Constant trial to faith in the film I've chosen

DREW WILEY

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Jul 14, 2011
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8x10 Format
All of my experience with Foma films was in 8x10 sheet format. Got a few very nice prints, but the dicey quality control and other idiosyncrasies just didn't make the lower price actually worth the risk, or the lack of versatility compared to what films like TMY and FP4 consistently deliver. A lot of effort goes into it up front, so I need both my gear and film itself to be as reliable and predictable as possible. Whenever 8x10 film gets too expensive for me, I'd rather shoot my favorite films in 4x5 rather than something squirrelly in 8x10.
 
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radiant

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Aug 18, 2019
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Europe
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I think it is totally different game when doing 8x10 or even 4x5. Like in this thread previously talked the price of film is not relevant in that size - as you shoot only fraction of the frames vs roll film. Also I believe in large format you try to achieve the "perfect" shot in any means so you choose the best film anyways. And I understand why large format users prefer to shoot Tmax or FP4.

But being said, Foma isn't still bad. It is just a different story when doing large format.
 

DREW WILEY

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Joined
Jul 14, 2011
Messages
13,934
Format
8x10 Format
That's largely correct. LF is highly methodical, one often gets only one chance at the shot before the lighting changes, and the cost of film and extra effort hauling the bigger gear around favors optimizing every single shot and wasting as little film as possible, though there are a certain number of LF "machine-gunners" out there too.
Every time the shutter clicks it's like the "ka-ching" sound of a cash-register drawer with another five, ten, or even twenty dollar bill disappearing from your wallet. But a background in LF makes one more thoughtful and careful shooting even roll film. But at least with roll film, it's quite realistic to shoot a spare frame or two just in case.
 

Adrian Bacon

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Oct 18, 2016
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Petaluma, CA.
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Multi Format

I've noticed a fair amount of traffic to my website from this thread. Just so everybody is aware, I'm in the process of updating the charts and development times for the films I have listed. It's been quite a bit slower going than what I had anticipated due to amount of stupid happening lately, but I will eventually get all the charts and times updated and will be adding some new films, so those that use replenished XTOL will have a reasonable reference for emulsions that are not included in Kodak's J-109 (like the Foma films).
 
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radiant

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Joined
Aug 18, 2019
Messages
2,135
Location
Europe
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Hybrid

Yes, please do so. Inform us when the updates are available!
 
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