Rollei RPX 100/400 film now more expensive than Ilford FP4/HP5. What gives?

Juan Valdenebro · Jan 16, 2022

Is there any relevant photograph, in photography history, made with rollei film?
Has any good photographer or master preferred rollei film for any reason?
I am not trying to offend anyone: I just think it has never been an important brand of films.
I have never used rollei film. When I used IR film, I used Kodak for both color and B&W.
But that was a student's thing: now I don't even consider that part of real photography, as I understand back then I wasn't saying anything, only looking for a superficial, pictorial way of gaining attention.
To me, Photography is a different field now: only human condition matters to me.
But I'm fine with other people thinking differently.

Sirius Glass · Jan 16, 2022

Juan Valdenebro said:
Is there any relevant photograph, in photography history, made with rollei film?
Has any good photographer or master preferred rollei film for any reason?
I am not trying to offend anyone: I just think it has never been an important brand of films.
I have never used rollei film. When I used IR film, I used Kodak for both color and B&W.
But that was a student's thing: now I don't even consider that part of real photography, as I understand back then I wasn't saying anything, only looking for a superficial, pictorial way of gaining attention.
To me, Photography is a different field now: only human condition matters to me.
But I'm fine with other people thinking differently.

I prefer Rollei IR 400 film to Ilford SFX 200 for infrared film and yes I consider my photographic work important and worthy. Kodak has not made or sold any infrared film film for over a decade.

AgX · Jan 16, 2022

michael_r said:
Why would anyone use “Rollei” film anyway?

Because under their Rollei brand Maco marketed a lot of films before nonexistent for amateur use.

Though with Agfa cancelling their colour films an reducing their b&w ones, the Rolle range shrunk meanwhile.

MattKing · Jan 16, 2022

The importance (to this thread's subject) of whether any of the films marketed under the Rollei name are manufactured by a single entity (they probably aren't) is that the pricing for them is even more complex than for films made by Eastman Kodak and branded Kodak, or films manufactured by Harman and branded Ilford.
If the Rollei RPX 100/400 films are coated under contract by one entity, confectioned by another entity, boxed and labelled by another entity, distributed by another entity ...... - you can see why it really isn't possible to point to one single factor as being responsible for the cost increase.

AgX · Jan 16, 2022

Juan Valdenebro said:
Is there any relevant photograph, in photography history, made with rollei film?

See my post above. These films were only marketed starting about 2006.

(As a side note, the term relevant photograph in photography history is a ambiguous term, but when looking at photography history textbooks I hardly would know what material from which manufacturer the respective photographer used, and I know a bit about manufacturers worldwide and their history.)

For most photographers I assume they just took what they could easily acquire from their local dealer, not even knowing that there was something different in the world outside. One should not overlook that decades, or centuries ago it was not easy for many to get something off the mainstrean. Some even had to make their own...
To me this is rather a fanboy-issue as with the link of certain photographers to certain camera makers.

otto.f · Jan 17, 2022

albireo · Jan 17, 2022

Juan Valdenebro said:
Is there any relevant photograph, in photography history, made with rollei film?
Has any good photographer or master preferred rollei film for any reason?
I am not trying to offend anyone: I just think it has never been an important brand of films.
I have never used rollei film.
But that was a student's thing: now I don't even consider that part of real photography, as I understand back then I wasn't saying anything, only looking for a superficial, pictorial way of gaining attention.

Completely with you on this, man. I mean think about it - same thing with great Twentieth Century prose. Has any good writer or master novelist ever used Microsoft Office on a Win 10 PC to write their chef-d'œuvre? I truly doubt it. Olivetti, Olympia, Royal Deluxe typewriters - that's what you want for that magic to really happen, bro.

See - and I'm not trying to offend anyone - I just think Microsoft Word cannot be used to make art, and by 'art' I mean the deep one, the one you and I do - not that superficial way of gaining attention all those losers out there waste time with.

relistan · Jan 17, 2022

Unless you are buying 120, the cheapest packaged stock in this family of films is AFAIK still Fotoimpex CHM https://www.fotoimpex.com/films/fotoimpex-chm-100-13536.html?cache=1642412753 . Fotoimpex seems to make some distinction between "old" and "new" Kentmere. I can only attest that CHM 100 is nice film and it's cheap. I have not shot the 400.

albireo · Jan 17, 2022

relistan said:
Unless you are buying 120, the cheapest packaged stock in this family of films is AFAIK still Fotoimpex CHM https://www.fotoimpex.com/films/fotoimpex-chm-100-13536.html?cache=1642412753 . Fotoimpex seems to make some distinction between "old" and "new" Kentmere. I can only attest that CHM 100 is nice film and it's cheap. I have not shot the 400.

