Anyone with any experience shooting Fomapan 200?

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 28, 2006

I'm looking for a medium-speed film to shoot 5x7. While I like Ilford FP4+ (alot!), I'm interested to see if anyone has had experience shooting and processing the Fomapan 200. If it does what the manufacturer suggests, which is one stop over or two stops under without adjusting processing, it would have a lot of potential for an LF film. Plus, it's also cheaper than FP4+.

srs5694 · Jul 28, 2006

I've shot Fomapan 200, but only in 35mm. I haven't tried to formally determine its "true" box speed. Most people say that it doesn't really reach that speed except in speed-enhancing developers. I know that I do shoot it at box speed and usually process it in XTOL or PC-Glycol and haven't felt the need to downrate its speed -- but then, XTOL is known to give a slight speed increase to most films, and PC-Glycol may do the same. I rather like the look of Fomapan 200 in PC-Glycol, since it produces a crisp grain that I like, but I imagine that would be less noticeable in 5x7 format.

Konical · Jul 28, 2006

Good Afternoon,

Ive used several dozen rolls of Fomapan 120. I process it in HC-110B for five minutes as my "normal" time, although I have done a roll or two in T-Max 1:7 also; if I recall correctly, the T-Max time I used was nine minutes. I haven't really had occasion to try any expansion or contraction, so I can't judge that.

I have found the "box speed" to be rather accurate with my equipment and technique. Mostly, I've used 6 x 7 format enlarged to no more than 11 x 14, so graininess is absolutely no problem. I'm fairly sure that Foma 200 can stand a lot more enlargement than that without any problems. Results with 5 x 7 should be terrific.

Konical

Konical · Jul 28, 2006

Just a quick addendum: I don't see any significant difference between HC-110B and T-Max 1:7 with Foma 200. I've gone with HC-110B simply because it's cheaper.

Konical

clogz · Jul 28, 2006

Just as an aside: Foma 200 is a T grain film so longer time in the fixer is required.

Hans

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 28, 2006

I've used it a bit in 120 and seen it in dr5. Despite being a T-grain film, it's pretty grainy, and has a real old-style look (which can be tweaked through exposure and development like any film, but I think that's what it does best). Think of Fritz Lang and Alvin Langdon Coburn, kind of bottom heavy, kind of low contrast, but potentially interesting.

Peter Schrager · Jul 28, 2006

foma 200

I been trying out the Foma T200 (35mm) in quite a few developers but so far the best is box speed with Xtol. If you check the threads here you will see some quite amazinig results that Jay de Fehr has gotten with his 510 Pyro. I have on order the Barry Thornton Dixactol Dev and the Glycol version of Pyrocat MC to try out. Have a feeling these will work out nicely. It has great tonality and a feeling to it. In LF size it should definately be a winner.
Best, Peter

Peter Schrager · Jul 28, 2006

Foma 200

Just wanted to add that quality control is a non-issue with Foma films. At least from what I've seen. I'm not really sure if Jay posts here anymore but there are some current threads with photos on photo.net I think this is a a great film and a real sleeper since it seems to be the only 200 asa film out there.
Peter

titrisol · Jul 28, 2006

I used it thanks to peters and I sincerely doubt it is a Tgrain film.
It is a nice 200 film, very nice tonal rendition and sharp enough

I had little problems with grain in Rodinal 1+50+C (it was 6x7 though) and I ruined 2 out of 4 rolls I received due to my own idiocy.

srs5694 · Jul 28, 2006

Konical said:
Mostly, I've used 6 x 7 format enlarged to no more than 11 x 14, so graininess is absolutely no problem. I'm fairly sure that Foma 200 can stand a lot more enlargement than that without any problems.

No doubt. I've got a shot from Fomapan 400 (which is grainier than the 200) in 35mm enlarged to 11x14 inches and have no complaints about its grain. Of course, that's a subjective matter, too; my "no complaints about the grain" could be your "hideous awful grain -- take it away!"

clogz said:
Just as an aside: Foma 200 is a T grain film so longer time in the fixer is required.

I've seen conflicting claims on this, but I'm inclined to trust Roger Hicks, who posted in (there was a url link here which no longer exists) that he's seen electron micrographs and that, based on that evidence, he's concluded Fomapan 200 is not a T-grain film.

eggshell · Jul 29, 2006

I use Arista Edu Ultra 200 in 5x7 format exclusively because it's affordable. I rate it at 100. My normal time (for Pt/Pd printing) in HC110 (E) is 6 min. at 20%c. It's a decent film.

Mongo · Jul 29, 2006

I shoot it at 200 and develop in Pyrocat-HD. My development time is currently lost due to a move to a new home but I'll post the information if I find it soon. (Things will be much better organized once work gets started on the new darkroom.)

Like David, I find that it has a real machine-age, Fritz Lange look. That alone makes it one of my favorite films. I especially like it for architecture and urban landscapes. Grain has been a non-issue for me in 120 and 4x5.

jlehmus · Jul 31, 2006

Fomapan 200 isn't the only 200 speed film available, there is excellent film from Forte, sold as Classicpan 200 and as other re-brands. This is a medium-grain classic emulsion with a resolution of 80 lines/mm. I've shot a lot of it and am souping it in Xtol stock, but it also behaved well in D76 1:1. Jandc also sells it I think. The 135 size doesn't have anti-halation, the larger sizes do I think but I haven't tried them.

http://flickr.com/photos/jxlehmus/197882804
The shadows are bit blocked in this scan from a print.

Anyone with any experience shooting Fomapan 200?

TheFlyingCamera

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