Just discovered Rollei films and developer..

Sonatas XII-49 (Life)

A
Sonatas XII-49 (Life)

  • 0
  • 1
  • 135
市

A

  • 0
  • 3
  • 369
Approaching fall

D
Approaching fall

  • 6
  • 2
  • 742
Heads in a freezer

A
Heads in a freezer

  • 5
  • 0
  • 2K
Route 45 (Abandoned)

A
Route 45 (Abandoned)

  • 3
  • 0
  • 2K

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
199,700
Messages
2,795,430
Members
100,005
Latest member
LeBao
Recent bookmarks
0

Zen

Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
46
Location
Kent (UK)
Format
Multi Format
I'm normally an Ilford user but I've recently (for the first time) purchased some Rollei Retro 400 in 35mm and some Pan 25 in 120 format. Developed my first roll of the Retro with their High Speed developer last week and the results look great! Really impressed!

Anyone else a fan of their film and chemistry? And how do you rate or compare them to other manufacturers? Would be interested to hear your opinions! :smile:
 

Curt

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
4,618
Location
Pacific Nort
Format
Multi Format
In the low speed lane I have a lot of experience, first I was an avid user of Panatomic-X and Ilford Pan 50. I used Orwo, Efke known as Adox 35 years ago.

My all time favorite was Panatomic-X; it's gone so no more talking about it.

Last year I tried to get into "a" choice of the slow speed films. First Efke 25 comes in most all sizes, a consideration for some like me.

I got some of the wood box sets of Rollei Pan 25 and some Ilford Pan F 50 both in 120 roll film. I used Pyrocat HD, HC110 and Rodinal.

To make a long short story long my favorite combination since Rodinal and Panatomic-X is:

Ilford Pan F 50 ISO in Rodinal with a semi stand development. Absolutely beautiful and grainless. I shot some at Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire, Paris, and decided that the Ilford film was the one. My EI is 40, yours will vary but this film is and has been fantastic.

I liked the Rollei also it is consistent and very well produced. I just like the tones and gradiation of the Pan F.

You won't go wrong with Rollei films the are very impressive indeed. The price is a bit higher but that wasn't the deciding point, the printed results were.

Curt
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
The majority of Rollei films and chemicals are not new but rather brought together under this brand name.
However that does not make them less interesting. I got about 90 metres in my freezer.
 

mmcclellan

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 9, 2005
Messages
461
Location
Ann Arbor, M
Format
4x5 Format
I agree with Curt -- hardly anything can touch Pan F with Rodinal, except Agfapan 25 with Rodinal or Panatomic with Rodinal, but alas . . . .

I will try the Rollei film with Rodinal and see how it does; sounds like folks's experience with it is good!
 

P C Headland

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
826
Location
New Zealand
Format
Multi Format
I use the Rollei Retro 400 in 35mm, as it is one of the cheaper B+W films available here. I have found that it works very nicely in PC-TEA (1+50) when shot at box speed.
 

JanaM

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2007
Messages
115
Format
35mm
The Rollei Retro 400 is actually Agfa APX 400. I'm not sure if the Pan 25 is APX 25 though.

Hi Kevin,

- The Rollei Retro 400 is Agfa APX 400 emulsion, but the current MF film is made of 35mm film masterrolls, so it has a thinner base. I heard from some photographers which therefore had problems with curling.

- The Rollei Pan 25 is definitely not Agfa APX 25! The Pan 25 is an improved Orwo NP 15 Emulsion. This film is made by Filmotec (Wolfen, Germany; www.filmotec.de ) for Maco/Rollei. This is official information from Maco/Rollei and Filmotec.
If you compare Agfa APX 25 and Rollei Pan 25 directly you will see that the Agfa APX 25 has finer grain and higher resolution than the Rollei Pan 25.

Best regards,
Jana
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
- The Rollei Retro 400 is Agfa APX 400 emulsion, but the current MF film is made of 35mm film masterrolls, so it has a thinner base. I heard from some photographers which therefore had problems with curling.

Jana,

as long as I don't mix up things I got this from one of the printed APX datasheets:

35mm - 120µ TAC
60mm - 95µ TAC

which would be contrary to your statement.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Fotohuis

Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Messages
810
Location
Netherlands
Format
Medium Format
Which is indeed (almost) correct. The APX(new) materials (so also the Retro 100/400) were made of 135 micron material. That means the 120 roll film version is in fact a bit to thick.

By the way here you can read all details from the marketing manager himself:

Guten Tag, mein Name ist Sebastian Junghans, ich bin im Marketing bei Rollei/Maco tätig und möchte gerne versuchen, auf Ihre Fragen zu antworten.

