Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>I don't believe Bergger and Fortepan are the same, at least from recalling all the >discussions of this on the LF lists. I use it in 8x10 and really quite like it. You're absolutely correct - Fortepan 200 is not the same as Bergger. Fortepan has a different film base, different emulsion thickness and different curve response. I embedded small pieces of film in resin and sectioned them at 1 micron (a la transmission electron microscopy) and looked at them quite carefully with a microscope (not a Leitz - we use N***n in this lab because they offer better service and a wider range of equipment). I too have tried Bergger BRF 200. I like it but haven't done enough to make any certain comments. I think Fomapan 400 looks more like old Tri-X (when it came rated by Kodak at 200) to me, but BRF is certainly sharper than Foma 400. In a couple of months I will have enough information to post some photos taken on Efke, Foma, Forte, old (several ages of [cold-stored]) Tri-X and Bergger. It's been a project of considerable interest for me. >2. The Kodak technical publication warns " Load in complete darkness". Why ? >Does the anti-halation coating behave similar to Kodak HIE and sucks in stray >photons ? HIE has *no* anti-halation coating. TP is very far-red sensitive and although light piping is less likely (TP does have an anti-halation coating) far red and IR have a habit of getting diffracted _around_ light seals into film cans. Kodak are just being (perhaps justifiably) cautious on this one. I load dozens of rolls of TP into a copystand camera and microphotography gear in bright florescent light here in my lab every week and none has ever been light-struck. I hate the stuff for normal pictorial photography, but in carefully controlled conditions, down a microscope, the grain size and resolving power can be useful. Later all, Marty ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marty Deveney Department of Microbiology and Parasitology The University of Queensland Brisbane 4072 AUSTRALIA steam megaphone + 61 7 3365 6979 fax + 61 7 3365 4620 'Evasion is fine, mediocrity is mine, You're not average in any kind of way' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~