Rollei Retro 400s Discontinued?

mehguy · Jul 7, 2016

Now, I don't want to be scaring everyone with another one of these threads but I think this has some evidence to it. Now, MACO hasn't officially stated that its going to be discontinued but as some of us might know, Retro 400s is really just repackaged AGFA aviphot 400s aerial film. I went to Agfa's website I noticed that Aviphot 400 was listed as "Discontinued". Does this mean retro 400s will be discontinued soon?

http://www.agfa.com/sp/global/en/internet/main/products_services/all_products/aviphot.jsp

Svenedin · Jul 7, 2016

Hmm. Isn't Rollei 400S also marketed as Rollei IR 400?

destroya · Jul 7, 2016

RR400s, superpan 200 and RR iR400S is NOT Aviphot 400 but Aviphot 200

mehguy · Jul 7, 2016

destroya said:
RR400s, superpan 200 and RR iR400S is NOT Aviphot 400 but Aviphot 200

Rollei Retro 400s is NOT aviphot 200. On Maco's site, the data sheet links straight to the Aviphot 400s data sheet.

AgX · Jul 8, 2016

Maco in the past mixed data sheets.

Klaus_H · Jul 10, 2016

mehguy said:
Rollei Retro 400s is NOT aviphot 200. On Maco's site, the data sheet links straight to the Aviphot 400s data sheet.

In the "early days" of Retro 400 S it was the same film (in 120 format) like the IR 400 S. Both films based on Aviphot 400. But later both films changed their source material to Aviphot 200S. The data sheet remained on Aviphot 400s.

Do your own test with IR400S, Retro 400S and Superpan 200 (all in 120 format). Give them the same exposure (based on Superpan 200) and develop the films together in the same tank. you will get the same result on all films. Maybe only the IR400S is free of scratches and marks. This film is converted from the basic material at the quality level of Ilford, the both others at a lower the quality level.

iuliuzz · Jul 10, 2017

Hi,
and is this film discontiued, or not? Do anybody have any informations?
thanks

AgX · Jul 10, 2017

Still listed as available in types 120, 135 and 35mm bulk.

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 10, 2017

NOOOOOOO!

destroya · Jul 11, 2017

finally clicked on the link from agfa. It has been labelled as discontinued, like the site says for years. Four years ago when i was checking out the RR films I read that page. looks like it hasn't changed. no worries, just keep shooting. From what people have told me, again the superpan, RR400s and IR400s are the same emulsion, the 200 agfa. its just that the IR film is finished by Ilford while the spuerpan and RR400s are finished by Foma

iuliuzz · Jul 11, 2017

Foma finishes RR400s? Are you sure? Who finishes JCH Streetpan? And, by the way, what do you mean by "finishing"?

destroya · Jul 11, 2017

from what i understand, maco provides foma or ilford with the master roll and they finish it for them. i take that to mean they put it 35mm cassettes or bulk rolls and 120 rolls. only the IR is available in 4x5. i have bought bulk rolls of the rr400s and the IR film, they have different packaging/finishing which is very obvious. Jan on range finder forum goes into detail on the finishing of the retro/IR films in much more detail if you want more info.

i only know the jch film by what ive read, but it would not surprise me if its the rr400/superpan film at a much higher price

john

iuliuzz · Jul 11, 2017

Thank you for your answer.
To Jan's (HHPhoto) assertions on Rangefinder forum:
1) is this actual state of things? He wrote this in 2014..
2) he said: "Rollei Superpan 200, Rollei Retro 400S and Rollei Infrared are all the same film: Agfa Aviphot Pan 200" and "There is no finishing difference in 35 film: They are all finished by the same German specialised finishing company Photostar" - but try to develop Superpan 200 and Infrared and you will see the difference: Superpan curls like pig tail (35 mm as well as 120 roll), Infrared (35 mm) don't. (But I can't exclude fault in processing.)
(And 3) Sorry for stupid philological question, but: what does he mean by "converting" - "Infrared 400S rollfilm has a much better converting (looks identical to Ilford converting) compared to SP200 and 400S rollfilm (their much lower quality converting looks identical to Foma)."?)

AgX · Jul 12, 2017

iuliuzz said:
Foma finishes RR400s? Are you sure? Who finishes JCH Streetpan? And, by the way, what do you mean by "finishing"?

The industry term is conversion/converting.

Rollei Retro 400s Discontinued?

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