New film - Rollei RPX 25

To be brutally frank, until another film is announced, we have only one choice if we want to use a slow speed, fine grained, non-document, panchromatic film and Rollei RPX 25 is it. I'm simply going to make use of it until it is no longer available or until a better film is introduced. I do hope that it eventually becomes available in sheets, 4x5, 8x10 and whole-plate.

RR

Regular Rod said:

To be brutally frank, until another film is announced, we have only one choice if we want to use a slow speed, fine grained, non-document, panchromatic film and Rollei RPX 25 is it. I'm simply going to make use of it until it is no longer available or until a better film is introduced. I do hope that it eventually becomes available in sheets, 4x5, 8x10 and whole-plate.

RR

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And this summarizes what I think in the matter as well. Does it matter if it's a slightly modified older film or a new emulsion when it's the current only alternative for a slow film? As long as we buy it, they will keep making it (at least hopefully). Also, if they would discontinue it and another alternative pops up, I will not regret anything. I make use of the tools present, and my photography should not be dependent on only one film or paper.

Sorry if I sounded harsh in my previous post.

Oscar Carlsson said:

And this summarizes what I think in the matter as well. Does it matter if it's a slightly modified older film or a new emulsion when it's the current only alternative for a slow film? As long as we buy it, they will keep making it (at least hopefully). Also, if they would discontinue it and another alternative pops up, I will not regret anything. I make use of the tools present, and my photography should not be dependent on only one film or paper.

Sorry if I sounded harsh in my previous post.

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No problem! Some folks here just would like to know one way or the other so they don't waste their time getting to "know" the new??? film, only to find out after a few months that it's no longer available. I can get PanF+ to look pretty darn good in Perceptol 1:3 or even Rodinal 1:100 so this "new???" film isn't a must for me. I truly believe that not knowing will stop some folks from trying it, but that could be their lose too. Of course if it is a new film then that's great also.

Regular Rod said:

I do hope that it eventually becomes available in sheets, 4x5, 8x10 and whole-plate.

RR

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Amen to that, I´m still missing Adox Pan 25 in 4X5 so if this is an even better film I´d like to try it too!

Regular Rod said:

To be brutally frank, until another film is announced, we have only one choice if we want to use a slow speed, fine grained, non-document, panchromatic film and Rollei RPX 25 is it. I'm simply going to make use of it until it is no longer available or until a better film is introduced. I do hope that it eventually becomes available in sheets, 4x5, 8x10 and whole-plate.

RR

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Depends, I guess, on one's definition of slow. I'd consider Pan F+ to be all the things you said but info realize it is not AS slow as 25 film (even if 50 is a tad optimistic for some people and developers) or likely AS fine grained.

Always nice to have choices.


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Regular Rod said:

What other 25 ISO panchromatic film is there currently available that is not old stock? If we want 25 ISO that is not a document film then this is it at the moment...

RR

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Try Rollei Retro 80S E.I 25 and develop in Rollei RLS - it's just like Agfa APX 25

fatso said:

Try Rollei Retro 80S E.I 25 and develop in Rollei RLS - it's just like Agfa APX 25

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Yes I've seen nice results for it but it is an orthochromatic rather than panchromatic film...

RR

Rollei Retro 80S is a superpanchromatic film with extended red sensitivity. Are you thinking of Rollei Retro 25?

Arctic amateur said:

Rollei Retro 80S is a superpanchromatic film with extended red sensitivity. Are you thinking of Rollei Retro 25?

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Possibly, I could be...

Still the problem has gone away now as the RPX 25 film is now available.


RR

You guys mean Rollei Ortho 25

I haven't tried RPX 25 yet but Rollei Retro 80S is the finest grain film with traditional tonality I've seen in years. It's really really close to Agfa APX 25

fatso said:

You guys mean Rollei Ortho 25

I haven't tried RPX 25 yet but Rollei Retro 80S is the finest grain film with traditional tonality I've seen in years. It's really really close to Agfa APX 25

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B&H has this and describes it as a "high contrast" film similar to the old Kodak TechPan, but not as contrasty. If it is of the nature of Tech Pan then for normal scenic use I'd say it would have to be down-rate from ISO 80, but I could be wrong. I wonder how this stuff would work with pyro developers or something like Pyrocat-HD? Might be worth a try for some Lake Michigan winter lighthouse scenes due to it's increased red sensitivity.

fatso said:

Try Rollei Retro 80S E.I 25 and develop in Rollei RLS - it's just like Agfa APX 25

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I've used Retro 80S in RLS and some other developers, as well the old Agfa APX 25 and the new Rollei RPX 25.
All different films with a different look.
Especially Retro 80S is very different compared to APX 25 and RPX 25.
Retro 80S has
- a superpanchromatic sensitization with extended red sensivity; APX 25 and RPX 25 are normal panchromatic films
- Retro 80S can be used as an IR film with 715 nm filter with excellent results (not possible with RPX 25 and APX 25)
- Retro 80S has a very strong, steep S-shape characteristic curve, whereas APX 25 and RPX 25 have both a more normal, linear characteristic curve.

