which modern paper is comparable to...

kuad · May 6, 2008

just getting back after a long layoff. which paper would be comparable to kodak polyfiber f-surface, double weight?
grateful,
d.

Roscoe · May 6, 2008

kuad said:
just getting back after a long layoff. which paper would be comparable to kodak polyfiber f-surface, double weight?
grateful,
d.

If you routinely toned Polyfiber F in KRST to completion, then I have found none. Forte Polygrade V was an adequate substitute, but is gone. Kentmere Fineprint is a good paper and is somewhat similar.

Wish Adox could find a way to duplicate Polyfiber.

kuad · May 6, 2008

all of my work was night photography from 35mm printed in 16x20 kodak polyfiber. pretty straifgt forward.

jim appleyard · May 6, 2008

I used to like the fact that PF came in SW; gave me a fiber paper, but at a lower cost, and once framed, IMHO, paper thickness didn't matter. True, you did have to be careful with SW paper when wet.

kuad · May 6, 2008

so..... which manufacter is making paper that is similar?:confused:

kuad · May 6, 2008

any recommendations?

Ian Grant · May 6, 2008

I'll keep using Polyfiber, I still a few hundred sheets left.

Ilford Multigrade FB is a superb paper, results are fairly similar, but you need to choose the best developer to suit your needs.

Ian

Ben 4 · May 6, 2008

I never used Polyfiber, but I did use Polymax Fine Art, Kodak's most recent variable contrast fiber paper, until it was discontinued (back in the old old days I used Kodabromide, but that's another story).

The best candidates I found to replace Polymax are Ilford Multigrade IV fiber and Kentmere Fineprint. I've gone with Kentmere, but both are very good. I think you'll find that Kentmere is a bit cooler than the Kodak paper (if Polyfiber resembled Polymax FA) and Ilford a bit warmer. I would love to find a paper that had Polymax's dead neutral tone!

Keith Tapscott. · May 6, 2008

kuad said:
any recommendations?

You can download Ilford competitor equivalents from this link:
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/page.asp?n=10

Ilford Multigrade IV FB is probably the closest to the Kodak Polyfiber.

Keith Tapscott. · May 6, 2008

Kentmere also have a similar list for their papers.

http://www.kentmere.co.uk/comparison_charts/kodak.html

Neal · May 6, 2008

Dear Kuad,

I have found that to my eye, Kentmere offerings are a good replacement for Kodak if you don't tone with selenium. Kentmere papers seem to take on much more color when selenium toned.

Neal Wydra

kuad · May 6, 2008

and whats a good develper for the illford? dektol?

23mjm · May 6, 2008

I have been using Kentmere and Ilford MC FB and I really like the results in the Ilford MG liquid developer at 9:1. Just add water and go, it also has a good shelf life.

bdial · May 6, 2008

Dektol works well, so does Ansco (Formulary) 130. I'm currently using Liquidol which works very nicely with it.

kuad · May 7, 2008

which one yields the finest grain? the illford developer with the illford paper?
btw, thanks so much for your advice!

Ian Grant · May 7, 2008

Finest grain That's not really relevant with papers developers as the grain isn't relevant . . . . . . don't muddle grain produced by the negative with the grain of the paper emulsion . . . . .

. . . . . except with Warm-tone papers where the finer the grain of the image formed in the paper the warmer the tone.

Ian

Neal · May 7, 2008

Dear Kuad,

Kentmere in Dektol. As Ian said, don't worry about paper grain. You can't see it with the unaided eye.

Neal Wydra

jp80874 · May 7, 2008

Kentmere in Ilford Multigrade works well also.

What is your light source?

John Powers

kuad · May 7, 2008

leitz v35 with rodenstock. negs are from leica mp-4 with summilix. in the past i would print 16x20 with the kodak polyfiber in dektol.

kuad · May 7, 2008

i went to the kentmere website; which one do you guys recommend? fineprint vc?

jp80874 · May 7, 2008

kuad said:
leitz v35 with rodenstock.l.

I am sorry. I should have asked if you were using a cold light source. I am not familiar with this enlarger.

Kentmere Fineprint VC in Ilford MG developer is great. If you use a cold light source you may have trouble with the extreme number filters 00, 0, 4 and 5. You would normally use these for split grade printing, something I didn't do when I started with Kentmere, but something I do now. Kentmere warns of this in their specs pdf on their web site. I don't seem to have trouble with 00 and 0, but I get no image in some areas of the print with 4 and 5. I have solved this by using a diffusion enlarger with dial in filters for those rare situations.

My application is quite different from yours, but I think the basic information applies. I am contact printing 7x17" negatives using an 8x10 cold light enlarger head with Ilford filters. My diffusion enlarger is a Saunders LPL 4550XLG VCCE.

John Powers

dmcmahon · May 7, 2008

My application is quite different from yours, but I think the basic information applies. I am contact printing 7x17" negatives using an 8x10 cold light enlarger head with Ilford filters. My diffusion enlarger is a Saunders LPL 4550XLG VCCE.

I have not used Polyfiber either but I do also use the Saunders LPL 4550XLG VCCE enlarger and I have found that printing with Oriental VC papers suits my needs the best. I recently switched developers from PMK pyro to the Tmax RS 1:9 because I found that I needed a lot more contrast with the pyro negs. So depending on your particular working methods, etc. you should try a few papers and see which ones work the best for you.

david mcmahon

kuad · May 7, 2008

anyone know if the leitz v35 is a 'cold light source'?
thanks!

kuad · May 7, 2008

anyone?

Roscoe · May 8, 2008

kuad said:
anyone know if the leitz v35 is a 'cold light source'?
thanks!

No, it is not.

which modern paper is comparable to...

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