1. Stimmt es eigentlich....
Ja, es stimmt, die unter der Marke ROLLEI RETRO konfektionierten Filme, KB wie RF stammen aus der letzten Grossproduktion der Agfa im Jahr 2005.

2. Violett.
Bei dem, was Ihnen aufgefallen ist, handelt es sich um nicht gänzlich aufgelösten Sensibilisierungsfarbstoff. Wenn ein frisches, gutes Fixierbad verwendet wurde und ausreichend gewässert, dann kann trotzdem eine rötliche Einfärbung, die durchaus auch bei Filmen anderer Hersteller nicht unbekannt ist, vorliegen. Dies ist fotochemisch kein Nachteil. Diese Einfärbung verschwindet unter Einfluss von Tageslicht, bzw. UV-Licht rückstandsfrei.

3. Rollen / Curlingverhalten
Die unter Rollei Retro angebotenen Filme wurden ursprünglich nicht für den Einsatz als Rollfilm vorgesehen, sondern als KB-Filme. Daher ist der grau gefärbte Triacetatfilmträger etwas dicker als sonst von Agfa APX-Rollfilmen gewohnt. Standard war: 100 Mikron bei RF, 135 Mikron bei KB. Das mag einen Einfluss auch auf das Planlage-Verhalten der Filme haben.

4. Planlage
Auf das Planlage-Verhalten haben jedoch auch Parameter, wie die Wässerung und die Trocknung einen wichtigen Einfluss. Mit der Verwendung von spezielllen Filmentwicklern hat das erfahrungsgemäss nichts zu tun.

5. Entscheidung zur Produktion von APX-Rollfilmen
In der Abwägung keine APX Rollfilme mehr anbieten zu können oder eine vielleicht nicht ganz optimale Planlage zu akzeptieren, hatte sich Rollei/Maco dazu entschlossen, eine sehr erhebliche Menge APX Filme mit 135 Mikron durch die Fotokemika in Zagreb abpacken zu lassen.

6. Entwicklungszeiten:
Die "alten" APX-Emulsionen verlangten kürzere Entwicklungszeiten als die "NEW"-Version die noch im Jahr 2005 durch die Agfa eingeführt wurde. Die Belichtungstoleranzen von "NEW" sind erheblich weiter als bei der älteren Version. Dem hat bisher die A&Q mit der neuen Rodinal-Zeitentabelle entsprochen. Hier sind deutliche Differenzen zu erkennen. Bei der Version "NEW" handelt es sich zweifelsfrei um die erheblich verbesserte Version. Die Zeiten für die "NEW"-Version haben bisher noch keinen Eingang in die Entwicklungszeit-Tabellen der Tetenal gefunden.

Mit freundlichem Gruss / With kind regards

Sebastian Junghans
Marketing Manager
MACO PHOTO PRODUCTS
Hans O. Mahn & Co KG
Brookstieg 4
22145 Hamburg-Stapelfeld
Telefon: +49 (0) 40 23 70 08-73
Telefax: +49 (0) 40 23 70 08-488
E-Mail: junghans@mahn.net
Web: http://www.mahn.net + http://www.rolleifilm.com (USA)
Handelsregister Lübeck HRA 2205
Umsatzsteuer-ID-Nummer DE118812398
Maco Photo Products ist Mitglied im Photoindustrie Verband e.V.
http://www.photoindustrie-verband.de
 

JanaM

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2007
Messages
115
Format
35mm
Jana,

as long as I don't mix up things I got this from one of the printed APX datasheets:

35mm - 120µ TAC
60mm - 95µ TAC

which would be contrary to your statement.

Hi AgX and Robert,

you are right, I have confused the thickness of the 35 mm and the MF base. Sorry, my fault.

Best regards,
Jana
 

Rolleijoe

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2004
Messages
524
Location
S.E. Texas
Format
Medium Format
Since the demise of Agfa, Efke 25 & 100 have become my films of choice for slower speeds. Done up in Rodinal 1:50. When using Agfa, I preferred their Studional developer, so will be trying out that combination soon.

But let me tell you, I tried a roll of the Rollei Ortho25, and it's very addictive. Souped in Rodinal 1:50 standard processing etc, there is just no grain! Even using a Peak #1 is nearly impossible even with 8x10 to focus.

Currently @ $11.99/roll it may be a while before I get some more to shoot, but the Efke will be seeing me through. Also Plus-X in HC-110 dil H looks very nice for certain things as well. Guess it ust all comes down to the look you're after.

Got some Fomapan 200 at the moment, and will be adding some 100 & 400 and seeing how they do. Then again, there's always Tri-X, which goes along with the bit of truth "you get what you pay for".
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom