Foma Fomapan T800

The Foma Fomapan T800 is a black and white film. It was produced by the Foma company in the Czech Republic. In the UK, the T800 was sold under the name “Paterson Acupan 800“.

The Foma Fomapan T800 is designed for black and white photography. The sensitization of the film is panchromatic. The film has an ISO of 800, as specified. The sensitivity of the film stock to light is specified by the ISO value. With a higher ISO value, you can achieve a correctly exposed shot even though less light falls on the film. With this sensitivity, it is well suited for taking pictures when there is little light available. The images are more grainy, compared to images taken on lower sensitivity material.

With film no longer in production, it is common for any unexposed material that can be found to have already passed the expiration date printed on it. It is important to emphasize that the manufacturer’s expiration date is only a reference for the guaranteed quality of the film stock and does not mean that the film can no longer be used for photography purposes. Over time, light sensitivity may decrease and this may result in a loss of quality. However, storage in appropriate conditions can extend the shelf life.

To avoid underexposure in photographs, it may be useful to set the camera’s ISO lower than the specified value. Care should be taken when storing unexposed film stock to prevent possible loss of quality in later photographs.

For long-term storage, it is best to keep the unexposed material in a dry and cool place. Prompt development is advisable if you have already exposed the film. Longer storage is not recommended.

Developing the Foma Fomapan T800

A black and white developer must be used to develop the Fomapan T800. Black and white development can be done at home with the proper equipment and chemistry. However, it is also possible to take the film to a developing lab. With the different film developers, there are a variety of options available that offer different advantages and disadvantages.

Unfortunately, film development specifications are not available for every developer. Consequently, it is necessary to do some trial and error and gradually work your way up to satisfactory results. When the development process is complete, film strips containing the captured photos are available. The next step can be either digitization or the classic production of photographic prints. It is common practice that most developing laboratories offer directly as a service the creation of prints in various sizes.

Digitization

It is possible to digitize analog film strips with a scanner if you prefer the digital form. There are numerous devices to choose from for the digitization of negatives, which differ in terms of their functions and quality. Photos can be in either format after digitization, either as physical prints or as shared files on social media.

Availability and alternatives

The format availability of the Fomapan T800 is limited to 35mm format. One roll of the B&W film is enough for 36 photos. There are several photo camera manufacturers that produce suitable models for the 35mm format, including Canon, Minolta, and Porst.

Freshly produced material is no longer available from the B/W film.