Arista Pan 100
p.1 #1Arista Pan 100
I've been using film for quite a while and have developed a lot of rolls, today's experience was something I hope never to repeat, My M4 returned from DAG yesterday and I had the Arista Pan in the refrigerator, which I thought would be good for testing. I did a series of shutter and aperture combinations and took the second roll out for a walk around.
I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker in but not the second. Fine, I'll just pop the top off of the cassette. I have a heavy duty cassette opener but no matter how hard I tried, the end cap wouldn't budge, Finally, I got a screwdriver to pry open the cassette and the end cap still was firmly in place. Eventually, , I got a pair of pliers to pull the cassette apart.
Now the edge of the film is a buggered up, my hands are sweaty and loading the reel was a challenge.
I'll develop the film today and the rest of the Arista Pan is in the trash.
I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker in but not the second. Fine, I'll just pop the top off of the cassette. I have a heavy duty cassette opener but no matter how hard I tried, the end cap wouldn't budge, Finally, I got a screwdriver to pry open the cassette and the end cap still was firmly in place. Eventually, , I got a pair of pliers to pull the cassette apart.
Now the edge of the film is a buggered up, my hands are sweaty and loading the reel was a challenge.
I'll develop the film today and the rest of the Arista Pan is in the trash.
Jun 14, 2026 at 11:59 AM
p.1 #3Arista Pan 100
Desmolicious wrote:
Maybe don't wind it all the way in?
I pulled the one roll out through the light trap and it was still a pain to get on the reel.
Maybe don't wind it all the way in?
I pulled the one roll out through the light trap and it was still a pain to get on the reel.
Jun 14, 2026 at 01:20 PM
p.1 #4Arista Pan 100
Ah, I feel your pain.
Arista 100 is respooled Fomapan 100. For some reason, with all the Fomapan films I find it nearly impossible to get the leader out of the canister using a leader retriever. Give me a roll of HP5 and I'll have the leader out in 30-45 seconds. Give me a roll of Fomapan 100, 200, or 400 and after 30-50 tries I will still have no luck.
I don't know about the Arista canisters, but the metal canisters that Foma is using nowadays are crimped so tightly that it takes a good 5-10 minutes of prying and cussing to remove the top from the canister. When they used the plastic canisters I could at least tear them apart with my bare hands but I can't do that with the metal ones without cutting myself.
For 35mm, I now only buy Fomapan 100 and 400 in the six-roll "sets" that use a reusable plastic canister with a screw-top lid on the canister. Those are a cinch to open, just unscrew by hand, and it's also a cinch to reload the canister in a dark bag.
Arista 100 is respooled Fomapan 100. For some reason, with all the Fomapan films I find it nearly impossible to get the leader out of the canister using a leader retriever. Give me a roll of HP5 and I'll have the leader out in 30-45 seconds. Give me a roll of Fomapan 100, 200, or 400 and after 30-50 tries I will still have no luck.
I don't know about the Arista canisters, but the metal canisters that Foma is using nowadays are crimped so tightly that it takes a good 5-10 minutes of prying and cussing to remove the top from the canister. When they used the plastic canisters I could at least tear them apart with my bare hands but I can't do that with the metal ones without cutting myself.
For 35mm, I now only buy Fomapan 100 and 400 in the six-roll "sets" that use a reusable plastic canister with a screw-top lid on the canister. Those are a cinch to open, just unscrew by hand, and it's also a cinch to reload the canister in a dark bag.
Jun 14, 2026 at 01:24 PM
p.1 #5Arista Pan 100
madNbad wrote:
I pulled the one roll out through the light trap and it was still a pain to get on the reel.
Woof.
You don't need the agravation.
Desmolicious wrote
Maybe don't wind it all the way in?Woof.
You don't need the agravation.
Jun 14, 2026 at 02:23 PM
p.1 #6Arista Pan 100
madNbad wrote:
I've been using film for quite a while and have developed a lot of rolls, today's experience was something I hope never to repeat, My M4 returned from DAG yesterday and I had the Arista Pan in the refrigerator, which I thought would be good for testing. I did a series of shutter and aperture combinations and took the second roll out for a walk around.
