.

So I have just ordered 20 rolls to go along with my 300 sheets of 9x12cm.

 

[Fotohuis]

This film is better in sheet film and 120 roll film format. It won't disappoint you!

 

[Nokton48]

Thanks Robert.

I'm creating 9x9cm images onto 9x12cm Foma Retro Soft sheet film, using my Plaubel Makiflexes.

50% more image area than a 6x6cm TLR or SLR. Grain is not so visible. And I LIKE the tonality.


002 by Nokton48, on Flickr

I bought this film from a dealer in Germany. Shipped to USA.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1415324-REG/foma_57456_retropan_320_soft_120.html

They are getting more of this stuff in about a week or two. Sold out Again!

 

[Fotohuis]

I have a few hundred Foma Retropan 320 Soft on stock, however the use of sheet film in Holland is neglectible.

I had for myself already results on the 120 roll film in 6x7cm Cosina Voigtländer Bessa III 667 format, great film, great camera too!

 

[Nokton48]

Makiflex Retro 320 - 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

The apple tree off the back deck of my house. A convenient target.

Another Foma Retro 320 film test. This one was made in full key-day sun. 9x12cm Retro 320, Plaubel Makiflex Standard camera body, 360mm F11 Kern-Arau process lens at F22, 1/60th on tripod. Developed in straight replenished Microdol-X 30 minutes at 18C, scanned on Epson 4490 scanner. The full-frame 82mmx90mm negative was cropped to approx 6.5cmx9cm, for easy scanning.

The intent of this test, was to discover this film's rendition of full sunlight, from deep deep shadow to extra bright reflective highlights.

I agree with Fotohuis, this film is impossible to overdevelop. Just can't happen.

 

[Nokton48]

Retropan 120 by Nokton48, on Flickr

This film is NOT EASY to get. B&H sent me seven rolls yesterday. Thirteen more are coming next week.

I think any new film being introduced needs some honest actual hands on evaluation. OK it's too grainy for most in 35mm. What about the other possibilities?

This is not like any other emulsion I have used.

 

[Fotohuis]

🙂

 

[Nokton48]

Another shipment from B&H. 🙂 20 rolls now in the house.


20 rolls FOMA Retropan Soft 120 by Nokton48, on Flickr


Foma Retro Dev by Nokton48, on Flickr

Purchased from Germany. Soon to be tested by me.

 

[Nokton48]

DSC05873 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Purchased from Freestyle. Supposed to be good with 320 Retro Soft. Similar to Rollei AM74 I have read.