FOMA Paper

[MikeK]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

It is definitely not a 'budget' paper.

 

[radek]

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]

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...