Retro 80, alternative to Retro 100?

Hello all,

I have arrived at my last rolls of Retro 100 and I am searching for a good alternative.
Primary use: portraits, weddings.
Studio and location.
Formats: 120 & 135

My preferred developers: Tanol Speed and Finol from Wolfgang Moersch.

Would Retro 80 be a good replacement for Retro 100? I have not tested any of the newer Rollei films, Retro 80 or 200.
Your advice is appreciated.

Marcus

No. Rollei Retro 80S has extended red sensitivity and a strong s-shaped curve (read: shoulder). APX100/Retro100 was/is quite different in this respect.

I remember from the days Agfa Leverkusen closed that Fomapan100 was considered a good replacement by people who loved APX100.

Maybe you should try the new RPX Rollei films. Maybe closer to former apx films than the retro (superpanchromatic) line.
I have just tried the new RPX 100. Seems very beautiful. I'll attach you one of my first shots, later.

In 135 you still get as many original Agfa rolls as you like, at bargain prices. So, the only problem is 120 - Fomapan 100 is a popular choice for 120, but you could also give Tmax 400 a try, it does not look much like the old Tmax films and is better than many 100 ASA films.

In 135mm the remaining Agfa APX100 stock is the obvious answer. There is lots of it still on ebay, albeit mostly (only?) in the EU. But this film is cheap, so you could take taxes, shipping etc in stride.

120 replacement is more difficult. I tried one film of Retro 80 last spring (@ EI 50, Rodinal 1+50, 13', 20 deg. C) and found it to be sharp and contrasty. The sharpness and resolving power I liked, not so much the high contrast. Altogether quite a different film from Retro 100. Of course one can play around with times, dilutions, etc etc.

You understand that I could never judge after shooting just one film- the above are just first impressions.

Some samples (scans from negs with flatbed scanner, no adjustments, no sharpening, H'blad + 80 CT*):

Have a look at the RPX100

Thank you for the quick replies and great visual samples from Sandermarijn and Aurelian.

Is the RPX 10O already available in Northamerica?

I tried the Rollei 80s and the Foma 100 (medium format) for a replace of APX 100. Both are different, to each other and to APX. I don't like the Foma: It loses more of the box speed than other films, tends to curling and has a greenish substrate. Tonality is not bad.
R80s has much better mechnaical properties. Because of its intended use as aerial film it is more red sinsitive and tends to be hard. But you can influence the contrast by giving slightly more light and lesser devolopment. My personal choice is Rollei 80s, but your mileage may vary.

For me the only worthy substitute for Rollei Retro 100 in 120 so far has been Ilford PanF+ 50. You loose one stop in speed but the tonality is even better than with Rollei Retro 100. Rollei 80s is very different than Retro 100. It's not bad, just different. I haven't yet tried the new Rollei RPX 100.

Fomapan 100 (Arista.EDU Ultra 100 in the US) is a worthy replacement of APX100, although not quite the same in a number of ways:
- the base is blueish polyester (but it lays flat, no worries there),
- contrast runs off quickly with overdevelopment,
- not as mechanically tough or reliable as APX (I had problems with 'micro-scratches').

Contrast can be controlled well (try Rodinal).

The two films share the same 'old-fashioned' look, to my eyes at least. If it wasn't for the mechanical quality I'd be all over Foma 100-120.

These were taken in the winter sun of January 2010, and one inside, of my hat (@ EI 80, Rodinal 1+50, 7', 20 deg. C, H'blad w/ 80 CT*):

RPX 100/400 is available in 135-36 twin packs but the 120 roll films will be on the market in January 2011.

A 1:1 replacement for APX 100 in 135-36 is the Rollei Retro 100. But these stocks are running out now.
A good fit in 135-36, 120 roll film and sheet film is the Fomapan 100.

RPX will be not available in sheet film.

sandermarijn said:

Fomapan 100 (Arista.EDU Ultra 100 in the US) is a worthy replacement of APX100, although not quite the same in a number of ways:
- the base is blueish polyester (but it lays flat, no worries there),
- contrast runs off quickly with overdevelopment,
- not as mechanically tough or reliable as APX (I had problems with 'micro-scratches').

Contrast can be controlled well (try Rodinal).

The two films share the same 'old-fashioned' look, to my eyes at least. If it wasn't for the mechanical quality I'd be all over Foma 100-120.

These were taken in the winter sun of January 2010, and one inside, of my hat (@ EI 80, Rodinal 1+50, 7', 20 deg. C, H'blad w/ 80 CT*):

Click to expand...

In many developers this film must be rated at 50-80.

In XTol I easily achieve 100 ASA box speed, grain is surprisingly fine, sharpness is good. I like this combination and use it for 6x4.5 and 6x6 folders.