Short Date Large Format Film on Sale at Freestyle

Kino · Mar 1, 2024

There is a lot of short date large format film on sale at Freestyle right now.

Film > Black and White Film | Clearance

Freestyle has the largest selection of 35mm black and white film from every major manufacturer like Kodak, Fuji, Ilford, Arista, Foma, Woflen and Cinestill. In addition, we carry a complete line of 120 film and sheet film in stock and ready to ship.

www.freestylephoto.com

Just a heads-up!

abruzzi · Mar 2, 2024

Thanks! I added a few boxes of 5x7 for cheap.

AnselMortensen · Mar 2, 2024

Thanks!
I went for a box of 8x10.

MTGseattle · Mar 2, 2024

They had Rodinal in stock again. Finally, I get to see what all the fuss is about. I also scooped up a box-o 8x10. Foma 200 speed to shake things up.

Kino · Mar 2, 2024

Good. I grabbed 2 boxes of 8x10 to cut down for my whole plate camera.

Looks like the xray film is going to be a tough slog, so I need some regular stuff to keep my spirits up!

retina_restoration · Mar 13, 2024

The 8x10 Fomapan 400 has surprised me - it's got a great look to it. Very "Tri-X of old". Developed it in both PMK and Thornton 2-Bath and the Thornton gave the better negative by far.

(click to see:
and

)

Some would have you believe Fomapan is a "second best" film for novices, but it's far more than that. Sale or no sale, I will be including Fomapan in my arsenal in the future.

Kino · Mar 13, 2024

retina_restoration said:
The 8x10 Fomapan 400 has surprised me - it's got a great look to it. Very "Tri-X of old". Developed it in both PMK and Thornton 2-Bath and the Thornton gave the better negative by far.
(See: and
)
Some would have you believe Fomapan is a "second best" film for novices, but it's far more than that. Sale or no sale, I will be including Fomapan in my arsenal in the future.

Now I wish I had bought the 400 instead of the 100 or a box of each.

Hope the 100 is somewhat comparable.

retina_restoration · Mar 13, 2024

Kino said:
Now I wish I had bought the 400 instead of the 100 or a box of each.

Hope the 100 is somewhat comparable.

The Fomapan 100 is just as nice - just a lot slower, especially if you are working in reciprocity territory. With these Fomapan 400 shots, I measured 15 seconds exposure at f22.5 (taking into account bellows extension, which doubled the time) and with Reciprocity, it came to 90 seconds! (The Thornton negative was given 2.5 minutes exposure)
The poor reciprocity response of Fomapan is its only real Achilles Heel. It is otherwise a very nice film to work with.

Thanks, by the way, for letting us know about the Freestyle sale!

Kino · Mar 13, 2024

retina_restoration said:
The Fomapan 100 is just as nice - just a lot slower, especially if you are working in reciprocity territory. With these Fomapan 400 shots, I measured 15 seconds exposure at f22.5 (taking into account bellows extension, which doubled the time) and with Reciprocity, it came to 90 seconds! (The Thornton negative was given 2.5 minutes exposure)
The poor reciprocity response of Fomapan is its only real Achilles Heel. It is otherwise a very nice film to work with.

Thanks, by the way, for letting us know about the Freestyle sale!

I bought the 100 using my old standard way of thinking of film stock for small and medium formats, not considering the Reciprocity. Live and learn...

You're welcome! I see there is still some 400 Fomapan available; maybe I'll squeeze out a box and just eat more beans!

retina_restoration · Mar 13, 2024

Kino said:
I bought the 100 using my old standard way of thinking of film stock for small and medium formats, not considering the Reciprocity. Live and learn...

You're welcome! I see there is still some 400 Fomapan available; maybe I'll squeeze out a box and just eat more beans!

The reciprocity traits of the Foma films is what keeps some people from using it. Anything much past 3 or 4 seconds quickly becomes unmanageable. I don't mind long exposures, but I'm not very interested in making 3 or 4 minute exposures out in the wild, where anything longer than 60 seconds becomes risky.

Reciprocity of Fomapan 400 goes like this: 3 seconds becomes 10 seconds. 10 seconds becomes 60 seconds. 20 seconds becomes 2 minutes and 13 seconds, etc.
In comparison, HP5's reciprocity correction for 20 seconds is a much more reasonable 50 seconds.

For anyone who is doing work that doesn't require exposures much longer than one second, the Fomapan films are a great choice. (IMO)

MTGseattle · Mar 16, 2024

I haven't opened my Fomapan film/s yet, is there a data sheet in the box, or should I visit their website? That's quite the reciprocity curve. Geez.

retina_restoration · Mar 16, 2024

MTGseattle said:
I haven't opened my Fomapan film/s yet, is there a data sheet in the box, or should I visit their website? That's quite the reciprocity curve. Geez.

There is a data sheet inside the box, yes.

MTGseattle · Mar 16, 2024

Thank you.

retina_restoration · Mar 16, 2024

I've been using the 8x10 Fomapan 400 this week, exposing it at 200 ASA and developing it with the Thornton 2-Bath developer (a variation on Divided D-23) and it gives superb results.
Here is a sample image, taken in challenging, contrasty light, with deep shadows and very bright specular highlights. When processed in a divided developer, highlights are preserved and shadows get full development. Take a close look at the details preserved in the high values on the vase.

AZD · Mar 16, 2024

When I bought an 8x10 from member Guillaume Zuili last year he was kind enough to include a partial box of Arista (Foma) 400. I’d already had pretty good luck with it in 120, but 8x10 is something else. Really nice film with a very pleasant look. For $2.60 per sheet it’s fantastic deal. Don’t even bother messing with lith or x-ray films at this price (of course I did that too… Foma won that experiment).

Kino · Mar 21, 2024

retina_restoration said:
The reciprocity traits of the Foma films is what keeps some people from using it. Anything much past 3 or 4 seconds quickly becomes unmanageable. I don't mind long exposures, but I'm not very interested in making 3 or 4 minute exposures out in the wild, where anything longer than 60 seconds becomes risky.

Reciprocity of Fomapan 400 goes like this: 3 seconds becomes 10 seconds. 10 seconds becomes 60 seconds. 20 seconds becomes 2 minutes and 13 seconds, etc.
In comparison, HP5's reciprocity correction for 20 seconds is a much more reasonable 50 seconds.

For anyone who is doing work that doesn't require exposures much longer than one second, the Fomapan films are a great choice. (IMO)

I meant to ask: are these figures from your personal testing or did you follow the reciprocity table on the data sheet?

I see a LOT of conflicting information on various sites; discouraging!

retina_restoration · Mar 22, 2024

Kino said:
I meant to ask: are these figures from your personal testing or did you follow the reciprocity table on the data sheet?

I see a LOT of conflicting information on various sites; discouraging!

I’m using the Reciprocity+ app on my phone. The reciprocity adjustments I’ve gotten from it have been very reliable.

Short Date Large Format Film on Sale at Freestyle

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