Foma Bohemia

[CMoore]

I have never used any of their products and i probably never will. Ilford and Photo Warehouse are all i need at this point.
But i have always been interested in Foma. They seem to have a huge section of paper.
Are they or were they (basically) on par with Kodak and Ilford.?
They seem to be well respected, but i have no idea what it takes to create "Quality" film and darkroom paper.

I am just curious what the genersl consensus is among members of APUG.

I read their Wikipedia info. They have been around for 100 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foma_Bohemia

 

[Europan]

General Consensus has a used camera, is content with Foma film, and praises Fomabrom paper. Me as a mere soldier I use Fomapan Reversal a lot in 16mm and in Double-Eight.

 

[Agulliver]

I use Fomapan film in 135 and 120, and haven't had any issues. I also use their universal developer for paper from time to time. Some say their quality control isn't as good as Kodak,Ilford, Fuji....certainly that was the consensus a decade or more ago. I understand they've improved in recent years. The films are older technology and Foma doesn't have the capacity/expertise to develop products to compete with TMAX or Delta. But if you want more traditional films, give them a go. They're also heavily into X-ray films and medical imaging. Part of the reason for the price break compared to Kodak and Ilford will be their location in Eastern Europe.

 

[bernard_L]

Film I don't know; have been using F4 + Tri-X for decades. Paper is significanty cheaper than Ilford (EU, buying from fotoimpex, maco, or Foma) and to my eyes, Fomabrom Variant 111 is every bit as good as Ilford FB MGIV.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Foma paper is top notch
The films are fine too

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Good papers. I'm not expert on their films and chemistry.

 

[Neal]

Buy some Foma paper today.

 

[R.Gould]

Never used anything but Fpma film, 200 and 400 in 120 and 35mm, annd have done so for at least .20 years, and never had an issue it has a look all of it's own, andas long as they make it I will use nothing else, and I have used a lot of Fomatone classic paper, simply the best paper for warm tone prints

 

[removed account4]

Foma paper is top notch
The films are fine too

+ 1

its SUPER top notch and SUPER fine !

 

[koraks]

Their paper is very quite and sometimes unique (fomatone). With their film I've had a few issues, notably foma 200 in 120 format, which was/is a manufacturing issue and I've since stopped using that particular film, but still use other foma films mostly in 4x5 with pleasure.

 

[bedrof]

What about a new thing introduced recently - Retrobrom paper? Any ideas?

 

[koraks]

Haven't used it, but looks fascinating. It looks like a unique emulsion that has no equal in the current market. It's also quite explicitly aimed at lith printing, which is interesting as lith performance of papers seems to have received very little attention from paper manufacturers. I might give it a spin when I get round to it.

 

[mshchem]

I shoot a lot of Kodak and Fuji in 120. I use Foma DW papers, these are phenomenal papers. Fomatone is as good as any warmtone paper I've used in 40 years of printing.

 

[Wallendo]

Foma makes quality products, but their quality control isn't as strict as Kodak, Fuji, and Ilford. About 4 years ago, I purchased a bulk roll of Fomapan 200 from a bad batch with suffered from scratches.

I still shoot Fomapan 100 in 120 format, I have shot in in 35mm in the past and enjoyed the results and will probably pick up a bulk roll at some point when I have used up some of the film stock I have built up.This film has a classic grainy appearance.
Their Retropan Soft 320 is an interesting niche film. For me, the niche of heavy grain and low contrast doesn't work well, but others like this film.

 

[Trond]

Foma papers are excellent! I have mostly used Fomabrom 111 and Fomatone 131 and 532. Just remember to use a red safelight with Fomabrom.

Trond

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I use Fomabrom 111 in both graded and variant (VC) versions and like it very much. I especially like working with the graded papers and PMK negatives. Graded paper is getting harder to find and Foma's offerings are top-notch.

Doremus

 

[CMoore]

A Lot of great responses..... Thank You

 

[CMoore]

The "general consensus" is bullshit. There's no general consensus. One has to try and see if he/she likes the film. With that in mind, Foma imho is on par with all the major manufacturers in terms of quality and has been proving very good in terms of availability and excellent in terms of pricing.

If you look up the word "Irony" in the dictionary.......

 

[lantau]

I, too, like Foma. In late 2016 I placed a larger order with their webshop for film, paper and Fomadon LQN developer. They also put a few envelopes with paper samples in there, as well. When it came to do my first ever fibre print I made a small one on a Fomabrom Variant sample, when that worked I continued with Adox MCC. Now that the Adox papers will be out of stock for a while, at least, I may have to switch to Fomabrom as my standard FB paper.

