Freestyle EDU Film To Be Discontinued?

[MikeK]

Threads on the Large Format & Pure Silver mail groups carrying this sad news.

Mike

 

[Jeremy]

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/tl_aristang.php

This link may have something to do with these threads. At the link you'll see a graphic advertising the coming of the Arista II and Arista.EDU Ultra line of products. It is probably just like people talking of the discontinuation of Tri-X right before Kodak came out with New Tri-X.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

And in any case, the .EDU 200 and 400 films are the same as FortePan, ClassicPan, and J&C Classic 200 and 400.

 

[jandc]

They switched to Fomapan instead of Forte.

 

[rjr]

Jay,

I have used Fomapan 100/120 and Fomapan 200T/135 in the past.

100/120 is a very nice film, nice grain shape, nice tonality, nice response on Rodinal - it looks very much like Apx100. The film comes on a blueish PET film base, which you may know from the hospital - similar to the Xray films used there.

200T is a t-grain film which I haven´t gotten used to, my feelings are mixed. The grain structure looked very coarse, speed and sharpness were low in ID11/D76.

There is a 400ASA film available, but I haven´t used it yet.

Fomapan100 is available in sheet film, "inch" and "cm" sizes by standard, custom sizes on order - rumour is: in Czech Republic you can order any size you want, just buy 150 sheets of it.

T200 and the 400ASA films are listed as to bei available in sheets, too.

QC seems to be better than Forte, not much word on flawed coatings or varying sensibility etc. out there on the streets.

Pricing? Prices have increased in the last year. In June I paid 13,50EUR/10 rolls of Fomapan 100/120 at Fotoimpex, which today costs 19,14EUR/10 rolls.

Data sheets are available from http://www.foma.cz/foma/produkt/Foto.asp?seznam=cernob_fot (hit the british flag on top to switch to english).

Isn´t that stuff available from J&C, too?

As I said, I like the pan 100, but today Agfa APX100 is cheaper - and suiting my needs and taste even better.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

T200 is an interesting film as kind of a special effect. Despite being a T-grain film, it looks like something from the 1930s--think Alvin Langdon Coburn or Fritz Lang. It's nice for moody effects. I have some 120 in the freezer for when the right project comes along.

One thing about the Foma MF film, is that they've figured out how to get the paper backing right. It doesn't have the leakage problems that Forte and Efke have had.

 

[DeBone 75]

Freestyle Arista II

I wonder if this paper is rebranded Kentmere

 

[Donald Qualls]

Fomapan100 is available in sheet film, "inch" and "cm" sizes by standard, custom sizes on order - rumour is: in Czech Republic you can order any size you want, just buy 150 sheets of it.

<snip>

Isn´t that stuff available from J&C, too?

I've been using Fomapan 100 sheet film from J&C for the past year, and I'm pretty happy with it. I get EI 160 with good shadows in Diafine, and it's also happy in diluted HC-110 (last I used on it was Dilution H, but I'll be trying Dilution G in the next week). J&C lists it in 9x12, 10x15, 13x18, and possibly 18x24 (I'd have to look at the web site to be certain), but do not carry it in any inch sheet sizes -- those niches, at J&C, are filled by their own "Classic" and Pro100 films, and Efke for films at or under ISO 100.

I'm happy enough with the Fomapan 100 that I'd be interested in trying it in 4x5 when I have a camera to use that format, as long as it isn't a bunch more expensive than 9x12 (i.e. stays close to half the price of Kodak products in the same size). I'd *love* to try the Fomapan 400 emulsion in 9x12 -- as it is, the only source in the USA of 9x12 cm film faster than ISO 100 that I'm aware of is special order from Kodak, at around $45/25 sheets, for 320TXP (though it's possible TMY might also be cut in this size); that kind of price for that size film is outside my comfort range, I'm afraid.