tell me about fomapan / arista.edu ultra films...

[msbarnes]

So I've been shooting fomapan 100 lately and I like it a lot. I know that the biggest issue with fomapan emulsions is their lack of true speed and QC, but I'm still willing to give their emulsions a shot. In terms of grain, tones, contrast, and look how would you describe the difference among the three speeds: 100, 200, and 400?

The tonality from 100 is wonderful and the contrast is very high. Would I expect 100 and 400 to be somewhat similar but the latter having more pronounced grain? I also believe that 200 has a different grain structure, so is the tonality and contrast completely different?

One reason why I really like Fomapan 100 is because of the the highlights. I read that this is because the anti-halation layer is missing...is this effect the same for 35mm and 120 for all speeds?

 

[Jockos]

There's definitely anti halation layer in the FPN 100, do a comparison with Lucky 100 and you will find much improvement. Personally I find FPN 100 medium contrast at box speed, and thus shoot it only in overcast weather or soft light, whereas I'd rather choose a film like FP4+ for high contrast situations.

If I remember correctly, you had a thread about TriX, where you couldn't get good tones? If you have the same issue with FPN, then maybe your meter is out of adjustment?

 

[Noll]

I develop Arista Edu 100 using the "standard" Caffenol CM recipe (typically for 12 min + 3 ag/min), and get outstanding results.

What you say about speed is not always true. I can't speak for other developers, but recently I bought a bulk roll and have done some bracketed testing, and am finding that my best negs are coming in at 200! I plan to shoot a few rolls at this speed in the near future and see how it goes.

This one was shot at 100 and I had to bring up the contrast a bit in GIMP. Taken I think with an OM1 and the 50/1.8

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I can't speak for the Foma roll films, but I have shot a LOT (couple hundred) sheets of the Fomapan 200 in 5x7. I think (and I've seen a lot of others who agree) that this is the true gem of the three Foma emulsions. It will be medium-grainy, and have terrific contrast expansion if you need it (it is a favorite of alt-process printers who need to really crank the contrast up for their various media - platinum/palladium, gum, salt, albumen, etc). I'd expose some normally, and if you find it is a bit flat, just goose your developing time by say 10-20%. You can also try using a pyro developer, as the stain will provide not only a contrast boost but also grain masking for smoother, sharper images.

 

[Joao]

Very good experience here with Fomapan 100 ( 120 and 135 mm) and Fomapan 200.
A word of caution, however: I bought a batch of Fomapan 100 120 called "Professional" (same price of the "Classic" flavour) and some of the rolls had very serious flaws - dots and irregular stains in wide flat areas.
So recently I've ordered a few dozens rolls of the Classic variety and so far it behaves as expected.
Message: Beware of the "Professional" variety of Fomapan 100.
Regards
Joao

 

[charjohncarter]

I've used both 400 and 100 Arista EDU ultra films. At first I really did not like them but when I finally found a speed that I liked for both and narrowed my development down they were fine. My only complain now is there seems to be a quality control problem some of the rolls have pinholes in the emulsion which drive me nuts, and they seem to have a greater static electricity or something that suck dust onto the negative.

Arista EDU ultra 100:

Arista EDU ultra 400

 

[msbarnes]

There's definitely anti halation layer in the FPN 100, do a comparison with Lucky 100 and you will find much improvement. Personally I find FPN 100 medium contrast at box speed, and thus shoot it only in overcast weather or soft light, whereas I'd rather choose a film like FP4+ for high contrast situations.

If I remember correctly, you had a thread about TriX, where you couldn't get good tones? If you have the same issue with FPN, then maybe your meter is out of adjustment?

I don't remember having issues with Tri-X, unless it was a long while ago...

I've been experimenting with Acros, FP4+ and FPN 100 lately. Overall, I prefer FP4+ but FPN 100 in soft light looks brilliant in my opinion.