Part of the order was a 50 sheet (30cm x 24cm) box of Fomatone 542 II. Little did I know that it would be gone shortly after. Also managed to get a box of Fomalux RC paper, and a stash of 18cm x 24cm Fomatone RC matte paper, which is the most beautiful Fomatone.

Their products seem to be older generation products, compared to what Kodak and Fuji make, and did make. But that makes them so interesting. But in my experience that also means that I have work more disciplined, as their material is less forgiving. I think their emulsions are not hardened as much as other brands. Paper Emulsion lifted off slightly from the edges of Fomatone classic 132 when hitting the sides of my Nova tanks, which is not really critical, because Adox MCC is getting stained by that to the same extend, only without the lift. It's still well within the trim area.

I had some defects on Film, which I take responsibility for, because I need to be very careful with them. I just had problems with air bubbles on 120 film. Seems it likes to stick to their film more than others. I'll just have to bang down the tank much harder, screw the neighbours. But it is rewarding, because done right the results are quite beautiful. I just (re)discovered Fomapan 200, using a roll in my new Rolleicord. Great film. I'll use it more often, now.

And while they have had to discontinue a few product lines, Fomatone RC papers being the most unfortunate one, the remainder seems to be available at all times. At Foto Impex there are various products on backorder at any given time. I've rarely noticed that with Foma.

Also they are second only to Harman/Ilford in having a complete b/w lineup of Film, Paper and Chemicals. It would be possible to do b/w photography entirely on the blue labeled stuff.

 

[Pentode]

I’ve only used their 100 film but I’ve been very happy with it. I wouldn’t hesitate to try their other products.

 

[lantau]

Foma is the only manufacturer to have a real, proper, b&w reversal film. Fomapan R 100.
The only.
Adox Scala 160 is Silvermax relabeled so isn't a propier reversal film.
Fomapan R 100 cannot be developed as a negative for instance, because it's optimized only for reversal.
The results of Fomapan R 100 developed with the Foma kit is astounding.

Actually it is real reversal film. They didn't name it Scala while the Agfa stuff was still in stock. So it has d real resilience for the process..

It is the real Scala recipe made from cheap insolvency materials. You'll never get something so special so cheap again.

The remake didn't reach ISO 200, though. I understand they had to put more silver in to make it work. That's what I read in bits and pieces here and there.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Foma is the only manufacturer to have a real, proper, b&w reversal film. Fomapan R 100.
The only.
Adox Scala 160 is Silvermax relabeled so isn't a propier reversal film.
Fomapan R 100 cannot be developed as a negative for instance, because it's optimized only for reversal.
The results of Fomapan R 100 developed with the Foma kit is astounding.

What makes Fomapan R100 a "proper" BW slide film, and the only one as you say? The fact that it has a silver based antihalation layer and makes its use as a negative more difficult? For the record, it can be used as a negative if you bleach first, it's just not worth the effort.

 

[Lachlan Young]

The proper AHU layer is paramount for a reversal film. And the subbing layer too.
Fomapan R 100 is the only film enginereed to be reversed. Period.

Silvermax was engineered from the ground up to be reversal compatible in terms of the clear base, anti-halation and silver content intended to maximise reversal performance. The only reason they started branding it as Scala 160 as well was because some of their consumers weren't aware it was designed to offer Scala process compatibility. Mirko has essentially said as much both here and elsewhere.

 

[Anon Ymous]

The proper AHU layer is paramount for a reversal film. And the subbing layer too that can withstand permanganic acid bleach.
Fomapan R 100 is the only 35mm still film enginereed to be reversed. Period.

A proper antihalation layer is important for all films, not just reversal ones. I have also used films from Kodak, Ilford and Agfa and all of them could survive a permanganate bleach, I don't get your point.

 

[Team ADOX]

Absolutely NOT. It's NOT real Scala emulsion and it's not a real tailor made reversal film.

Dear Mr. Serrao,
sorry, but that is completely wrong. ADOX Scala 160 has the real Scala emulsion and technology, which has been designed and optimised for reversal processing. The ADOX Scala 160 emulsion is a bit improved concerning fineness of grain compared to its forerunner Agfa Scala 200X.
ADOX Scala 160 is a real BW reversal film, with all the needed technology for perfect results as a BW slide film.

IT'S ADOX SILVERMAX REBRANDED.

No, it is exactly the opposite: ADOX Scala 160 is the original, and Silvermax is the rebrand for those who want to use this film as a negative film.
ADOX has been always very clear about the fact that both films are technically identical. And that the different names are used to address different markets.

ADOX - Innovation In Analog Photography.