1st experience with FB paper...

I had my first experience with FB paper Friday night and was very happy with the results. I used a negative that I had printed several time on Ilford MGIV RC paper and the results were fair at best.
I print the same negative on Adox MCC-110 and the results were much different than what I had expected. The FB paper had more depth and luminescence than I had expected. I also tried Foma Variant 123 and was pleased with the results with this paper as well. They are different but both very good IMO. The MCC-110 was a colder paper and the Foma was warmer.

Both of these papers were much faster than the Ilford MGIV RC. Same enlarger, lens etc, an 18 sec exposure @ f8 with the RC, became a 6 sec. @ f11 with the FB paper. I tried another test print at f16 and it seemed to make little difference. Of course I expected to need another stop of time to achieve the same results.
Trying to dodge and burn is going to be difficult with such short times.

I used a Burleigh Brookks 670 enlarger with a Fujinon 90mm f 5.6 lens, #3 VC filter and Dektol 1:2 as my developer.

Do my results sound normal for those who have more experience.

I recently did my first prints on Adox as well, and while I found it to be a pretty fast paper for VC-FB, I don't think its faster than Ilford RC, which I use all the time for contact sheets. But yes, I was kind of surprised at just how fast it was. But your results ( a full stop down with that much time decrease) seems odd to me.

Like I said I've just started with this paper, but I was getting a good 25-30sec exposure at around f11 on a Leitz V35

I will monitor this thread to see what the experienced with this paper have to say.

I've only used Ilford papers. The times with RC and with FB are pretty close, though. I'd guess the differences you're seeing are brand-to-brand coating differences.

The print turned out nice and I am happy with it. I just finished doing a selenium toning on both the MCC-110 and the Foma Variant 123. When they dry I will scan and post the prints.

I may have too bright a bulb in my enlarger. It is the bulb that was in it when I bought it but I may need to decrease the wattage a bit.

I just finished printing on ADOX MC-110 for the first time too and I really like it. I like it a little more than Ilford I think. I'll continue to use both. It seems a little thinner than Ilford.

how about exposure times? How did it compare to your other papers?
I love the look of the paper.

Well the paper's speed seemed pretty similar to the Ilford FB....

But, the negs I was working with were not optimal so I can't say for sure.....