Clear Fomapan

Darkroom317 · Sep 7, 2012

I developed 2 rolls of Arista EDU 100/ Fomapan 100 in 120 tonight and found an interesting surprise after I fixed the film. One film was blue as one would expect with Fomapan but the other roll was clear.

Not that this is an issue. Has anyone else seen this? What could be the explanation? Did they use a different base than normal?

Darkroom317 · Sep 7, 2012

They must have changed the film base. I just developed two more rolls and they are both clear as well.

Rudeofus · Sep 8, 2012

Very odd. Does the (lack of) blue base have an impact on filtration for multigrade paper?

Aurelien · Sep 8, 2012

Foma is improving all their products, and this is really a good news

summicron1 · Sep 8, 2012

does this mean it will quit turning my fixer blue? I hate that ...

Darkroom317 · Sep 8, 2012

I have no idea about if it changes filtration. I haven't been able to print yet. The developer still comes out blue-green but I never noticed a change in the fixer color.

Rudeofus · Sep 8, 2012

Just for the record: if the blue color actually leaches out into the dev or fixer, it is likely part of the emulsion, not the film base. Which in turn means Foma must have changed the emulsion!

Rick A · Sep 8, 2012

The blue in the developer is from the anti-halation coating. I always pre-soak to remove the coating before developing.

michaelbsc · Sep 9, 2012

I really doubt the blue base leeched out into the water. I never used more than a brick of the AristaEDU, but the base always seemed pretty stable to me.

I moved to TMax when I ran into a whole bunch of it at a great deal. Now I'm searching, and wondering how the Foma quality might be improving.

I've been out of the loop for a while with family issues, and want to get back in the darkroom.

Rick A · Sep 9, 2012

Arista EDU Ultra is still Foma, still good and cheap. I have probably 75 or so feet of Foma left on a bulk roll, love the stuff. I also have a pile of it in 120 and 4x5.

Photo-gear · Sep 9, 2012

Rick A said:
Arista EDU Ultra is still Foma, still good and cheap.

I confirm. And from that kind of film I thought that Foma did have a clear base from day 1. It appears from this thread that Foma previously had a different base.

Darkroom317 · Sep 9, 2012

Old Fomapan 400 pdf: http://www.digitaltruth.com/products/foma_tech/Fomapan_400.pdf

New Fomapan 400 pdf: http://www.foma.cz/Upload/foma/prilohy/F_pan_400_en.pdf

This confirms the switch in base for 120. So far the emulsion looks the same.

Роберт · Sep 9, 2012

The emulsions are the same but for the 120 roll film, Foma changed from Blue Polyester base to Clear Polyester base, started in April 2012 with the Fomapan Creative 200 film.

michaelbsc · Sep 9, 2012

Роберт said:
The emulsions are the same but for the 120 roll film, Foma changed from Blue Polyester base to Clear Polyester base, started in April 2012 with the Fomapan Creative 200 film.

Does anyone know if this is what the UltrafineOnline (Photo Warehouse) 400 is? That's not a bad 120 price in quantity.

cmacd123 · Sep 9, 2012

Darkroom317 said:
New Fomapan 400 pdf: http://www.foma.cz/Upload/foma/prilohy/F_pan_400_en.pdf
This confirms the switch in base for 120. So far the emulsion looks the same.

VERRRRY Interesting. The New data-sheet also specifies that the edge printing can say "Fomapan" or "ULTRA" I wonder if this indicates that freestyle is selling a major part of their output?

"FOMAPAN 400 Action is available in the following sorts:
120 rollfilm 60 mm wide, exlusively on a 120 spool; identification edge markings:
ULTRA 400
double-edge perforated 35 mm film in 135-36 cartridges for 36 exposures
24x36 mm; bulk lengths of 17, 30.5 and 50 m in a darkroom packaging;
identification edge markings: FOMAPAN 400 or ULTRA 400
sheet film (for large-format cameras) sized 10 x 15, 13 x 18 and 18 x 24 cm in a
box of 50 sheets.
"

Clear Fomapan

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