Burn10088 by Michael_Sergio_Barnes, on Flickr

 

[alienmeatsack]

I am a big fan of the Arista EDU Ultra line in both 100 and 400 speeds for 120 and 135 film. I buy tons of it and use them almost exclusively for my B/W needs.

I've never had any issues and have developed them in Diafine and D76 with excellent results.

 

[nikon_sam]

I'm looking for affordable 4x5 film and Freestyle has the Arista EDU Ultra 100 at a decent price and also Fomapan in either 100 or 200...
Any thoughts on either film...???
I've used Arista EDU in 35mm and did like it...

 

[gsgary]

I love Foma 400

 

[Photo_Smith]

I use it in 4x5 and like it

thea4x5 by Photo Utopia, on Flickr

Also like the 100 rated at 50:

 

[presspass]

Foma 200 Creative in 35 works well with the Beutler compensating developer - amazingly sharp and no blown highlights. It seems - no formal test - an accurate ISO of 200. The 400 Action does not - it seems slow, grainy, and altogether a 1940s film. Arista Premium/Kodak Tri-X suit me better. The Foma 200 is another beast entirely - a wonderfully sharp film in the right developer.

 

[Pioneer]

I use EDU100 at both EI50 and EI100 with good success (from an exposure perspective, not necessarily an accurate comment on my compositional skills). I also use a lot of EDU400 but always expose it at EI200. I have not had the opportunity to work with EDU200 but it sounds as if I should consider it.

 

[Nomad Z]

What about the quality control issues that seem to get mentioned quite often? I've been thinking of getting some of the 100 in 5x4", but occasional stories of 'emulsion artefacts' or somesuch give me pause. Are these issues perhaps a thing of the past?

 

[bwcolor]

Like MF EI100 in Rodinal, but lots of QC issues with 400 and pretty good size grain. I can't remember if I was using Xtol, or TMax Developer. Have EI 200 frozen and look forward to giving it a try.

 

[Kirbot]

I swore off Foma a while ago, because of the curl (in 120) and the QC issues, BUT.

I still love the look of the 100 speed variety so much that I just ordered some more... It just has such a smooth creamy look that I haven't seen from any other film I've tried. Ilford FP4 seems to be the closest.

I'm talking Arista EDU re-branded version BTW.

Here's a shot in 4x5", developed in D76 1:1
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1016840_614289388595374_1275999898_n.jpg

 

[Fotohuis]

I am shooting Fomapan films since approx.1998. My favoriete is FP 200. The Silver crystals are a mixture of hexagonal and cubical type, pretty rare and therefore an attempt to create a Tgrain type film.
This FP 200 emulsion is pretty soft so it can scratch easily. But it gives this fim a special look.
FP 200 is great in Xtol/Fomadon Excel W27 and in some pyro developers too. But the speed is depending on type developer iso 100-160. Last improvements for the Fomapan roll films: New backing paper, Clear Polyester layer material. Last year I had already some proto verslons from the factory in Hradec Kralove. I made some examples in Ukraine on 6x7cm with my C.V. Bessa IiI 667. They were the best so far I ever shot on FP 200 in the technical way spoken. What a great film!

 

[Jockos]

I don't remember having issues with Tri-X, unless it was a long while ago...

I must have mixed you up with somebody else, my bad!

 

[wblynch]

I like Fomapan 100-35mm-120 and 400-120 in HC-110, dilution H (1+63)

I read a while back that Fomapan can get pinholes from acidic stop baths. Since then I only use a water wash for stop and have never gotten pin holes.

I have never shot 4*5 but I want to and Fomapan will be the first film I go to.

 

[slidesandthecity]

What about the quality control issues that seem to get mentioned quite often? I've been thinking of getting some of the 100 in 5x4", but occasional stories of 'emulsion artefacts' or somesuch give me pause. Are these issues perhaps a thing of the past?

After a dozen rolls or so with FP400 135 I can only complain about scratches . However, I believe that at least some of them were my fault 😱