Fomapan 100R reversal film

alanrockwood · Jul 19, 2015

I don't know if this question belongs in this section or another section. I wonder if there is any chance of Fomapan 100R reversal film being re-released in 35mm and/or released in 120 format.

Are there any other good options of doing B&W reversal these days, either in terms of film or processing. (I understand that dr5 is not currently accepting orders.)

Part of the background for this question is that I recently bought a couple of stereo cameras, one in 35mm and the other in 120 format, and I would like to try making some black and white stereo slides.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 19, 2015

In this time of contracting film demand I seriously doubt that the Foma product will be brought back. Other films can be reversed. Here are Ilford's instructions.

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/applications/page.asp?n=90

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 19, 2015

Oh, it has been discontinued!

It is only listed in 16mm, 8mm and DS8.
http://foma-cz.cs4.cstech.cz/en/catalogue-fomapan-r-100-detail-273

Athiril · Jul 19, 2015

Out of the 100 speed films I've processed in reversal, including Foma Reversal 100, T-Max 100 and Delta 100 are much nicer reversal films imho.

Dr Croubie · Jul 19, 2015

What about creating slides using Ortho duplicating film or something? Is that any better or worse than processing negative-film-as-positive?

alanrockwood · Jul 19, 2015

Athiril said:
Out of the 100 speed films I've processed in reversal, including Foma Reversal 100, T-Max 100 and Delta 100 are much nicer reversal films imho.

I see from the data sheet that Delta 100 roll film has a clear base, which would be good for transparency applications. I assume that since this feature was not mentioned for 35mm its base is probably tinted, presumably to avoid light piping. Are there any 35mm films (other than Fomapan 100R) that have a clear base?

destroya · Jul 19, 2015

rollei retro 80s in the same speed class does the best reversal processing of all the films I have done, and its the cheapest as well. the very clear base and slightly higher contrast looks beautiful when projected.

alanrockwood · Jul 19, 2015

destroya said:
rollei retro 80s in the same speed class does the best reversal processing of all the films I have done, and its the cheapest as well. the very clear base and slightly higher contrast looks beautiful when projected.

Very interesting. By the way, I wonder who manufactures Rollei films.

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 20, 2015

alanrockwood said:
Very interesting. By the way, I wonder who manufactures Rollei films.

Rollei RPX are made by Harman Technollogy in a custom run.
All other Rollei films are from Agfa (Belgium) and are from aerial photography stock.

Also consider using Fomapan 100.

Xmas · Jul 20, 2015

Dr Croubie said:
What about creating slides using Ortho duplicating film or something? Is that any better or worse than processing negative-film-as-positive?

That is how lantern slides were done in past and it is a lot easier.
They had paper bromide emulsions on glass plates.

But if you have or had slide copying facility you can could photo negs on neg material ...

cmacd123 · Jul 20, 2015

The movie people used a blue sensitive print stock to contact print from B&W negatives. Kodak still lists 2302 (acetate base 5302 was recently discontinued) for this purpose but you have to buy many thousands of feet. Orwo North America does have their equivalent in 100 ft rolls.

http://www.orwona.com/orwo-pf2-b-w-print-film-35mm-100ft/

Both stocks are about B&W paper speed, and can be developed like B&W paper.

richyd · Jul 20, 2015

If you search the threads you will find loads of threads on BW reversal procedures and the experience of many of have done it. The Rollei films, 400S, Superpan 200, 80S, reverse well. Adox Silvermax is nice for 35mm.

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 20, 2015

Adox Silvermax as well as CHS II 100 were made with a view to be reversed.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 21, 2015

Unless the film base is strongly colored its color will not be noticed upon projection of the slides.

avortex · Jul 23, 2015

I agree with the alternatives explained here. This is perhaps the "golden age" of B&W slides due to the variety of films suited for the process:

With clear base: Adox Silvermax, Adox CHS-II, Rollei Retro 80s, and some more that I don't remember now. There's even lots of Agfa Scala out there.

Without clear base: Ilford FP4+, HP5, Delta 100 (on 120 format the base is clear), T-Max 100, Orwo UN-54,...

Despite its slight base tint, you can get outstanding slides of them. It's really not noticiable in projection and even Kodak Tri-X reversal super-8 stock doesn't have a clear base.
I didn't know about the discontinuation of Fomapan R100. I really liked this film, but the lack of quality control made it unsuitable for any serious work and I searched for alternatives some time ago. Not the end of the world, really.

By the way, there's something really magical about stereo B&W slides. Much more than colour!
With a friend, I've started a website about historical cemeteries photographed in stereo B&W. Here you can find one of the galleries photographed, coincidentally, with Fomapan R100:
Dead Link Removed

They're in anaglyph, sorry. Projected in stereo are much more atmospherical

Oxleyroad · Jul 23, 2015

I wish I could view the real images. They'd be spectacular.

avortex · Jul 23, 2015

Thanks, Andy! Stereo slides are pretty addictive. Have you tried them?

Oxleyroad · Jul 24, 2015

Not yet. Have made the stereo photos to view in a viewer. I have shot 16mm with a stereo lens and viewed with an adapted projector and 3d glassses. Have not viewed Stereo slides as have not yet worked out how to do this other than say with a toy "Viewmaster" and 16mm sized frames.

Truzi · Jul 24, 2015

You can find a lot of things to view stereo slides with on ebay and a few other places. I recently picked up a TDC Vivid 116 for $10 at an estate sale. One model is allegedly able to handle full-frame 35mm slides in addition to the more common Realist format. I believe a lenticular projection screen is needed.

You can get handheld viewers for the Realist format (some can be modified to standard-sized 35mm slides):
http://members.bitstream.net/tlmartin/viewers.html

You can also find cheap plastic viewers:
https://www.berezin.com/3d/viewers1.htm#Slide
http://www.studio3d.com/pages2/store_viewers.html

Xmas · Jul 25, 2015

If you have a scanner and gilee printer print them side by side most people can resolve them into one easily.

Or get two small normal slide viewers.

Fomapan 100R reversal film

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