Just Developed My 1st FomaPan 100

[Soulstar89]

Your use of a spot reading would make sense to the rest then.

The film speed was from this discussion on FADU http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7882 and post No 2 on this http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?47592-Fomapan-100

I have never used it at 100 ISO. Long story but on a course I did many years ago we were told by Mike Ware, of alternative processes fame, to halve the makers film speed and cut development by 15%. I have stuck by that ever since but tests do show that it works. I have used ID11, Xtol, Perceptol and Ilfotec HC. I am settling on ID11 probably 1+2 as noted by Alan Clark in another post.

Apologizes for unearthing a near decade thread but needs must.

I have been shooting Fomapan 100 on my wista 4x5 camera i recently got. I bought a 50 box of foma 100 and ive struggled to get a neg which isn't insanely high in contrast. I started rating the film at ei100 in hc110 dilution B and gave underexposed thin negatives.

I just did another test portrait with strobes where i metered (incident) and wrote all the contrast ratios. I rated the film ei50 and developed in hc110 dilution H (1+63) with 20% reduction in time due to overexposing. 8 mins compared to 10 mins. I felt dilution B would be to short with reduction in time. I agitate as per the ilford way, 4 inversions every minute. The results still seems strong on contrast. In medium format i would shoot hp5 and fp4.

Any tips on taming the contrast. maybe less inversions? I see alot of potential in fomapan for my conceptual photography but man its dejecting not being able to find a solution.


Cheers

Soulstar

 

[Ian Grant]

I've shot a lot of Fomapan 100 & 200 always t half box speed and around 75% of the development times as my other films, that tames the contrast nicely.

Ian

 

[Soulstar89]

I've shot a lot of Fomapan 100 & 200 always t half box speed and around 75% of the development times as my other films, that tames the contrast nicely.

Ian

Hey Ian,

I've probably seen you on the film and darkroom forum. Thanks for the input. I have a question. You said 75% of the developing times of your other films. Do you mean 25% of listed fomapan development time? for example dilution B is listed as 6mins (massive dev chart) so deduction of 25% would be 4:30mins?

Or does it mean have a uniform development time for all films?

My times for fp4 is longer than fomapan 100

 

[Ian Grant]

Hey Ian,

I've probably seen you on the film and darkroom forum. Thanks for the input. I have a question. You said 75% of the developing times of your other films. Do you mean 25% of listed fomapan development time? for example dilution B is listed as 6mins (massive dev chart) so deduction of 25% would be 4:30mins?

Or does it mean have a uniform development time for all films?

My times for fp4 is longer than fomapan 100

I never went by any official times for Foma films. I was living in Turkey and all I could get in bulk 120 was Fomapan, so I did some quick Zone System testing. Thta was around 2007, I had to do visual comparisons to Tmax 100 as I had no darkroom. I use Pyrocat HD and develop Delta 100, 400, & HP5 for 17mins, also Tmax 100. Fomapan 100 & 200 I develop for 12 minutes.

When I printed the Fomapan films on a visit back to the UK they printed perfectly, similar contrast to my Ilford films.

Ian

 

[Soulstar89]

I never went by any official times for Foma films. I was living in Turkey and all I could get in bulk 120 was Fomapan, so I did some quick Zone System testing. Thta was around 2007, I had to do visual comparisons to Tmax 100 as I had no darkroom. I use Pyrocat HD and develop Delta 100, 400, & HP5 for 17mins, also Tmax 100. Fomapan 100 & 200 I develop for 12 minutes.

When I printed the Fomapan films on a visit back to the UK they printed perfectly, similar contrast to my Ilford films.

Ian

Cheers bud. Looks like I will have to do testing as my times for fp4, hp5 and fomapan are all different

 

[Francis R]

I use Fomapan 200 exposed at 100 ISO and develop it in HC-110 dilution B for 3 minutes in a Stearman Press tank. First 30 seconds agitation then 10 seconds at 1 and 2 minutes. Results are OK to me.

 

[Ian-Barber]

I use Fomapan 200 exposed at 100 ISO and develop it in HC-110 dilution B for 3 minutes in a Stearman Press tank. First 30 seconds agitation then 10 seconds at 1 and 2 minutes. Results are OK to me.

You didnt mention temperature but 3 mins seems quite short. I would personally do dilution h for 6 minutes

 

[Francis R]

Temperature is 20°c. I know 3 minutes is a short time and is not recommended because prone to uneven development. However it never happened so far... But I could try dilution H for 6 minutes. At least this will save stock solution!