I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker...Show more →
The rounded end of this church key never fails
BTW I never drag the film through the felt a second trip. I crack it open and cut the leader off - 5 seconds tops.
I've been using film for quite a while and have developed a lot of rolls, today's experience was something I hope never to repeat, My M4 returned from DAG yesterday and I had the Arista Pan in the refrigerator, which I thought would be good for testing. I did a series of shutter and aperture combinations and took the second roll out for a walk around.
I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker...Show more →
The rounded end of this church key never fails
BTW I never drag the film through the felt a second trip. I crack it open and cut the leader off - 5 seconds tops.
Jun 14, 2026 at 04:02 PM
p.1 #7Arista Pan 100
James Markus wrote:
I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker in but not the second. Fine, I'll just pop the top off of the cassette. I have a heavy duty cassette opener but no matter how hard I tried, the end cap wouldn't budge, Finally, I got a screwdriver to pry open the cassette and the end cap still was firmly in place. Eventually, , I got a pair of pliers to pull the cassette apart.
Now the edge of the film is a buggered up, my hands are sweaty and loading the reel was a challenge.
I'll develop the film today and the rest of the Arista Pan is in the trash.The rounded end of this church key never fails
BTW I never drag the film through the felt a second trip. I crack it open and cut the leader off - 5 seconds tops.
I tried one of those too. Sill wouldn't budge.
madNbad wrote
I've been using film for quite a while and have developed a lot of rolls, today's experience was something I hope never to repeat, My M4 returned from DAG yesterday and I had the Arista Pan in the refrigerator, which I thought would be good for testing. I did a series of shutter and aperture combinations and took the second roll out for a walk around.I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker in but not the second. Fine, I'll just pop the top off of the cassette. I have a heavy duty cassette opener but no matter how hard I tried, the end cap wouldn't budge, Finally, I got a screwdriver to pry open the cassette and the end cap still was firmly in place. Eventually, , I got a pair of pliers to pull the cassette apart.
Now the edge of the film is a buggered up, my hands are sweaty and loading the reel was a challenge.
I'll develop the film today and the rest of the Arista Pan is in the trash.
BTW I never drag the film through the felt a second trip. I crack it open and cut the leader off - 5 seconds tops.
I tried one of those too. Sill wouldn't budge.
Jun 14, 2026 at 04:11 PM
p.1 #8Arista Pan 100
James Markus wrote:
The rounded end of this church key never fails
I guarantee you'd have trouble with these ultra tightly crimped metal canisters from Foma and Arista. I bet Arista isn't even respooling them, they're probably just unlabled canisters from Foma Bohemia that they slap their label on. The new metal Foma canisters are almost impossible to open with any tool. I can eventually do it with a film canister opener but it takes 5-10 minutes of prying with all my strength and occasionally some injury to my fingers.
The rounded end of this church key never fails
I guarantee you'd have trouble with these ultra tightly crimped metal canisters from Foma and Arista. I bet Arista isn't even respooling them, they're probably just unlabled canisters from Foma Bohemia that they slap their label on. The new metal Foma canisters are almost impossible to open with any tool. I can eventually do it with a film canister opener but it takes 5-10 minutes of prying with all my strength and occasionally some injury to my fingers.
Jun 15, 2026 at 03:44 AM
p.1 #9Arista Pan 100
bjhurley wrote:
I guarantee you'd have trouble with these ultra tightly crimped metal canisters from Foma and Arista. I bet Arista isn't even respooling them, they're probably just unlabled canisters from Foma Bohemia that they slap their label on. The new metal Foma canisters are almost impossible to open with any tool. I can eventually do it with a film canister opener but it takes 5-10 minutes of prying with all my strength and occasionally some injury to my fingers.
Fortunately, the rolls of 100 and 200 Arista pan I got were unable to resist the persuasion of the church key. I did notice that they have a taped joint right at the spool - which is very odd. I know people like to reuse cassettes, but I'm not one of them - and never expected a manufacturer to do it. Back when I bulk loaded you could get a bag of 100 empty cassettes for about $3.
James Markus wrote
The rounded end of this church key never failsFortunately, the rolls of 100 and 200 Arista pan I got were unable to resist the persuasion of the church key. I did notice that they have a taped joint right at the spool - which is very odd. I know people like to reuse cassettes, but I'm not one of them - and never expected a manufacturer to do it. Back when I bulk loaded you could get a bag of 100 empty cassettes for about $3.
