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Foma's new edge markings

removedacct3

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Has anybody any insights in Foma's new edge markings?

My recent purchased Fomapan 400 films, 120 as well as 135, show new markings. In 120, the old frame number markings looked like stenciled old school digits. The new frame numbers look very modern. In 120, the film is still identified as 'ULTRA 400', in 135 it is 'Fomapan 400'.

Another update is the new 135 canister.

Did Foma upgrade their machinery?
 
MrclSchprs said:
Did Foma upgrade their machinery?
Click to expand...

Apparently.
I did know about the new cassettes. They're apparently (AFAIK) only used on the 400 product with the other cassettes remaining the metal type. The 400 cassettes are now the two-part plastic type that several people don't really like, apparently. The plastic cassettes may still be due to ongoing supply disruptions / lack of supply of 35m cassettes or parts thereof.

I don't know about the edge printing.
 

Can you post a photo of the edge marking, please?
 
Regarding packaging: Circa 2003 Foma was supplying 135 film in painted metal cartridges with all their own branding on the cartridges. I assume that these were being supplied by someone in Europe now gone (Agfa? Fotokemica?). They then reverted to metal with stickers on them like we've seen for years now. Plastic would be a real bummer if that's the long term available item.
 
Nitroplait said:
What is wrong with the plastic cartridges?
Click to expand...

By report, they're a major PITA to open for processing; if you can't retrieve the leader, you're pretty much down to smashing it with a hammer (in the dark).
 
Donald Qualls said:
By report, they're a major PITA to open for processing; if you can't retrieve the leader, you're pretty much down to smashing it with a hammer (in the dark).
Click to expand...

Ahh, in that way. Thanks.

If I accidentally roll film into the cassette, I just use a film retriever. It’s fast (when you know how) and I prefer to load my reels from the cassette.
 
Nitroplait said:
film retriever. It’s fast (when you know how)
Click to expand...

When it works. The longitudinal seams in these two-part plastic cassettes work against the operation of leader retrievers, however.
 
Donald Qualls said:
When it works. The longitudinal seams in these two-part plastic cassettes work against the operation of leader retrievers, however.
Click to expand...

I shot my LomoChrome '92 (that also comes in two-part plastic cassettes) in camera that auto-rewinds the film back into the cassette. I had zero problems getting the leader out with film retriever.

Besides, you can open those cassettes without any tools, using just your fingernails.
 
koraks said:
The plastic cassettes may still be due to ongoing supply disruptions / lack of supply of 35m cassettes or parts thereof.
Click to expand...

The newly designed cartridges are made of metal. The cardboard box explicitly states 'METAL CARTRIDGE' next the best before date and batch number.

foc said:
Can you post a photo of the edge marking, please?
Click to expand...

I will to do so tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
 
The ones I saw looked like the plastic two part ones we see all over the place currently. Maybe I saw different cassettes than you did?
 
These newly popular two part plastic cassettes are indeed a PITA. I've never managed to open one with fingers or a regular cassette opener, bottle opener etc. Nor can I even get my Hama film retriever into the slit. Opening the thing by sticking a butter knife in the slit and cracking/smashing it seems to be the only way for me. Though I understand there is a tool intended to open them, which I do not have.
 
Some quick snips off a contact sheet scan from Foma 100 120. Batch with expiration date 01/2026.




I was pleasantly surprised to see these, compared to the 2023 exp batch that I had which was marked with the older stenciled numbering, the film itself seems slightly better QC wise. Some odd comet and emulsion pinhole still appears, however, I have to also see if the latter is due handling during processing and prior to drydown.
 
Prest_400 said:
... the film itself seems slightly better QC wise ...
Click to expand...

Please do not say things like that ... before you know it, I am hoping that they addressed the Foma 200 issues in 120 as well
 
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