Fomapan 100 compared to Tri-x (What??)

[patrickjames]

Hello Tom- you might want to try one of the Rodinal permutations that people have come up with. I have heard of versions with added sulfite or added ascorbate and I suppose there are others too. I thought I would mention it, although I haven't done this myself, because it would be easier than keeping X-Tol around if it worked for you.

 

[R gould]

I know it goes against all advice, but I use rodinal,or RO9 1 shot, which is the same thing today, to develop Fomapan 400, and I love the results, 35mm is a little grainy, perhaps, but for me that is not an issue, and for 120 it is not a problem, but fomapan 400 in RO9 1/50 for between 11 to 13 minutes produces, for me, a beautiful and unique look to my negatives and prints,
Richard

 

[patrickjames]

R gould, in photography most advice is just an opinion anyway. Fomapan 400 is a great film. I just bought a ton of it and have some waiting to be developed. I shot a bunch of it a few years ago but it was before I really kept any notes on what I developed it in. I do remember that the tonality was wonderful though, which is why I thought I would give it another go. IIRC the anti-halation layer in F400 is weak which is a factor in it's look.

 

[thaung]

Well since I tend to like Tri-X in Rodinal over D76 I don´t think I have a problem with grain.

Fomapan 400 have always interested me but with 400-film I MUST be able to push it to 1600 with good results if needed otherwise it´s not a very usable film for my type of work. Iso100 film can be handheld indoors all day and when it gets dark I don´t find ISO400 to be fast enough anyway.

Regarding developers, Xtol has been ordered so I´ll probably give it a try this weekend. I have also talked myself into trying Caffenol at some point, especially for Fomapan 400 as it is a speed enhancing developer.

 

[R gould]

Patrick,
Fomapan 400 is my standard film, and I agree, most advice is someone else's opinion, and I follow my own instincts, the 400 is, I think, a wonderful film, and I like rodinal for most films, and have done so for many years,I have tried other developers, including D76/ID11, but always come back to Rodinal because I love the tonality I get with this combination that I can't get with anything else, also I find any film appears sharper due to the edge effect you get with Rodinal, also, F400 in 35mm has no anti halation layer, which can give some very nice effects in the right light, but the 120 has a good AH layer,this is the green color that the developer is after developing the film, and I use more 120 than 35mm, I love the stuff, my favorite film,
Richard