Fomapan R rumour

frdrx

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There's a rumour circulating in the .cz domain that Foma is about to start rolling Fomapan R (their B&W reversal film) onto 120 spools this summer, thus making it available for medium format shooting. Fingers crossed!
 

arealitystudios

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That would be super cool if they did. I've never been interested in the stuff in a 35mm format, but if it was medium format or large format that would be a whole different story!
 

Michel Hardy-Vallée

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I've just bought a Bausch & Lomb 6x6 projector....
 

2F/2F

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Is DR5 lab the only place that reverses this film for you, or can you also send it to Foma or something?

I am very interested in it as a negative film, personally. I ran out of 120 Scala, which I used exclusively as a negative film, usually for winter landscape pix.
 
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frdrx

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It is possible to have this film processed commercially in Prague and possibly also in Hradec Králové, but I develop it at home using the chemistry kit they sell. This is a lot cheaper and more fun. Quite a few people develop the film using generic chemicals (with or without modifying the process), but I'm too lazy for that. The official Foma R process may look crude and unsophisticated (with the single developer, potassium permanganate and light reversal step). It seems to work perfectly with this film nonetheless. If there's anything left to be desired, I'm yet to discover it. I shoot a lot of Fomapan R along with different Fujichrome films, and I'm very fond of the look it gives.
 

2F/2F

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Sounds similar, if not identical, to Ilford's published reversal process.

Where do you get the reversal kits? You need to fill out a D.E.A. form here in the U.S. to purchase the sulfuric acid and, I believe, the pot. permanganate (though it may be one of the other chemicals of which I am thinking). If I could get a reversal kit without all that jazz, it would be great.

I have not tried the Formulary reversal kit, so I don't know if it is similar (or identical) to the Ilford process. However, it is crazily expensive, so I have never tried it.
 
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frdrx

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I just go for it to our little local shop (Foto Škoda -- okay, it's not little at all). I can also order it directly from Foma at a similar price. Macodirect in Germany also have it, but they ask a lot more, as do fomafoto.com. In Britain, it's carried, for example, by Silverprint. Sadly, my short search failed to find an supplier in America. The content is intended for eight 35mm rolls, but I usually manage to develop ten by processing two rolls in one tank. I must reiterate that there's nothing proprietary about the process, so the kit is a bit superfluous.
 
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brucemuir

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It's not difficult to reverse process any B/W film.
Some are better than others but unless this stuff is cheap you don't really need a special "R" designated film.
Just find one that has the clearest base.

I had never done it until I came here and started researching. It is a bit more tedious than regular b/w but no harder.

There are also ways to do it without sulphuric acid if you don't want to fill out the paper work.
 

djx02

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For what it's worth, I buy sulphuric acid at the auto parts (battery acid) available in 2 quart and huge containers for little money... Pot. permanganate is/was available at hardware stores that sell water softeners. I got my little bottle from a Sears hardware store in Houston. No forms, no questions asked.
 

brucemuir

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Yea, Pot Perm is available off eBay with no paperwork whatsoever.

I think it's only when you try to get concentrated sulphuric acid is when the DEA rises an eyebrow. I know PhotoFormulary requires a DEA form for the acid.

I just use sodium bisulfate and potassium permanganate for my bleach.

I didn't look for the suphuric acid at the auto parts store yet as I'm still testing/perfecting my process.
 

photomem

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So, what is the archivability of Black and White reversal? Does it fade with projection like color reversal films?
 
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frdrx

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photomem said:
So, what is the archivability of Black and White reversal? Does it fade with projection like color reversal films?
Click to expand...

I genuinely don not know, but I would assume that black and white slides must be more stable in the long run, since the image is formed by silver grains rather than colour dyes, which tend to degrade at different rates. One thing is certain though, B&W slides won't change their colour balance over time.
 
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frdrx

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I believed it from the beginning, but your confirmation made me happy all the same. The one thing I am not happy about, though, is that the availability of this film in 120 format will cause me a severe shortage of MF slide mounts. I wish someone would start making affordable alternatives to those GEPE rip-offs. Hopefully my luck on Ebay will improve before too long.
 

fwank

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brucemuir said:
It's not difficult to reverse process any B/W film.
Some are better than others but unless this stuff is cheap you don't really need a special work.
Click to expand...

does this film offer anything that reversing some other b&w film doesn't? you mentioned having a clear base, so other than that?
 

dr5chrome

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This film has a unique look, as do all the film as a chrome. FOMA-r can not be a negative however. It can only be processed as a positive.

It has a clear old-timey movie-stock look base.
With our process clear-base is not an advantage, but the only films with a clear base are; Scala [old-discontinued], ROLLEI - RETOR80, IR400, SUPERPAN, ATO, ATP. EFKE ORT25.

dw


fwank said:
does this film offer anything that reversing some other b&w film doesn't? you mentioned having a clear base, so other than that?
Click to expand...
 

RobertV

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Well, worser news from Foma. It's not sure they will launch the film in 120 roll film format due to the fact their supplier needs a minimum requirement for ordering this clear base. It's a niche market so there are a lot of hesitations what to do. We will see on the Photokina (Cologne) this year what will happens.
 

mosesfilm

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Anyone interested in Fomapan R100 Super 8 cartridges??? I have slitted DS8 stock and had it custom loaded them into Kodak Super 8mm Cartridges. I love this film, and never could figure out why Fomapan did'nt make these like Svema film did with their DS 8 stocks. You'll see it out here soon. Let me know if you're interested.
 
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