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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Profile: Foma

Foma is a long standing company first founded in 1921 as FOTOCHEMA Ltd. Initially producing only plates and chemistry, in 1931 the company began production of black-and-white papers, followed by the production of black and white roll films a year later. In 1949, the company introduced X-ray films, black and white positive copy film, reversal film, color paper, color negative film and color reversal film using the name National Enterprise FOTOCHEMA. In 1990, the company reorganized with the aim to produce black and white films and papers.

Film

Foma produces a line of negative and positive (slide) B&W films. With a choice of ISO 100, 200 and 400 speeds in negative film, a special Retro 320 negative film with a softer, lower contrast look and one ISO 100 reversal film, Fomapan R 100. The latter is a substitute for the former Agfa Scala and may be developed at dr5 Film Lab in the USA or with chemistry available from Foma.

[Update]
Note that most of the films are available in 120 and 35mm roll film formats and a variety of sheet film formats. Note that Fomapan R100 is available in single perforated 16mm, Double Standard (Regular) 8mm and Super8 movie film formats and 35mm cartridges or lengths of double perforated 35mm in bulk.

Papers

A wide range of papers is available. A baryta fibre base (FB) paper, FomaBrom comes in two grades (normal or contrast) and a Variant III multigrade paper. This is a fast paper, suitable for making large prints. FomaSpeed is an RC based paper again available in N or C grade or a multigrade version. FomaTone MG is a double weight FB paper with a warm tone, for portraits or retro-style work with three variants, two of which are multigrade papers. Foma also offers an NaCl paper, similar to Kodak Azo, called Fomalux 111, suitable for contact printing.

The papers are available in a variety of sizes and with a number of surface finishes, from glossy to matt and a some in between for most types.

As if such a wide variety of papers were not enough, Foma offers a liquid emulsion that can be painted on to most bases, such as wood, china, leather, etc. The emulsion has high sensitivity for large enlargements and has good hiding properties so that a wide range of tones is possible.

Chemistry

A wide range of developers is available, as well as a citric acid stop bath, fixers, toners and Fotonal, a wetting agent. Two items of note are Fomadon R09, a replacement for Rodinal and a processing set for Fomapan R100. The latter is a complete kit to process 8 rolls of the reversal film (at 333mL a roll). The toners are Fomatone Indigo, a one part toner that gives a blue cast to B&W prints, and Fonatone Sepia, which can give a traditional sepia tone to a violet-brown tone depending on processing.

Equivalents

Foma also has lists for competitor's equivalents. If you wish to compare a product from Ilford, Kodak, Agfa or Forte to a Foma product, click on the Competitor's Equivalents tab. Some of the lists are brief, others include extensive lists including equivalent chemistry, papers and films.

Availability

Foma exports to over 50 countries, with a presence in the USA at Foma USA, in the UK now at Process Supplies UK and in Germany and Austria online on Foma's online shop. Check your favorite online shop for more locations, such as Freestyle, B&H Photo and more.

Foma is a complete manufacturer for B&W film, chemistry and papers. Well worth checking out for your photo needs.

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