New Film from Foma

MDR · May 6, 2015

Like the titles says Foma announced a new film. Foma Retropan 320 according to the data sheet the film will be available in 35mm and 4x5in to 8x10in but not in 120 (weird) http://www.foma.cz/ew/ec816f17-da8b-49ce-bd89-1d75aa19fee6-en

Xmas · May 6, 2015

It is near IR.

MDR · May 6, 2015

No more so than Ilford FP4 but just a bit more red sensitive than HP5 which isn't a bad thing. What intrigues me is this part of the brochure "suitable for
photography and subsequent contact printing..." I hope they will make it in 120 as well.

destroya · May 6, 2015

new film from Foma?

saw this in another forum and its not posted here, so thought I would pass it along. looks like it will be available in 35mm and sheet, but for now no 120.

here is the data sheet. this is all the info on foma's site

http://www.foma.cz/ew/ec816f17-da8b-49ce-bd89-1d75aa19fee6-en

Paul Howell · May 6, 2015

having a hard time understanding what this new film does, wish there was an example.

flavio81 · May 6, 2015

Have not seen the datasheet yet but Fomapan 400 is already about iso 320 and it does have extended red sensitivity... so is this 320 film REALLY a new film?

miha · May 6, 2015

Wonderful news!

M Carter · May 6, 2015

Reading the data sheet, it looks like it emphasizes mids with a lot of highlight detai?

Anyway, a new film is kinda something to celebrate. It's like going to a christening after a dozen funerals.

AgX · May 6, 2015

The film is characterized by a wide range of half tones and soft light.

I have difficulties with this statement.

Ricardo Miranda · May 6, 2015

Fantastic! Great news!
I love Foma!
Quietly they're doing their thing.

They are also introducing a companion developer.
Funny they publish times for a variety of their competitors developers, but not their other developers like Fomadon LQN.

wy2l · May 6, 2015

I have diffculty understanding what "Soft" means... does this mean the film has low resolution?

pentaxuser · May 6, 2015

Mods we need to combine the two threads that have been started on this film as soon as possible. It is a pain when you need to check both threads each time.

pentaxuser

pentaxuser · May 6, 2015

I have difficulty determining what is really different in this film compared to other Foma films and the very short technical details sheet doesn't really help. There is another thread on this also started today so hopefully the mods will combine them.

pentaxuser

David A. Goldfarb · May 6, 2015

Threads merged.

If you notice multiple threads on the topic, please use the "report post" button in the lower left corner of each post (the black triangle with the exclamation mark) to notify the moderation team by e-mail, because there is no guarantee that we will notice a post within the thread or notice that there are duplicate threads, if they don't happen to appear in close proximity to each other when one of the moderators happens to be checking in. It's even more helpful, if you can include a link to the duplicate thread in the post report, which will automatically contain a link to the thread you're reporting. If we've got both links handy in one e-mail, it's an easy fix. If we've got to hunt around for the duplicate thread, it might get put off until one of us has time to do the search.

destroya · May 6, 2015

my bad for posting a topic that was posted. But I didnt see it in this forum, so next time ill search

M Carter · May 6, 2015

…anyway. We'll have to wait for some filed tests to see what this is all about. I have trouble imagining Foma would bother to release a film that doesn't have some sort of unique properties and that they don't feel the market would embrace though… so, mildly excited.

And their response to the new-gelatine-supplier issue that smacked all of us lith printers in the chops? Count me impressed. They give a sh*t, pardon my french.

David A. Goldfarb · May 6, 2015

I'm guessing the "soft" look would come from the extended red sensitivity and maybe the grain structure. The data sheet mentions that the sheet film has an anti-halation backing, but doesn't mention it for the 35mm size. If it doesn't, that would also contribute to a soft look, at least in 35mm. If it's that blue base that curls and requires flattening, that could be annoying, but maybe it has some inherent anti-halation properties.

Athiril · May 7, 2015

Just so its clear, this is much less red than Fomapan 400 (And 200 in sheets I think?)

Top is Fomapan 400, bottom is the new Fomapan 320

Ricardo Miranda · May 7, 2015

David A. Goldfarb said:
If it's that blue base that curls and requires flattening, that could be annoying, but maybe it has some inherent anti-halation properties.

I never had a problem with Foma films. They dry flat as a pancake.

Xmas · May 7, 2015

Athiril said:
Just so its clear, this is much less red than Fomapan 400 (And 200 in sheets I think?)

Top is Fomapan 400, bottom is the new Fomapan 320

Yes and both 400 and 320 nominally the same speed but the new one still looks red sensitive eg compared with Fuji Acros. People grumble about skin tones.

Foma normally provide more information in data sheet, eg fog levels, so this may be early news...

MartinP · May 7, 2015

The film has a much flatter exposure curve than their Fomapan400. I think they are looking for a sort of TriX-320 effect. With the lower contrast it might/could/should be possible to use the film at the rated speed instead of pulling for control. Foma also still make a chloride based paper, so when they talk of contact-printing it is most likely with that (very attractive) paper. It seems interesting that they think there is a market for this new material, but remember that the European (ie.'local' for Foma) silver-based photographic marketplace is a bit more lively than the North American one.

Ian Grant · May 7, 2015

David A. Goldfarb said:
I'm guessing the "soft" look would come from the extended red sensitivity and maybe the grain structure. The data sheet mentions that the sheet film has an anti-halation backing, but doesn't mention it for the 35mm size. If it doesn't, that would also contribute to a soft look, at least in 35mm. If it's that blue base that curls and requires flattening, that could be annoying, but maybe it has some inherent anti-halation properties.

No it means it's a lower contrast film.

wy2l said:
I have diffculty understanding what "Soft" means... does this mean the film has low resolution?

At one time most companies produced Soft Gradation plates/films, they were slightly lower in contrast and as a consequence could record a longer tonal range. Foma films are quite Contrasty so this is a useful addition.

So it has nothing to do with resolution, somewhere I have a box of Ilford Soft Gradation Panchromatic plates, there's a photo (not mine) on this page.I

an

TheToadMen · May 7, 2015

As said before, probably less contrasty than the other Fomapan films?

Anyway, I applaud any new film and will get me some rolls to try it.
Even develop some in Caffenol (Fomapan 100 in Caffenol-C-M is a charm).

BTW: I enquired at http://www.macodirect.de for prices and availability. I'll let you know what their answer is.

thefizz · May 7, 2015

It's always good to hear news of new traditional products coming out. I'll make enquiries and will probably stock it when placing an order again.

flavio81 · May 7, 2015

Athiril said:
Just so its clear, this is much less red than Fomapan 400 (And 200 in sheets I think?)

Top is Fomapan 400, bottom is the new Fomapan 320

Thanks, this is the comparison I wanted to see.

So it has less extended red sensitivity than Foma 400. This is good, because it means it really is a different film (it uses different sensitizers.)

If it is really a LOW contrast film then it's a very good thing as well; because it would mean that it would be pushable to ISO 1250 with no problem (all films are pushable, but contrast increases with the push).

Now, what I don't understand, is the use of the special developer. Unless the low contrast is due to the activity of the special developer... Hmm...

New Film from Foma

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New Film from Foma

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