Fomapan redux

[avortex]

Yes, John. Everybody who have processed this film knows about the problems between different batches.
By the way, Dr5 are just relocating their business in another place.

[nikonr10]

Avortex would this soup also work with Agfa scala 200x film developng ?

No, that soup is too weak. Scala, and his new incarnation as Adox Pan-X (or Adox Silvermax in 35mm), is a much harder film to process.
You need a very powerful formula or use a silver halide solvent on the first developer. The second route is easier for working at home.
The original Scala process used the first developer from the E-6 chemicals at a higher temperature than normal for B&W, so you can experiment with that.

Revising my older notes, I see I was able to process it (at 100 ASA) with TETENAL DOKUMOL 1+9, adding 2'5g/l of Potassium Thyocianate (KSCN). 16' @20ºC. Perhaps with a 1+7 dilution you would get a higher ASA (haven't tested it).
That was a long time ago. Nowadays, I use a more complicated process that yields best results at 160 ASA, but the formula above should give you good results for home processing and a neutral black tone, difficult to get in Agfa Scala without a final toning.

Give it a try and let me know!

Avortex after doing some research its possible to use the Adox slivermax developer on Agfa Scala 200 x film ! what toning would you uses to help bring out the Black ? it you was go down this road of home cooking , Thank you for your help or Insight with these film never got around to using looking at new ways to keep the cost down .
as no longer want to pay Kodak prices for Tri X film , keeping it DIY and handmade . Thanks

[slashmaster]

So what are the inconsistencies you get between films? Is the film speed a little more or less than the 100 asa it's supposed to be? I've filmed then watched 3 of them so far and have not noticed a difference between them yet.

[avortex]

Avortex after doing some research its possible to use the Adox slivermax developer on Agfa Scala 200 x film ! what toning would you uses to help bring out the Black ? it you was go down this road of home cooking , Thank you for your help or Insight with these film never got around to using looking at new ways to keep the cost down .
as no longer want to pay Kodak prices for Tri X film , keeping it DIY and handmade . Thanks

In theory, no. I mean, the Silvermax developer was conceived for processing the film as a negative, so it's not powerful enough for reversal. You can test it at much lower dilutions, but the probabilities of working are scarce and the price will rise up very quickly.
About toning, a Gold toner (like the Tetenal one) will do the trick and expand greatly the archival life of your film, but it's freakingly expensive for super-8. It was the toner used at the end of the original Scala process.
Tetenal Dokumol, or another powerful developer with Benzotriazole in its formula, will give you the neutral tones without having to use a final toner.

[avortex]

So what are the inconsistencies you get between films? Is the film speed a little more or less than the 100 asa it's supposed to be? I've filmed then watched 3 of them so far and have not noticed a difference between them yet.

Differences in batches are noticiable if you process the film on a regular basis. Mostly, there are differences in density and sensibility, normally not a big deal.
What makes some batches awful are dots on the processed film, and these are the ones that people like Dr5 are talking about. On small formats it's very common to have a dance of little white dots on screen. If you can live with that (I can when I use this film for home movies), it's OK.

Another important problem is about their DS8 perforation which is far from perfect and use to give unstable results. This has been confirmed by many DS8 users. I use to split this film and shoot it on single-8 cameras, and I can say that one side is better perforated than the other.

As a side note, I've been told that Foma used to separate the best part of the production for 35mm, as they consider it's the professional market, and the "not-so-good" part for 16mm and 8mm variants, as they're considered amateur and quality is not that important.
But remember: "I've been told" by a close friend who met one of the factory workers some years ago, so take this last statement with a grain of salt. Can't be sure about that.

[nikonr10]

Avortex after doing some research its possible to use the Adox slivermax developer on Agfa Scala 200 x film ! what toning would you uses to help bring out the Black ? it you was go down this road of home cooking , Thank you for your help or Insight with these film never got around to using looking at new ways to keep the cost down .
as no longer want to pay Kodak prices for Tri X film , keeping it DIY and handmade . Thanks

In theory, no. I mean, the Silvermax developer was conceived for processing the film as a negative, so it's not powerful enough for reversal. You can test it at much lower dilutions, but the probabilities of working are scarce and the price will rise up very quickly.
About toning, a Gold toner (like the Tetenal one) will do the trick and expand greatly the archival life of your film, but it's freakingly expensive for super-8. It was the toner used at the end of the original Scala process.
Tetenal Dokumol, or another powerful developer with Benzotriazole in its formula, will give you the neutral tones without having to use a final toner.

Avortex } Thank you for your input on this , has been very helpful