Film comparison
Foma Bohemia Fomapan 400 Action vs Foma Bohemia Retropan 320 Soft
- Fomapan 400 Action is 0.3 stops faster (ISO 400 vs 320).
- Retropan 320 Soft has finer grain.
- Fomapan 400 Action has more contrast.
- Fomapan 400 Action is cheaper in 35mm (about £5.50 vs £7.00).
Side by side
| Fomapan 400 Action | Retropan 320 Soft | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Foma Bohemia | Foma Bohemia |
| Type | Black & white | Black & white |
| Box speed | ISO 400 | ISO 320 |
| Process | B&W | B&W |
| Formats | 35mm, 120, 4x5, 8x10 | 35mm, 120 |
| Grain | Coarse | Medium |
| Contrast | Medium | Low |
| Latitude | Low | Good |
| Saturation | — | — |
| Price, 35mm | about £5.50 | about £7.00 |
| Price, 120 | about £5.50 | about £7.00 |
| Availability | Current | Current |
Rows that differ are in bold. Prices are typical UK prices and change often.
How they look
- Fomapan 400 Action
- Classic Czech film with a distinct 'old school' look. Can lack shadow detail at box speed; often shot at ISO 320.
- Retropan 320 Soft
- Designed for retro aesthetics with soft glow effect. Low contrast ideal for contact printing and vintage look.
Which suits what
Better pick: Fomapan 400 Action
Testing cameras, Low budget projects, Vintage look
Both work well
—
Better pick: Retropan 320 Soft
Portraits, Vintage aesthetic, Contact printing
Long exposures (reciprocity)
| Metered | Fomapan 400 Action | Retropan 320 Soft |
|---|---|---|
| 1s | 1s | No data |
| 10s | 1m | No data |
| 30s | 3m 44s | No data |
| 2m | 16m | No data |
Corrected exposure from each film’s published reciprocity data. Reciprocity calculator
Developing both
Developers with published times for both films:
Fomapan 400 Action
HC-110
6:30
B (1+31) · EI 400 · 20°C
Retropan 320 Soft
HC-110
7:30
B (1+31) · EI 320 · 20°C