Rollei announces new "Vario Chrome" ISO 200-400 slide film

[Punker]

Not much info apart from this one post on Instagram. Looks like 135 only for the time being. Presales start on July 3rd.

 

[bvy]

For those of us who don't Insta...
http://www.thephoblographer.com/2017/06/27/new-rollei-vario-chrome-versatile-slide-film/

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I suppose it will be E6 film?

Regards

 

[pentaxuser]

As far as I understand it, Rollei does not manufacture films so is this old film stock that has been renamed or is it a brand new film, in which case who makes it?

pentaxuser

 

[Brady Eklund]

I thought they still coated at the old Gevaert facility in Belgium? That info may be outdated.

 

[mudfly9]

It could be this:

Dead Link Removed

 

[Punker]

Apparently it is repackaged old film from a "major manufacturer". First sample image doesn't look so hot and actually does remind me of the yucky FPP Retrochrome stuff.

 

[AgX]

I thought they still coated at the old Gevaert facility in Belgium? That info may be outdated.

-) there is no "old" Gevaert facility in Belgium. They are the Agfa plants. Agfa is a belgian company since 1998(!), the german plants made part of it.
The belgian plants are modern plants with traces of Gevaert diminishing. Some buildings though are still from Gevaert times.

-) Maco never was a manufacturer in the pure sense, that is with own production facilities.
Instead they either ordered conversions of exdisting films, using a variety of manufacturers for this process, or were having produced films to their specification.

 

[railwayman3]

Apparently it is repackaged old film from a "major manufacturer". First sample image doesn't look so hot and actually does remind me of the yucky FPP Retrochrome stuff.

I can't say that first sample image looks very inspiring.....seems sort-of-muddy, rather like I've had from out-dated film ! I'd like to see some samples of brightly-lit scenes and people, with some varied and positive colors.

 

[twelvetone12]

This explains the "limited edition" and all, meh old repackaged stuff sure sounds less appetibile than good new fresh film.

 

[macfred]

That's not for me ... I'm lusting for some fresh Ektachrome !
Till then I'm happy with Provia, Velvia and CTPrecisa.

 

[bvy]

How Lomo of them.

 

[dmr]

As far as I understand it, Rollei does not manufacture films so is this old film stock that has been renamed or is it a brand new film, in which case who makes it?

I picked up some Rollei-branded CN 200 film which has the Agfa logo toward the bottom of the label.

 

[FilmCurlCom]

Rollei CN200 is Aviphot Color X-400 PE1, http://www.agfa.com/sp/global/en/binaries/AVIPHOT COLOR X400_tcm611-42589.pdf.
It is a maskless color negative film.
Rollei CR200 is a slide film, Agfa RSX 200 II, which is also used for Wittnerchrome films.

 

[railwayman3]

Apparently it is repackaged old film from a "major manufacturer". First sample image doesn't look so hot and actually does remind me of the yucky FPP Retrochrome stuff.

Hmmm....not keen on anything doubtful, while I can still get fresh E6 from Fuji and Agfa (Precisa). I don't mind experimenting with B&W film, as it only risks a few pence and time to process if if doesn't work out well, but E6 lab processing has got expensive if it might be wasted though any chance the film is going to be less than totally satisfactory. I'm looking forward to Ferraniachrome, but, if it starts out in "Alpha" versions, I think the same concern would apply.

 

[cmacd123]

Hmmm....not keen on anything doubtful, while I can still get fresh E6 from Fuji and Agfa (Precisa).

The AgfaPhoto (note not Agfa) Precisa is a Private Label FujiChrome film.

 

[Rudeofus]

One thing which always bugged me with Provia 400X was that I kept trying to use it when there was no direct sunlight hitting the scene, and the images always turned bluish. All the other recent or not so recent slide films are ISO 100. If this film can render typical darker scenes well at EI 400, then I am all for it.

 

[railwayman3]

The AgfaPhoto (note not Agfa) Precisa is a Private Label FujiChrome film.

I know, but it's factory-packed by Fuji, and I've never found it to be anything less than consistently good, in fact more so than the original German version.
There have been literally hundreds of own-label films, being fresh stock from the big manufacturers. And it has not been unknown for the big makers to have products orginating from others (e.g. Konica Chrome R-100 was apparently Agfa (note not AgfaPhoto) CTPrecisa 100; Fomacolor apparently Ferrania Solaris, and many others).
No problem with that, it's when it's repacked from old stock, or from stock not intended for general photography, that things get into a grey area? I'm not even worried by Lomo, as they make no secret that their film is sold mainly for its querky effects....so long as it gives the effects that people buy it for.

 

[37th Exposure]

At least in the US real Fujichrome costs less than the Agfaphoto rebrand. I don't know why anyone would pay almost $5 extra per roll just to get the Agfa name when it's not even Agfa film inside. I saw this at B&H not too long ago.

 

[railwayman3]

At least in the US real Fujichrome costs less than the Agfaphoto rebrand. I don't know why anyone would pay almost $5 extra per roll just to get the Agfa name when it's not even Agfa film inside. I saw this at B&H not too long ago.

It's Fujichrome which is the more expensive in the UK.

 

[kingbuzzie]

Apparently it is repackaged old film from a "major manufacturer". First sample image doesn't look so hot and actually does remind me of the yucky FPP Retrochrome stuff.

I hope not. I made the mistake of buying 10 rolls of that stuff without testing. Not only did I hate it it went on sale right after I bought it! }
I sold all the stock on ebay and broke mostly even steven.

 

[Punker]

I hope not. I made the mistake of buying 10 rolls of that stuff without testing. Not only did I hate it it went on sale right after I bought it! }
I sold all the stock on ebay and broke mostly even steven.

I actually sold mine to a user in this forum. I was lucky enough to have purchased during the sale. I priced it to break even too. Not out to stiff anyone

 

[dmr]

Rollei CN200 is Aviphot Color X-400 PE1, http://www.agfa.com/sp/global/en/binaries/AVIPHOT COLOR X400_tcm611-42589.pdf.

Thank you!

 

[wlodekmj]

I ordered 4 rolls from Maco as soon as they put it on their web site, and received them here, in London, today. Has anyone else received some - or even tried it?

 

[railwayman3]

I ordered 4 rolls from Maco as soon as they put it on their web site, and received them here, in London, today. Has anyone else received some - or even tried it?

I (and I'm sure, others) will be very interested to know the results.

Looking at the Maco website, the description includes "Rollei Vario Chrome has a medium degree of sharpness and its image results are characterized by a slightly visible grain and a warmish, vintage like image tone". TBH, that doesn't sound very exciting.