Arista - Anyone know actual manufacturers?

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Does anyone know, or have a suggestion, as to which company manufacturers arista film, and chemicals?

As a beginner, I had stumbled across Freestyle Graphics, and I have been using their film and chemistry. I am very happy with their service, and products have worked well for me.

I had read somewhere that their film is very much like Illiford and that using guidelins for the specific Illiford films would provide good results. I cannot figure out however, which line would be comparable to their standard film developer.

If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate the help. If I could get a comparison (D-76, Illiford etc.), it would help me in using some of the tips posted.

Then again, it might not be comparable to any manufacturer! I appreciate any help you can give me.

Jeff Riehl

-- Jeff Riehl (jtriehl@netzero.net), April 11, 2000

Answers

Hi Jeff, years ago I 'heard' that Arista stuff was usually Ilford material. Some of their papers I used certainly seemed to be. I tried one of the Artista 120 films and found that I needed to rate them at half their stated ISO - have no idea if that was just me. This was before the Internet & groups like this one. Hope you get some definitive answers, would be interesting.

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), April 12, 2000.


I have been using 4x5 & 8x10 arista for some time, I have found it to be identical to Ilford products for all intents and purposes, and I have processed the two films(Arista and Ilford) together using same times etc. I have never had any quality problems with the Arista film. If you go to the Ilford Web site you will find they are willing to make film on an OEM basis. http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/prod_html/custommfg/custommfg.ht ml

It ultimately does not matter who makes the film, quality is good, and has been consistent over the years.

-- welch@aapa.com (welch@aapa.com), April 12, 2000.


There was an article by Gordon Hutchings in 'View Camera' a few issues ago, where he discusses how similar the characteristics of Arista films are to Ilford films. I use their 125 speed film and find it remarkably like FP4. The FP4 emulsion feels a little thicker but the characteristic curves look damn near identical. Regardless of who makes it, the Arista is a great film and I personally am very grateful for a good film which is available at considerable savings, thereby allowing me to shoot more. I haven't looked at all their film but I would hazard that since the 125 is like FP4, the 400 is probably like HP5 and could their 100 be like Delta? DJ

-- N Dhananjay (ndhanu@umich.edu), April 12, 2000.

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