Horses for courses, different films for different purposes.

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:

So Neopan 400 is back?

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Fact is it has been indeed back. Neopan 400 was discontinued in many countries, not available anymore for quite a significant time.
I could not buy it in my country.
It has been re-introduced at Photokina 2012 (biggest photo fair in the world). I've been there in Cologne at this fair and visited the Fuji booth. There the re-introduction was officially announced. I talked there to the Fuji people.
After that I could buy the film again in my country.
So the reports from those people who have been at the Photokina fair have been absolutely correct.
Don't shoot the messengers

That Fuji has cancelled their former decision again....well, it is sad. But complain at Fuji.

But, back to topic.
I've shot several rolls of the new RPX 25 in the last two weeks. And compared this film to Efke 25, Rollei Pan 25 and Ilford PanF+.
Results:
- all four films are different
- each of this film has its own, unique characteristics and characterictic curve
- differences in grain and sharpness are also significant (Efke 25 and older Rollei Pan 25 worst, PanF+ and RPX 25 better, with slight advantage for RPX 25)
- RPX 25 has a clear base, probably PET material (I tried to tear it, but it wasn't possible)
- the finishing and packaging of the film is the Harman Technology / Ilford finishing (so obviously Ilford is making this stuff in cooperation with Maco).

Therefore I can confirm what all the others here in this thread who have shot this new RPX 25 have written:
It is a new film and has nothing to do with products we have seen so far.

Film-Niko said:

- differences in grain and sharpness are also significant (Efke 25 and older Rollei Pan 25 worst, PanF+ and RPX 25 better, with slight advantage for RPX 25)

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Perhaps you can provide a photo to support the claim?

Interesting thread I mainly use 35mm and have bulk loaders with both Delta 100 and Pan-F, the grain signature of these two is similar, the contrast range similar, so I use the Delta when I need 100 ISO the Pan-F when I can make do with 25 ISO.

Is there going to be a market % for the new film?

miha said:

Perhaps you can provide a photo to support the claim?

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No sorry, currently I can't, because my scanner is broken (and honestly I don't miss it at all, real optical prints from my darkroom are so much better).
Furthermore it is only a 4000ppi scanner. Not good enough at all to resolve the full detail of films like Pan F+, Delta 100, TMX, RPX 25 and so on. Did such tests in the past:
Pan F+, Delta 100, TMX resolve in the 120 - 140 lp/mm range already at medium object contrast.
My Coolscan V resolved only 55-60 lp/mm of that, so less than half!
But with my APO enlarging lens I've got almost the full resolution of the films.
Scanning is absolutely inferior to optical prints, and not a good method to evaluate film performance.

Film-Niko said:

- the finishing and packaging of the film [PX-25] is the Harman Technology / Ilford finishing (so obviously Ilford is making this stuff in cooperation with Maco).

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In current times a company converting a film is not necessarily the one who made the raw-stock. And even the manufacture of the latter can be divided.

@ Film-Niko: A flatbet scan of a print showing an enlarged section would do. I thought you had something at hand.

Got a roll of 35mm and 120 this weekend! Already shot the 35mm, processing it tomorrow (Rodinal). Shooting the 120 next weekend and developing in Xtol. Results will be posted!

For the UK photographers,
It is now available at Silverprint: http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=257

Doesn't MACO have a rather high minimum order ?
Only better if you are sure you want a dozen rolls of film you never tried before ...

hang on, MACO price for RPX25 120 is 4.8 Euros (~3.95GBP); Silverprint 4.16 GBP
21p difference - we're hardly in Ilford UK vs Ilford US price territory

I know. When I bought my batch it was 4.03 Euro per roll. MACO have since put their prices up. Hence the deletion of the post. I wish AG would get a move on and stock it...

RR

ah now my posts look like the random burblings of a madman.
I'll leave them, though, just in the hope of adding a little gaiety the nation

I am guilty of being a madman myself.

I'm still waiting for the US distributor to get the film and make the price known here. I've read we can expect $7-9 USD a roll. At that price I won't be buying more then a few here and there to try. It would certainly be much more fun in the summer when the sun is at it's peak and I can open my aperture up all the way thanks to the film's speed. plus I've never tried this film or any of the Rollei films yet so I am curious.