Processing Fomapan 100 - a bit out of date though

[wahiba]

Shuffling around the loft today I have at last found the Fomapan kit for processing 8mm film. The film has been in the fridge so I knew where it was. So I will get out and do some filming on a nice sunny day. Steam choos choos always look good so if the sun is out this weekend might give it a go. Two lines within 30 minutes of home so no problem there.

Now it is dated Nov 05 so I reckon it will be OK. The instruction leaflet is there so no problems there.

My only query regards timings.

First of all will an extra 5 - 10% on the given films make any allowance for the age of the chemicals, or not to bother :?:

Second exposure is in the tank at 30 sec a side. I understand this is not really critical, and as it will be lifted in and out in light I assume that is correct :?:

The first time I home processed B&W film was over 30 years ago, same tank by the way. Then the second exposure required a photoflood and the reel in a white bowl filled with water. It was Ilford FP4, not a specialist reversal film as this is.

Anyhow, if anyone has any recent advice re- out of date Foma chemical and film it would be appreciated. I will certainly feedback on the result of my efforts.

[walter]

Hi David!
The date on the Foma reversal kit is not the date of production, the date means "use before". I do not expect problems with the acid, no problems with KmNO4 (as far as the crystals did not get wet), no problem with the clearing bath. You should discard the fixing bath (thats cheap), and the developer. I made bad experiences with the original developer of the kit which only was 1 year after "best before". I also tried to find out if it is possible to use the developer in a higher concentration, but the FomapanR film did never develop equaly (brown strains) with the old chemistry. Sorry for the bad news.
Walter

[alex-rus]

Hi
30 seconds time as stated in the manual is absolutely not enough for tank conditions.

The first time I home processed B&W film was over 30 years ago, same tank by the way. Then the second exposure required a photoflood and the reel in a white bowl filled with water. It was Ilford FP4, not a specialist reversal film as this is.

I always do the second exposure by this way. Just remove your spiral from the tank and use a white bowl. Anyway, you can't overexpose anything on this step but you can underexpose and it will cause bad results. I also used old manual flashes for this.

Best regards

[71er]

Hi alex-rus!
I developed two Foma films myself and did the second exposure in the LOMO tank - 30 s on each side and I did not experience any problems. How would the problems that you know about show?

[wahiba]

Hi

Thanks for the advice regarding the developer. I will check mine carefully.

Regarding the second exposure, yes I to was under the impression that extending it would not be to bad, but under doing it would. I think I will dig out a white bowl though, if only to increase the eveness of light.

Just checked the chemicals. Slight tinge to the developer, but rest look OK. Will use the developer for the first films and see what happens.

All I need now is a bit of sun. Do not really want to use them on a dull day.

[aj]

just run a test strip and decide based on that...

The only thing is that you cannot keep the bleach-bath as it degrades too quick. BTW You cannot reuse it either on Fomapan film.