FOMAPAN 100, image samples

dourbalistar

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I did a search on the forum, and while there are several threads with questions about developers and development times, I didn't find a thread dedicated to image samples of FOMAPAN 100. Feel free to share your examples and any details such as camera/lens combos and developer, dilutions, and times. I'd never tried FOMAPAN 100 before, but I needed a few extra dollars to make free shipping on an order from B&H, so I added a few rolls in 120 format to the cart. Here's a frame from my first roll, taken on bright sunny day in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area outside of Las Vegas.

Rolleicord V, FOMA FOMAPAN 100 Classic, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6 minutes.


2023.04.10 Roll #329-07786-Pano-positive.jpg
by dourbalistar, on Flickr
 
52602401399_4bcf161f57_k.jpg

Fomapan 100 Xpan 45mm. R09+50 12m.
 
GM190418.jpg


Graflex 'Anniversary' Speed Graphic 4x5, 127mm f/4.7 Ektar, Fomapan 100
(HC-110, B, 5min, 20C, continuous agitation)

Have also noticed QA consistency issues on 120 format Fomapan film in the past, but didn't mind it.

Not a fan of Fomapan 200 Creative or Fomapan 400 Action in 35mm, they work better in medium and large format for me.
I expose Foma 200 as 150 and Foma 400 as 200/250
 
I've experienced QC issues with Fomapan films: very small clear spots on the negative, scattered across the negative and sometimes forming small chains of spots. No such issues with Ilford films.
I've spotted this a lot on Fomapan films - the occasional patch of missing emulsion. It's easy enough to retouch out on digital scans, but a nightmare with something you want to print. It's annoying, but I love the film enough to look past this occasional issue.
 
Fomapan 100 and Rodinal is the perfect combination in my eyes - just use the standard time of 8:00 at 20ºC with 10 to 15 seconds of agitation every minute and you can't go wrong. Here's a few examples from recent months along with camera/lens info:

Leica IIIg - Roll 20 - Foma 100 (13).jpg
(Leica IIIg, Summar)

Leica Ic - Roll 4 - Foma 100 - Rodinal (17).jpg
(Leica Ic, Summar on a Focoslide)

Leica IIIg - Roll 23 - Fomapan 100 - Rodinal (25).jpg
(Leica IIIg, Voigtlander 28m Color Skopar)

Leica IIIg - Roll 22 - Foma 100 - Rodinal (12).jpg
(Leica IIIg, 50/3.5 Elmar)

General rule of thumb is skew towards overexposure - it becomes a grainy mess when under-exposed, and the tonal range is good enough you rarely get totally blown highlights with this combo. These are all at an EI of 100, but I use a Weston Meter and meter for the shadows.
 
The Fomapan/Rodinal combo also responds well to filtration; here's a blue sky with a yellow/green filter:

Leica IIIg - Roll 22 - Foma 100 - Rodinal (29).jpg
(Leica IIIg, Hektor 135/4.5)

And here's it on the same day with a red filter:

Leica Ic - Roll 4 - Foma 100 - Rodinal (4).jpg
(Leica Ic, Voigtlander 21mm Color Skopar)
 
One last technical note: Fomapan's reciprocity characteristics are notoriously bad. This isn't the world's most exciting photo, but while the meter said 6 seconds at f/8, I had to adjust it to a 24 second exposure to get a useable negative:

Leica Ic - Roll 3 - Foma 100 - Rodinal (2).jpg
(Leica Ic, Voigtlander 21mm Color Skopar)

The second you hit a 1 second exposure, reciprocity failure means you have to double it to 2 seconds. 10 seconds becomes 51 seconds. 1 minute turns into 13:39! Basically, you don't want to be using this stuff for pinhole work unless you want really long exposures.
 
Another frame from my first roll, but judging from @Coldkennels' examples above, I should probably get some Rodinal. Compard R09 was the first developer I ever used when I first started home developing.

Rolleicord V, FOMA FOMAPAN 100 Classic, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6 minutes.


2023.04.10 Roll #329-07792-Pano-positive.jpg
by dourbalistar, on Flickr
 
Hmm.. from the samples here, Fomapan 100 in HC-110/L110 all seem to have very dark shadow. Maybe it is due to my old NEC PA272 monitor. Time to re-calibrate it.
 
Have also noticed QA consistency issues on 120 format Fomapan film in the past, but didn't mind it.
Last time I noticed QC issues was around 2015. Horrible scratches on the emulsion. Since then I shot 4 foma (2×100 and 2×200) and no issues with them. I also have 2×400 in 35mm.

These are both shot with foma100, developer is HC110. Both shot with a Rolleicord Ia with an uncoated Triotar 75f/4.5

IMG_20230715_130051_(850_x_843_pixel).jpg

IMG_20230715_130058_(850_x_846_pixel).jpg
 
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I like Foma 100 as a more carefree shooting option in 120, good when the light allows EI50-100. Mostly developed in HC110 Dil E (1:47) for 10 minutes. Somehow I really like the look of this film.

As it's a image sample thread here is a very rough "contact print" scan (thus the white/black point off). I mostly print and haven't sat to scan any of my Foma negatives actually.
Zeiss Nettar with Novar anastigmat 75 f4.5, developed in Rodinal 1:50

1689424187407.png
 
I went to LONDON on a 'Tourist Trip' by Train frmo my Town BRENTWOOD, Essex - it cost me about £7 NOT loads of $$$$ The Yanks have to pay to get there HA Ha ! ANYWAY -- I took my 1978 HASSELBLAD 500CM and one back was with outdated FOMAPAN 100 which I metered with Weston Master V by Incident light at 100 ASA and processed in home-made PYROCAT HD -- negs were a bit OVER-Developed but scanned well
The PILOT on the Battle of Britain Memorial , North Bank of River Thames at f6.3 on 80mm f2.8 CT Planar T*
500CM Fomapan 100 01 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
The USUAL TOURIST SHOT of the Elizabeth Tower and Budicca Chariot with lens as above
500CM Fomapan 100 02 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr

I get good results from FOMAPAN 100
 
Last time I noticed QC issues was around 2015. Horrible scratches on the emulsion. Since then I shot 4 foma (2×100 and 2×200) and no issues with them. I also have 2×400 in 35mm.
On 120 my main film for the last 5ish years is mostly Foma100/Arista Edu100 (with some Foma 200 too) and I haven't seen problems with missing emulsion or scratches on any of my rolls. I've shot at least 40 or 50 rolls. If they had QC issues I think they solved them.
 
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