All About: Foma Films

Foma Bohemia is a photographic private limited company based in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. It was established in 1921, originally as Fotochema, being renamed in 1995 on privatisation. Foma has a long history of producing black and white photographic materials. Their films are known for offering a classic look and are often a more budget-friendly option compared to some other brands. However, like any film stock, they have their own characteristics and nuances. Here’s an in-depth review of the main Foma photographic films:

Fomapan 100 Classic

  • ISO: 100
  • Grain: Fine
  • Sharpness: High
  • Contrast: Generally described as having good contrast, sometimes leaning towards higher contrast with deep shadows.
  • Tonality: Can produce rich tonal gradations, with a tendency for deep, “crunchy” shadows and well-held highlights. Some users note it can lighten skin tones.
  • Exposure Latitude: Rated with a good exposure latitude, often cited as being able to handle overexposure by +1 EV and underexposure by -2 EV without significant processing adjustments. Some photographers even claim wider latitude.
  • Reciprocity Failure: Known to have significant reciprocity failure, requiring substantial exposure compensation for long exposures (e.g., 3 stops extra for a 10-second exposure).
  • Base: Available on both clear polyester (120 and sheet film) and grey/grey-blue cellulose triacetate (35mm) bases. The polyester base in 120 format has an anti-halation backing that clears during processing.
  • Developing: Compatible with most common black and white developers. Development times vary depending on the developer used.
  • Scanning/Printing: Scans well and produces good results in traditional darkroom printing.
  • Overall Impression: Often described as a film with a classic, somewhat old-school feel. It’s considered sharp with fine grain, making it suitable for detailed work, especially in larger formats. However, its strong contrast and significant reciprocity failure require careful exposure. Some users find it less forgiving than more modern films.

Fomapan 200 Creative

  • ISO: 200
  • Grain: Fine to moderate
  • Sharpness: High
  • Contrast: Softer contrast compared to Fomapan 100, often described as having a vintage aesthetic with softer tones.
  • Tonality: Offers a wide range of halftones and a softer light rendition. Some describe the tones as almost charcoal-like.
  • Exposure Latitude: Wide exposure latitude, reportedly usable between ISO 100 and 800 with minimal development changes.
  • Reciprocity Failure: Information on reciprocity failure for Fomapan 200 specifically is less readily available, but it’s likely present to some degree.
  • Base: Typically on a clear polyester base for 120 and a grey/grey-blue cellulose triacetate base for 35mm.
  • Developing: Processes well in various developers.
  • Scanning/Printing: Scans well and is suitable for contact printing and “retro” style enlargements.
  • Overall Impression: Marketed as the “Creative” film, it’s appreciated for its balance of sharpness and finer grain than faster films, along with a more forgiving exposure latitude and softer contrast, contributing to a vintage look. Some users prefer it for its unique character.

Fomapan 400 Action

  • ISO: 400
  • Grain: Moderate to noticeable, more pronounced in 35mm format. Described as having an “old school” grain pattern.
  • Sharpness: Good, but generally less sharp than Fomapan 100 or 200.
  • Contrast: Can be somewhat lower contrast compared to Fomapan 100, contributing to a softer feel. However, contrast can be influenced by exposure and development.
  • Tonality: Has a unique spectral sensitivity with higher sensitivity to the red end of the spectrum, leading to a noticeable lightening of skin tones, similar to using a red filter. Highlights can exhibit a glowing effect (halation), particularly in the 120 format.
  • Exposure Latitude: Good exposure latitude, especially with overexposure. However, underexposure can lead to denser negatives and loss of shadow detail.
  • Reciprocity Failure: Likely present, but specific details may vary.
  • Base: Uses a triacetate base for 35mm and a polyester base for 120. Halation is more apparent in the 120 format, possibly due to the different base.
  • Developing: Compatible with standard black and white developers. Some users recommend specific developers like XTOL for good results.
  • Scanning/Printing: Can be scanned and printed effectively, with the grain being a noticeable characteristic, especially in enlargements from 35mm.
  • Overall Impression: Seen as a versatile film for various lighting conditions. Its unique spectral sensitivity and potential for halation give it a distinct character. While grainier than the slower Fomapan films, it offers a pleasing aesthetic for many photographers.

Fomapan R 100

  • ISO: 100 (reversal film)
  • Type: Black and white reversal film designed to produce positive transparencies (slides). Also suitable for filmmaking.
  • Characteristics: Features very fine grain, high resolving power, high contour sharpness, and higher contrast compared to Fomapan negative films.
  • Processing: Requires specific reversal processing chemistry, which can be done manually or in compatible processors. Foma offers a reversal processing kit.
  • Formats: Available in 35mm and various cine film formats (e.g., Double 8mm, 16mm).

Retropan 320 Soft

  • ISO: 320
  • Characteristics: Described as a “retro” style film with soft light rendition and a wide range of halftones, suggesting lower contrast.
  • Intended Use: Suitable for photography and subsequent contact printing or “retro” style enlarging of negatives, such as still lives, architecture, experiments, landscapes, and portraits.

Foma Ortho 400

  • ISO: 400
  • Type: Orthochromatic black and white negative film, meaning it is sensitive to blue and green light but not red.
  • Characteristics: High resolving power, good contour sharpness, fine grain, and high maximum density. Orthochromatic films render red tones as dark.
  • Use: Well-suited for applications where the rendering of red tones as dark is desired, such as copying documents or creating graphic effects. It can also be used for portraiture to create specific looks, but skin tones will be rendered differently than with panchromatic films. Using a green filter can help achieve a more panchromatic-like look.

General Observations about Foma Films:

  • Price: Generally more affordable than films from Kodak or Ilford, making them a budget-friendly option for experimentation and regular use.
  • DX Coding: Foma films in 35mm format typically do not have DX coding on the canisters, so manual ISO setting on the camera is required.
  • Film Base: The 120 format often uses a thinner film base which can be more prone to curling, potentially making scanning more challenging.
  • Unique Look: Foma films are often described as having a distinct “Foma look” with unique spectral sensitivities that can affect the rendering of tones, especially skin tones.

In conclusion, Foma offers a range of black and white films with distinct characteristics. They provide a more affordable entry into film photography or a budget-conscious option for experienced users. Foma films offer a unique rendering and classic aesthetic appeal to many photographers.