New film - Rollei RPX 25

[Thomas.Goehler]

Pray that it really is a data sheet and not some typical Maco-like marketing poetry.

 

[Aurelien]

They don't have to tell us who makes it. But some more information like "this is a brand new emulsion not a copy of anything made before" (which it seems they have said) and "a continuous tone film that works well for pictorial results in standard developers" (which I don't think they've said) and maybe some RMS granularity figures, some hint about the curve shape etc. would go a long way to settling down the speculation around the mystery box.

From what I know this film is a continuous tone film, it does not need a low contrast developer like ATP does to obtain good results.

My wish is : I hope it's a better film than PanF which is the bad duck in the Ilford range. But as I have not tested it yet, I can't say it right now.

Let's wait please I'll receive the first stock next week Then you'll be welcome to order them in my shop, if you want

 

[miha]

Bad duck? Please be serious.

 

[Aurelien]

I am, but I am subjectively serious , as all of us. Because Photography is a subjective world, where feeling is the key point. I have not the feeling with Pan F and more than that I have real problem to develop it with the same high quality as the other ilford films.

 

[Aurelien]

Pray that it really is a data sheet and not some typical Maco-like marketing poetry.

can you please tell us which films you are using?

 

[Roger Cole]

Pan F+ is an "odd" duck among Ilford films in that it's not much like any of the others. I do get good results with it. I like it in Diafine which helps control the highlights and gives a small but useful effective speed increase.

Good to know this is a "normal" film then. We'll just look forward to trying it out.

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

I have stopped using Maco films after some disastrous results. Since then I have been mainly using Kodak Tri-X, Ilford HP5 and Delta 100 among others.

 

[Aurelien]

You probably know that H. Schroeder left the Mahn Company two years ago. Since then, the new director of the photo division really works hard to build a consistent range of products with premium manufacturers, and the most insurances that products won't be discontinued soon.

H. Schroeder made a lot of mistakes. Yes I agree. He also made good things. But he is the past.

The present and the future are without Mr Schroeder. ANd the present team tries to make you forget these former times. But your memory is really unerasable

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

As far as I know Mr Junghans, also reponsible for Maco's disastrous marketing campaigns, ist still on board ... alas!

 

[StoneNYC]

I see on the B&H site that the RPX 25 will(?) be available in 127 rolls as well:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1020629-REG/rollei_agfa_210127_rollei_rpx_25_127.html

But the price shows as TWICE as high as the 120. I am only partially surprised by that. Sales will be lower. Rolling a different size will be labor intensive and all that. I'd buy a few (very few) rolls at that price, so the choice strikes me a touch odd. There are few 127 cameras with lenses and focus accuracy to make good use of a high-resolution film in 127 -- the baby Rolleis and Yashicamats and maybe a couple others. Most 127 cameras are little bakelite boxes with meniscus lenses or folders with zone or front-cell focusing. I love all mine. They're fun. But why not bring back the 80S in 127 or produce the RPX 100? Cheap cameras with cheap lenses want cheap film.

Not that I ever thought I'd complain about a new 127 B/W film, but US$10 would be much more appealing. This puts cost per frame at a large-format US$2.50 per shot for full-frame 127.

The ISO 25 is a good one for many of these cameras though. If they have no exposure controls, ISO 25 is probably period accurate.

Holy crap! $20 per roll?? That's just insane, I'm so glad that I bought the ilford 50 feet of 46mm ULF run film, that's only $5/roll of 127... Plus it's HP5+ so it can be used as 200 speed film up to 3200 speed film, a lot more versatile for 127 than 25 speed film...

 

[StoneNYC]

I am, but I am subjectively serious , as all of us. Because Photography is a subjective world, where feeling is the key point. I have not the feeling with Pan F and more than that I have real problem to develop it with the same high quality as the other ilford films.

If you're having trouble developing PanF+ as other films, there must be something with your developing technique that's wrong, but the film itself certainly is not a bad duck in anyway, and I would ask you to think about rephrasing your sentences when commenting about film that can't possibly be bad, in fact it may be ilford's best film hands-down. I do agree in an artistic sense that all film is subjective and it may not be the film for you but calling it a bad duck is in accurate and just plain wrong, you may not like it but it's certainly not a bad film.

As an example you could say that EFKE100 is a bad duck because many times the emulsion would have "EFKEitis" which would cause rice shaped specks to appear all over the film, a profit of factory problems and static etc, that is a "bad duck"

But PanF+ has no major emulsion issues at all, is both fine grained and a good tonal range. It DOES have a latent image failure issue that if you leave the film sitting on a desk for a year in 80 degree temperatures, your image may slightly fade, but that's also fairly bad user failure and I would blame the user for failing to develop the film in a timely manner. That makes it a sensitive but not a bad one, develop your film within 3 months of shooting it and you should have no issues whatsoever... This is also something they are open about and is an effect caused by it's awesomeness haha (what I really mean is it couldn't have the look it does if it didn't have this flaw). But that last part is not FACT but rather opinion based on logic.... If they could produce the film without this latent image failure, they would, ergo it couldn't be made without it...

I'm curious, if you wouldn't mind PMing me with what issues you had with it as maybe I can shed some light on the issues.