Jun 15, 2026 at 05:45 AM
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p.1 #10Arista Pan 100
I know the issue is packaging, but the film is really good - imo. Huss posted a $4 a 36 exposure roll sale, and I grabbed 15 rolls. I've passed out 3-4 rolls to a DIL, and used 2-3 myself. My issue is the speed, but I got pretty good results pushing the iso 200 to 800. These are iso 100 results at box speed
Nikon-N90S_Arista-Pan-F-100-Rodinal-1+25_7min-68-degrees
Nikon-N90S_Arista-Pan-F-100-Rodinal-1+25_7min-68-degrees
Jun 15, 2026 at 10:55 AM
p.1 #11Arista Pan 100
madNbad wrote:
I've been using film for quite a while and have developed a lot of rolls, today's experience was something I hope never to repeat, My M4 returned from DAG yesterday and I had the Arista Pan in the refrigerator, which I thought would be good for testing. I did a series of shutter and aperture combinations and took the second roll out for a walk around.
I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker...Show more →
Imagine I am the trashcan.
I'll gladly take this off your hands.
Also, sorry about the bad experience.
I've been using film for quite a while and have developed a lot of rolls, today's experience was something I hope never to repeat, My M4 returned from DAG yesterday and I had the Arista Pan in the refrigerator, which I thought would be good for testing. I did a series of shutter and aperture combinations and took the second roll out for a walk around.
I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker...Show more →
Imagine I am the trashcan.
I'll gladly take this off your hands.
Also, sorry about the bad experience.
Jun 15, 2026 at 11:16 AM
p.1 #12Arista Pan 100
James Markus wrote:
I know the issue is packaging, but the film is really good - imo. Huss posted a $4 a 36 exposure roll sale, and I grabbed 15 rolls. I've passed out 3-4 rolls to a DIL, and used 2-3 myself. My issue is the speed, but I got pretty good results pushing the iso 200 to 800. These are iso 100 results at box speed
I agree. I actually really like the results from the pics @madNbad posted.
My issue w the film is that it did not play well with DF96 monobath.
I know the issue is packaging, but the film is really good - imo. Huss posted a $4 a 36 exposure roll sale, and I grabbed 15 rolls. I've passed out 3-4 rolls to a DIL, and used 2-3 myself. My issue is the speed, but I got pretty good results pushing the iso 200 to 800. These are iso 100 results at box speed
I agree. I actually really like the results from the pics @madNbad posted.
My issue w the film is that it did not play well with DF96 monobath.
Jun 15, 2026 at 11:17 AM
p.1 #13Arista Pan 100
Adox HR-50 canister was a pain for me too, though not to the amount of frustration that you have had. Peeling back the Adox sticker revealed a Fortecolor canister. Don't know if these are related.
I have a couple of these Aristas, also bought on sale, and haven't shot them yet. This thread makes me a little nervous.
I have a couple of these Aristas, also bought on sale, and haven't shot them yet. This thread makes me a little nervous.
Jun 15, 2026 at 02:21 PM
p.1 #14Arista Pan 100
Oscarsmadness wrote:
Adox HR-50 canister was a pain for me too, though not to the amount of frustration that you have had. Peeling back the Adox sticker revealed a Fortecolor canister. Don't know if these are related.
I have a couple of these Aristas, also bought on sale, and haven't shot them yet. This thread makes me a little nervous.
Jim's trick with the church key worked on the cassette I tossed out. The one I had that wouldn't open probably got super squeezed in the crimping machine. I like the film and even bought a bag of Film Photography Project FPP-76 to develop it. It doesn't do well in monobath.
Adox HR-50 canister was a pain for me too, though not to the amount of frustration that you have had. Peeling back the Adox sticker revealed a Fortecolor canister. Don't know if these are related.
I have a couple of these Aristas, also bought on sale, and haven't shot them yet. This thread makes me a little nervous.
Jim's trick with the church key worked on the cassette I tossed out. The one I had that wouldn't open probably got super squeezed in the crimping machine. I like the film and even bought a bag of Film Photography Project FPP-76 to develop it. It doesn't do well in monobath.
