FOMA Paper

MikeK · Apr 17, 2005

Last night reading through the latest Freestyle catalog looing for a replacement for Arista.EDU fiber (great buy). I found FOMATONE MG Classic, which I thought was more of an economy paper - but is is way more expensive than Ilford MG, Oriental and Kentmere. Almost $38.00 for a pack of 25 sheets of 8x10. Is this paper really worth ~$20 more than the other main brand papers?

Mike

rjr · Apr 17, 2005

Mike,

calling Fomatone an "economy paper" isn´t justified - it´s a great paper, strong, creamy base, a wonderful tone in N113 and other "neutral" developers, very different from other "warmtone papers" like Polywarmtone or MCC. I like it very much.

I checked the german prices, 24x30 (bigger than 8x10, which is approx 20x25cm) sells at 25EUR/pack in Berlin.

It is expensive (and I myself did pay much much less for my 18x24cm stock), and it is a extraordinary paper.

MikeK · Apr 17, 2005

Just checked with J&C and they are selling the metric European sizes (12"x16") versions of the Glossy 131 at a much better price.

I have used Foma paper before and was impressed but at a very good price - maybe I could have used a better phrase than economy

Mike

Dr.Kollig · Apr 17, 2005

rjr said:
Mike,

calling Fomatone an "economy paper" isn´t justified - it´s a great paper, strong, creamy base, a wonderful tone in N113 and other "neutral" developers, very different from other "warmtone papers" like Polywarmtone or MCC. I like it very much.

I checked the german prices, 24x30 (bigger than 8x10, which is approx 20x25cm) sells at 25EUR/pack in Berlin.

It is expensive (and I myself did pay much much less for my 18x24cm stock), and it is a extraordinary paper.

It seems Foma prices have really gone up on Fomatone MG, I buy mine from their shop in Praha, and 131 this late March was twice the price than last year! Still reasonable at 17 for 25shts 9.5*12 inches. But Agfa MCC is 24 for 50 shts in Praha.

I love this paper(Fomatone FB) for lith, so MCC is my economy paper in a sense of best value for money.

Wolfram

AlanC · Apr 17, 2005

To date I have only used one packet of Foma MG Classic. A lovely paper, but in a side by side test I found Ilford Warmtone fibre gave a deeper black. Also,MG Classic is very slow. Untoned, a not very pleasant greenish black, ( in Agfa Neutol WA ) but responds very quickly in selenium, first going a very nice warm tone then very rapidly going too warm for my taste. I would be happy to use it again, but don't think it is quite as good as Ilford warmtone.

Alan Clark

Dr.Kollig · Apr 17, 2005

Alan,
I agree with you that this paper is slow and also softer than most VC papers I work with, if I think about it it is the softest, softer than Agfa, Ilford and Forte. So not first choice for deep blacks, but lovely for portraits etc.
Slow? No problem:
1. sheet, switch on enlarger, prepare water for tea
2. sheet, prepare pot for tea.....
Really slow means Oriental New Seagull Warmtone graded from 1995(?):
1. sheet, prepare tea complete
2. sheet, go to bakery for some cookies....

Ilford Warmtone FB is nice but the price ....and Ilford papers do not lith very well.
Agfa MCC is a compromise, not really that warm, nice price and resonable lith performance.

Wolfram

Snapper · Apr 17, 2005

The greenish blacks are exactly why I use Fomatone in WA - don't knock it!

It is definitely not a 'budget' paper.

radek · Jun 23, 2013

Hello,

I like fomatone 131 paper very much but I wish its midtones were not so greenish. Did anyone try this paper in Moersch sepia toner MT5? I'd like to have more brown colour and don't want to use selenium.

Thanks a lot

martellsv · Jun 23, 2013

Fomatone price

imho Fomatone has doubled the price in the last 2 years, nowdays is a non Litheable paper, i read about a change in the gelatine, there is an important difference with Ilford, for example deeper blacks, bergger and others...

FOMA Paper

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