 

[Roger Cole]

I think if you left exposed Pan F+ sitting on a desk in 80F for a year it would to a lot more than "slightly" fade. The latent image fading is pretty bad if left that long in that kind of temperature. I've left it in a cool basement for a few months and experienced it. But process even reasonably promptly and it's fine.

I like it, and there's nothing at all wrong with it, but it is different from other Ilford films.

 

[jim appleyard]

Holy crap! $20 per roll?? That's just insane, I'm so glad that I bought the ilford 50 feet of 46mm ULF run film, that's only $5/roll of 127... Plus it's HP5+ so it can be used as 200 speed film up to 3200 speed film, a lot more versatile for 127 than 25 speed film...

Yeah, holy crap is right! I'm glad I don't shoot 127. I hope the 35 & 120 sizes are better priced.

 

[JW PHOTO]

I am, but I am subjectively serious , as all of us. Because Photography is a subjective world, where feeling is the key point. I have not the feeling with Pan F and more than that I have real problem to develop it with the same high quality as the other ilford films.

Try Ilford Perceptol 1:3 and you just might have the "feeling"! Rodinal 1:100 isn't bad either! I like both of these to help with a contrasty type shot. Works for me, but then again that's me and not you. There is certainly nothing wrong with PanF if you know what you are doing. JohnW

 

[piu58]

> They don't have to tell us who makes it. But some more information like ..

The most important information is: Will that film have a future? Will it be re-produced (sic!) if the current badge is sold out? I remind the offensive marketing about R³ and the smaller one of RPX 400 too. If a photographer selects a film they want to have a film with a stable production about say at least 10 years. And not the out-selling of some leftover film.

 

[StoneNYC]

> They don't have to tell us who makes it. But some more information like ..

The most important information is: Will that film have a future? Will it be re-produced (sic!) if the current badge is sold out? I remind the offensive marketing about R³ and the smaller one of RPX 400 too. If a photographer selects a film they want to have a film with a stable production about say at least 10 years. And not the out-selling of some leftover film.

Nothing is guaranteed, especially if you wait to see how it does and no one buys it because they are waiting to see how it does...

 

[Pioneer]

Nothing is guaranteed, especially if you wait to see how it does and no one buys it because they are waiting to see how it does...

The Catch 22 of new films.

 

[TheToadMen]

The Catch 22 of new films.

... and even of old films, for that matter ...

 

[railwayman3]

> They don't have to tell us who makes it. But some more information like ..

The most important information is: Will that film have a future? Will it be re-produced (sic!) if the current badge is sold out? I remind the offensive marketing about R³ and the smaller one of RPX 400 too. If a photographer selects a film they want to have a film with a stable production about say at least 10 years. And not the out-selling of some leftover film.

But, if that's the issue, surely the simple answer is to support Ilford's range of films. Harman have given the reassurance that none will be discontinued, they are quality and consistent products, and, while nothing is guaranteed for ever, I have met some of the Directors and Managers and believe their honesty and dedication.

If we prefer another choice, we have some Kodak and Fuji films, all consistent products, and even if some may have cast doubts on their longterm future, they are still available here and now.

I don't doubt the enthusiasm and dedication of the little producers in trying to market these new products, and I enjoy experimenting with the new films at times. But I wouldn't use an unknown film for the holiday of a lifetime or my daughter's wedding photos when the reliable options are right there....it's just common sense.

 

[miha]

> They don't have to tell us who makes it. But some more information like ..

The most important information is: Will that film have a future? Will it be re-produced (sic!) if the current badge is sold out? I remind the offensive marketing about R³ and the smaller one of RPX 400 too. If a photographer selects a film they want to have a film with a stable production about say at least 10 years. And not the out-selling of some leftover film.

Uwe, do you care to comment on your previous statement regarding RPX 400 discontinuation?

 

[Oscar Carlsson]

But, if that's the issue, surely the simple answer is to support Ilford's range of films. Harman have given the reassurance that none will be discontinued, they are quality and consistent products, and, while nothing is guaranteed for ever, I have met some of the Directors and Managers and believe their honesty and dedication.

If we prefer another choice, we have some Kodak and Fuji films, all consistent products, and even if some may have cast doubts on their longterm future, they are still available here and now.

I don't doubt the enthusiasm and dedication of the little producers in trying to market these new products, and I enjoy experimenting with the new films at times. But I wouldn't use an unknown film for the holiday of a lifetime or my daughter's wedding photos when the reliable options are right there....it's just common sense.

Had it been a holiday of a lifetime I'm not sure I'd even bring a camera. That would probably be in the way of experiencing the holiday.

 

[piu58]

Uwe, do you care to comment on your previous statement regarding RPX 400 discontinuation?

The new boxes are possibly the first sign of a new management strategy of MACO - appareantyl a stable production of their products is planned now. Thank you for that advice.

In that context RPX 25 may be for completing the product line, to have a medium speed a high speed and a low speed film.

 

[miha]

This is my understanding too.

 

[AgX]

But your memory is really unerasable

Mr Schroeder will stick in my memory. Not to his comfort though.

 

[AgX]

So, repeatedly the fact of being packed in a cardboard box has been welcomed here.
What benefits do you get from such a packaging?