Been using Ilford RC IV Pearl paper, are the cheaper ones just as good?

[rpavich]

Up until now I've used Ilford RC IV Pearl paper but was wondering about the other brands available.

Is there any real quality difference or draw back to using the cheapest available paper?

Arista EDU 8x10 100 sheets is $65.83

Ilford 8x10 is 100 sheets is $76.95 (What I've been buying)

The same goes for the other sizes also.


I'm just wondering about other's experiences so when I go to buy paper next, I'll be more well informed.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have two different brands and two different sizes of old, very old FB paper which I purchased for much lower price comparing to modern RC paper price.
Like $30-40 USD per hundred of 8x10 and $20 for hundred of 5x7. DW or heavier paper.
I might finish it all in two, three years. Will try to get the same. Old, very old FB paper.
If not available, I'll retry Kentmere RC.

 

[NedL]

I like Dead Link Removed and buy it in 250 sheet boxes.
It's about twice as fast as MGIV and has nice blacks.

 

[rpavich]

I like Dead Link Removed and buy it in 250 sheet boxes.
It's about twice as fast as MGIV and has nice blacks.

Wow...thanks for the tip. I didn't even know Adorama had their own branded paper.

 

[Eric Rose]

Who makes Adorama's paper?

 

[jeffreythree]

I like the Multitone that B&H sells for my RC paper needs. You could always get various 25 count packs for a test.

 

[NedL]

Who makes Adorama's paper?

There was a customer rep here a few years ago, I think her name was Helen. She would not reveal the source, but we do know that it is from Europe.

 

[HowieP]

Up until now I've used Ilford RC IV Pearl paper but was wondering about the other brands available.

Is there any real quality difference or draw back to using the cheapest available paper?

Arista EDU 8x10 100 sheets is $65.83

Ilford 8x10 is 100 sheets is $76.95 (What I've been buying)

The same goes for the other sizes also.


I'm just wondering about other's experiences so when I go to buy paper next, I'll be more well informed.

Hi, I've used all of the papers quoted above and yes there is a difference. It really depends on the use you plan to make of your prints. If you are just making prints that you file away, any of those cited are perfectly fine. Your densities might not be the same with the Arista or the Multitone and the paper might be thinner but, if you've taken a good photograph, the print will be good also. If you have higher aspirations for your prints, such as a wall display or a gallery showing, you're going to want to print on the best, and hence more expensive paper available. Or you can combine both, using the cheaper stuff for work prints and the Ilford, for example, for your final prints. Of course, you can't simply go from one paper to another with repeatable results, so you may use more than one piece of the expensive paper anyway. I use the Arista, Multitone, and, less frequently, the Adorama papers to mess around with, and make yearly batches of my best work on the better and more expensive papers.

 

[Neal]

Dear rpavich,

I use inexpensive brands of RC paper to work out how I want to print pretty much any image, even though I eventually go to fb paper for 4 out of 5 images. The more economical brands are also handy for knocking out a bunch of proofs while reducing the dent in the photography budget. The 250 sheet packs are significantly cheaper per sheet than the 100 sheet packs.

Have fun,

Neal Wydra

 

[nworth]

The short answer is no. Ilford makes premium papers, a cut above the cheaper brands in just about every way. Also, Ilford's Pearl surface is unique. Nobody makes a surface quite like it. That said, there are a lot of interesting papers out there, including some premium papers that are a bit cheaper than Ilford. While no surface is quite like Pearl, you may like the surfaces from others well enough. For ordinary use, you do not usually need a premium paper. For exhibition prints, you do.