Jun 15, 2026 at 02:31 PM
p.1 #15Arista Pan 100
_jim_ wrote:
I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker in but not the second. Fine, I'll just pop the top off of the cassette. I have a heavy duty cassette opener but no matter how hard I tried, the end cap wouldn't budge, Finally, I got a screwdriver to pry open the cassette and the end cap still was firmly in place. Eventually, , I got a pair of pliers to pull the cassette apart.
Now the edge of the film is a buggered up, my hands are sweaty and loading the reel was a challenge.
I'll develop the film today and the rest of the Arista Pan is in the trash.Imagine I am the trashcan.
I'll gladly take this off your hands.
Also, sorry about the bad experience.
It was only one roll and even though the church key wouldn't open the one I fought with, it popped the cap off of the discarded on with a litte effort.
madNbad wrote
I've been using film for quite a while and have developed a lot of rolls, today's experience was something I hope never to repeat, My M4 returned from DAG yesterday and I had the Arista Pan in the refrigerator, which I thought would be good for testing. I did a series of shutter and aperture combinations and took the second roll out for a walk around.I normally rewind the leader into the cassette and use a picker to pull it out, trim it and then use a cassette opener. The first roll of Arista Pan, I could get the picker in but not the second. Fine, I'll just pop the top off of the cassette. I have a heavy duty cassette opener but no matter how hard I tried, the end cap wouldn't budge, Finally, I got a screwdriver to pry open the cassette and the end cap still was firmly in place. Eventually, , I got a pair of pliers to pull the cassette apart.
Now the edge of the film is a buggered up, my hands are sweaty and loading the reel was a challenge.
I'll develop the film today and the rest of the Arista Pan is in the trash.
I'll gladly take this off your hands.
Also, sorry about the bad experience.
It was only one roll and even though the church key wouldn't open the one I fought with, it popped the cap off of the discarded on with a litte effort.
Jun 15, 2026 at 02:34 PM
p.1 #16Arista Pan 100
Oscarsmadness wrote:
Adox HR-50 canister was a pain for me too, though not to the amount of frustration that you have had. Peeling back the Adox sticker revealed a Fortecolor canister. Don't know if these are related.
I have a couple of these Aristas, also bought on sale, and haven't shot them yet. This thread makes me a little nervous.
If these are the same canisters Fomapan uses, there have been a few generations. A few years ago they were using metal canisters that were easy to open with any church key or film canister opener, just like regular films. Then they had supply problems and switched to plastic canisters, the same ones that Flic Film uses, and they open the same way -- you need a special tool from Foma or Flic Film, or else you can just tear apart the plastic canisters with your hands which is what I did.
Last year Foma switched back to metal canisters but these new ones are crimped tighter than anything I've ever experienced. It is really hard to get them off; I tried a church key that was made from a railroad spike and even that wasn't easy; I used a bottle opener, a film canister opener...all of them eventually got the canister open but it took a lot of effort and swearing.
I don't know if Arista is using those same canisters but it kind of sounds like it.
Adox HR-50 canister was a pain for me too, though not to the amount of frustration that you have had. Peeling back the Adox sticker revealed a Fortecolor canister. Don't know if these are related.
I have a couple of these Aristas, also bought on sale, and haven't shot them yet. This thread makes me a little nervous.
If these are the same canisters Fomapan uses, there have been a few generations. A few years ago they were using metal canisters that were easy to open with any church key or film canister opener, just like regular films. Then they had supply problems and switched to plastic canisters, the same ones that Flic Film uses, and they open the same way -- you need a special tool from Foma or Flic Film, or else you can just tear apart the plastic canisters with your hands which is what I did.
Last year Foma switched back to metal canisters but these new ones are crimped tighter than anything I've ever experienced. It is really hard to get them off; I tried a church key that was made from a railroad spike and even that wasn't easy; I used a bottle opener, a film canister opener...all of them eventually got the canister open but it took a lot of effort and swearing.
I don't know if Arista is using those same canisters but it kind of sounds like it.
Jun 15, 2026 at 04:47 PM
p.1 #17Arista Pan 100
I use the church key for everything, so let's hope it works when I go to do it.
Jun 15, 2026 at 11:13 PM