Film specifications#
- Manufacturer
- Foma
- Film
- Fomapan Variant
- Speed
- 1600
- Process
- C-41
- Formats
- 135-36, 120
- Base
- Triacetate
- Made in
- Czechoslovakia
- Status
- Discontinued
Character & history#
Chromogenic film for black and white prints with extended red sensitivity. EI 100-3200 for daylight and EI 100-6400 for artificial light. It was recommended for high-contrast scenes.
Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of discontinued photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Exposure guide at ISO 1,600#
Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 1/1600 s in bright sun. Negative film tolerates 2–3 stops of overexposure; slide film needs accuracy within about ⅓–½ stop.
| Light | f/2 | f/4 | f/8 | f/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 16 · Snow / beach, bright sun | — | — | — | — |
| EV 15 · Bright sun | — | — | — | 1/2000 s |
| EV 14 · Hazy sun | — | — | — | 1/1000 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright | — | — | 1/2000 s | 1/500 s |
| EV 12 · Overcast / open shade | — | — | 1/1000 s | 1/250 s |
| EV 10 · Sunset | — | 1/1000 s | 1/250 s | 1/60 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior | 1/1000 s | 1/250 s | 1/60 s | 1/15 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 1/125 s | 1/30 s | 1/8 s | 0.5 s |
| EV 3 · City street at night | 1/30 s | 1/8 s | 0.5 s | 2 s |
Push & pull options#
Tell your lab how many stops you pushed or pulled so development is adjusted for the whole roll.
| Adjustment | Rate the film at | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pull 1 stop | EI 800 | Lower contrast, finer grain |
| Push 1 stop | EI 3,200 | More contrast and grain |
| Push 2 stops | EI 6,400 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
| Push 3 stops | EI 12,800 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
Long exposures#
Most films suffer reciprocity failure beyond about 1 second: they need more exposure than the meter says. As a rule of thumb add ⅓–1 stop for 1–10 s and 1–2 stops beyond 10 s for older emulsions; modern T-grain films (and Fuji Acros) need much less. Check the manufacturer's datasheet.
Similar films#
Other black-and-white negative film around ISO 1,600.
- Fujifilm Neopan 1600 Professional ISO 1,600 · disc.
- Kodak Royal-X Pan ISO 1,250 · disc.
More Foma films#
Frequently asked questions#
What ISO is Foma Fomapan Variant?
1600 — set your meter to ISO 1,600 for box speed.
Is Foma Fomapan Variant still made?
No, it has been discontinued (1987–1990).
How do I develop Foma Fomapan Variant?
C-41 process. Standard colour-negative chemistry available at almost every lab and in home kits (Tetenal/Cinestill Cs41).
Is Foma Fomapan Variant available in 35mm?
Yes — formats: 135-36, 120.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: List of discontinued photographic films — CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources