Resin Coated papers.

[Keith Tapscott.]

Out of curiosity, what are your favourite black and white resin Coated papers?

I love fibre based papers, but they have become too expensive for me.

 

[relistan]

Out of curiosity, what are your favourite black and white resin Coated papers?

I love fibre based papers, but they have become too expensive for me.

Probably not much help in your current situation, but I’m a big fan of ADOX MCP. Sadly, it’s out of production still. They say it’s not currently price competitive to make it. I hope that it comes back. Hard to know.

 

[otto.f]

In the meantime Rollei has launched FB and RC papers with the same claim as ADOX had for its future relaunch (if that promise is still realistic), namely that it’s quite the same as Agfa MCC. Rollei’s RC is as expensive as Ilford’s. I am quite happy with Rollei’s FB, the emulsion won’t differ from the one on RC. Foma has no RC, their FB is not cheaper than others either.

 

[koraks]

Foma has no RC

Sure they do.

FOMASPEED

Black and white photographic paper on RC base designed for general use. By applying developing accelerators and brighteners into the emulsion, high image brilliancy is reached and development time is shortened. The paper is manufactured in two grades: normal (N) and contrast (C), in three...

www.foma.cz

FOMASPEED Variant III

Variable-contrast, black and white enlarging photographic paper on RC base, intended for use in crafts, arts, industry, aerial photography and in other applications. The contrast grade of the paper can be varied in wide range from extra soft to ultra hard by using colour filters, which allows...

www.foma.cz

Rollei’s RC is as expensive as Ilford’s.

Unsurprising since it's probably manufactured on the same line.

 

[Reginald S]

Foma has no RC,

Even Fomatone MG332 comes in an RC version.

their FB is not cheaper than others either

As usual prices rised up th last year.
I always buy Fomatone (former price 250 Euro) and Fomabrom (former price 200 Euro) on a roll having 108cm x 1000cm which compared aren't way cheaper than Foma sheets.

Actual prices are Fomatone 299 Euro and Fomabrom 240 Euro, directly bought from Foma.

I am interested in seeing less expensive papers.
I only know Bergger COT 320 being cheeper but it is missing the emulsion.

 

[Castrillo]

Kentmere VC RC Select is a good RC paper, but prices need to be checked. Kentmere and Bergger papers are hard to find.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

Multigrade RC Portfolio in Pearl surface. The best RC I've ever seen, and the only paper I currently use. Develop it in liquid LPD diluted 1+2, fix, wash, then send it for a swim in KRST 1+40 for three minutes at 75 degrees F (or equivalent at different temperature). The most beautiful, neutral image tone, compatible with its base whiteness, and an elegant surface that makes today's air-dried glossy fiber papers look like repulsively shiny objects only a primitive would like.

 

[Paul Howell]

I like Ultrafine's house brand glossy, in the past I have used quite a number of papers, Foma, ILford, Kodak, GAF, come to mind. In current production I use Ultafine for work prints, final prints on Foma.

 

[MattKing]

Ilford Multigrade RC Cooltone.
Which, interestingly enough, can also be used for warmtone images, if appropriately toned.

Multigrade RC Portfolio in Pearl surface.

For clarity, With respect to Sal's recommendation for the Portfolio paper, I expect he is referring to the new version, which is apparently quite different than the old, Multigrade IV RC Portfolio paper.

IMHO, it would have been better if Harman/Ilford had continued their paper naming progression with "Multigrade V"

 

[Oren Grad]

Ilford Multigrade RC Warmtone glossy, developed in either Multigrade or PQ Universal developer, toned in Kodak Rapid Selenium toner 1+19 for 2 minutes.

Within a pretty broad range I really don't care much about image color. The most important criterion in my choice of paper is how well its characteristic curve matches that of my negatives. Ilford Warmtone RC is a better fit to most of my negatives than Cooltone RC or the latest Deluxe RC, though I keep some stock of those on hand as well for the occasional negative for which they work better.

 

[pentaxuser]

Multigrade RC Portfolio in Pearl surface. The best RC I've ever seen, and the only paper I currently use.

Sal Out of interest what is the price of say a pack of 5x7 of this where you buy it? Even a 5 x7 pack costs an arm and a leg over here in the U.K.

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Sal Santamaura]

With respect to Sal's recommendation for the Portfolio paper, I expect he is referring to the new version...

Correct.

Sal Out of interest what is the price of say a pack of 5x7 of this where you buy it? Even a 5 x7 pack costs an arm and a leg over here in the U.K.

Thanks

pentaxuser

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1658728-REG/ilford_1181849_mgrc_pf1k_5x7_100_sheets_glossy.html

The cost of consumables represents such a small portion of what I spend on photography (predominantly travel to the places I photograph) that it's not a primary consideration for me. I use this paper because of its characteristics. Yes, I know it's even more expensive than Ilford's fiber base version in the same size:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1017772-REG/ilford_1171938_mgfb1k_classc_5_x7_100.html

If ADOX were to reintroduce MCC 110 with the top coat it previously used, namely one with reasonable gloss, not excessively shiny, I'd pay whatever Mirko needed to charge to make production economically viable. Despite the drought-friendly nature of Multigrade RC Portfolio. However, the market doesn't seem to agree with me, so I'll likely continue not being a burden on the southwest U.S. water infrastructure.

 

[relistan]

In the meantime Rollei has launched FB and RC papers with the same claim as ADOX had for its future relaunch (if that promise is still realistic), namely that it’s quite the same as Agfa MCC. Rollei’s RC is as expensive as Ilford’s. I am quite happy with Rollei’s FB, the emulsion won’t differ from the one on RC. Foma has no RC, their FB is not cheaper than others either.

I will check this out, thanks. ADOX paper is identical to Agfa’s except for the paper color. I have old Agfa paper and can use the same exposure on both papers in the same session.

 

[Kilgallb]

Kentmere VC RC Select is a good RC paper, but prices need to be checked. Kentmere and Bergger papers are hard to find.

I know you are in Spain, but that is almost the same distance as Calgary is to NYC. I never have issues getting Kentmere at B&H in New York.

i agree, Kentmere RC papers are great.

 

[rcphoto]

The real question here is, what paper are you currently using?

 

[Kino]

For now, until I get my printing legs firmly under me, I will be printing with Ilford MGRC Deluxe, glossy only with Ethol LDP developer.

 

[otto.f]

Sure they do.

Yes I was mistaken, I thought RC meant a Pearl surface, which only Ilford makes

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Thank you all for your feedback.
I am currently using Kentmere VC Select fine-lustre paper which is similar to MG Pearl surface. This seems to be the least expensive type available in the UK at the moment.