FSU and fomapan film - any experience?

[SimonK]

I just had a roll of film developed and the kind shopkeeper offered me a free film - fomapan classic 100 b&w. Now I've never actually heard of this film before, and it's no big deal but was wondering if any one here uses/has used this film in an FSU camera. I was thinking of putting the roll through a FED II, or maybe an Olympus XA.
Any thoughts or comments?

[Dave Wilkinson]

Does'nt matter what camera you put it through!.....it's still a very good film! - ENJOY!

[mcgrattan]

It's an OK film. Foma are a Czech film company.

Retrophotographic have a write-up here. That film is supposed to have a fairly 'classic' look.

http://www.retrophotographic.com/foma.htm

I don't use Foma 100 much, but I've been using Fomapan 400 a fair bit recently. It's a decent film.

[Hamster]

A lot of people liked this film, said to give nice flesh tones.

My experience with it was mixed however. In good daylight it is excellent, however when shooting indoors or during winer the shadow details disappears, also with longer exposure the reciprocal failure seems to kick in early. My development routine is Rodinal 49+1 7min 20*C, perhaps it is just me.

Bottom line is use it in outdoor in daylight and you should be fine.

[PhotoJim]

It's grainy for its speed, but I like its tonality a lot. I shoot it from time to time.

[jmcd]

I have been using Foma 100, and I like it and find it makes beautiful prints. I have developed it in Xtol 1:2 for 9 minutes at 68 degrees with good tones, and a bit grainy in light areas. Better I have found in Xtol 1:1 at 7:45 68 degrees. Both cases ei 80.

Another good pairing in even light is ei 80 in D-76 1:1 for 10 minutes at 68 degrees. In harsh or contrasty light I would try extra exposure and reduced development.

I find that the film does not tolerate underexposure nicely, and it also develops contrast fast in the developer. I did create some dense negatives with this film that I thought way overcooked, but I printed through and they made nice prints. So I err on the side of overexposure with this film, more than with some others.

[John Robertson]

Fomapan 100 developed in T Max for five and a half minutes at 20 deg C diluted 1 + 4.
Camera Fed 2 with collapsible Industar 50 lens.




I've used this film for over 10 years and find it excellent.

[WoolenMammoth]

foma films are fabulous. they have a classic emulsion that you cant really get from too many other places, if you are used to shooting kodak or fuji you might welcome the change.

[russianRF]

Arista EDU Ultra is Freestyle's rebranded (and significantly cheaper) Foma film.

[venchka]

Foma makes good, old fashioned looking film. The box speed is probably optimistic for all of them. Try rating the 100 film somewhere between 50 & 100. Good luck!

[John Robertson]

all their stuff is good, the printing papers are superb, I use Fomadon R09 developer, identical to Old Rodinal and keeps forever!!