Thanks. It's the RPX 100/400 in 120 I was referring to. I started the thread because Rollei RPX 400 in 120 was 5.02 euro/roll last year, when I stocked up on it. It's now 6.21, a ~20% increase. I appreciate the replies in this thread explaining a range of potential reasons for this. While I enjoyed the film itself, that 5Euro/roll was also a factor that made me consider it and buy it bulk. Personally, I now see little or no reason to prefer it over HP5+ and might stock up on the latter instead (unless I find HP5 really different which I doubt). Still It'll be a learning curve, as I don't know HP5 that well but I don't anticipate any major problems, as HP5 is of course a classic and hints/tips/recipes/suggestions abund.

Agulliver · Jan 17, 2022

Why use Rollei branded film? Why not?

I've used Retro 400S for two reasons. First off, I tried it when I was lucky enough to obtain two bricks in 120 at a heavily discounted price as it was just out of date. I found it to be a nice film, especially if one likes high contrast negatives, and I learned of it's IR properties. So I've since kept a few rolls in 135 to use as an IR film as Ilford SFX is so expensive.

there may well be other reasons why people would use the RPX series of films....past experience and sticking with what they know? Fondness for the Rollei brand? Maybe it isn't quite the same as Kentmere and they notice the difference. Note I have no evidence one way or the other, just a sceptcisim that every single unidentified 100 and 400 film must be identical to Kentmere. Maybe their stockist sells Rollei and not Kentmere and they just happen to like it. Maybe they think it's fun to put Rollei branded film in their Rollei camera?

Maybe I am just not enough of a photographer for some posters. Personally I don't care.

Wallendo · Jan 17, 2022

With the COVID-related backlog in film production, it makes little sense for Harman to low-ball pricing for re-branders. Freestyle no longer sell their Foma rebrand at a large discount over Foma branded film, for example. It is quite likely that Harman has raised the price of the film sold for Rollei closer to the price Harman would charge for their own labelled films.

MattKing · Jan 17, 2022

Wallendo said:
With the COVID-related backlog in film production, it makes little sense for Harman to low-ball pricing for re-branders. Freestyle no longer sell their Foma rebrand at a large discount over Foma branded film, for example. It is quite likely that Harman has raised the price of the film sold for Rollei closer to the price Harman would charge for their own labelled films.

Or possibly that the re-labelled films and Ilford/Kentmere films each have schedules for pricing reviews, and the Ilford/Kentmere changes will happen when it is their turn.

Jonno85uk · Jan 17, 2022

Recently, this person did a direct comparison between Kentmere 100, RPX 100 + APX 100.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 17, 2022

michael_r said:
Why would anyone use “Rollei” film anyway?

Because they enjoy it. The same would apply to film photography on general no?

By the way, I like RPX 400 and have a 100ft roll on the fridge for when I want to shoot something different than HP5/Foma.

Also, Rollei is sold on 120 while Kenmere doesn't.

Marcelo

Tony-S · Jan 17, 2022

Yuk. Who in their right mind would shoot FP4 or HP5 when there's Delta 100 and 400, and Fuji Acros?

Ok, let the flaming arrows begin!

Sirius Glass · Jan 17, 2022

Tony-S said:
Yuk. Who in their right mind would shoot FP4 or HP5 when there's Delta 100 and 400, and Fuji Acros?

Ok, let the flaming arrows begin!

Duh, some people prefer traditional grain, that does not mean they are better photographer and it the vein of your post, they are also smarter photographers.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 17, 2022

Tony-S said:
Yuk. Who in their right mind would shoot FP4 or HP5 when there's Delta 100 and 400, and Fuji Acros?

Ok, let the flaming arrows begin!

lol horses for courses I guess.

By the way, I actually unloaded an almost full 100ft of Delta 400 to load and use 100ft Rollei 400 rpx Everyone taste are different I guess.

Marcelo

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 17, 2022

Also,TMAX 400 and Delta 400 are great and wonderful films and all but I don't see Tri-X popularity diminishing.

It depends on the look photographer is looking for.

Marcelo

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 17, 2022

albireo said:
What do you mean? I know and like Rollei RPX, but I've used little HP5. What makes HP5 hypernormal? I thought HP5 was technically a superior product?

I've used it for decades. Hardly hypernormal, whatever that means. Pretty traditional.

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 17, 2022

Tony-S said:
Yuk. Who in their right mind would shoot FP4 or HP5 when there's Delta 100 and 400, and Fuji Acros?

Ok, let the flaming arrows begin!

I use all that you mentioned. Depends on what look I'm after.

snusmumriken · Jan 17, 2022

I've noticed that in the UK, Ilford materials are cheaper bought directly from Ilford themselves than from a retailer, with special promotions often available too. That's very unusual: normally manufacturers will not undercut the distributors on whom they rely. But retail is topsy-turvy in this post-COVID world, film is a small market, and high-street shops don't sell film any longer. So maybe this is the new normal.

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 17, 2022

Ilford films are the cheapest on the shelf at my local camera shop...

pentaxuser · Jan 17, 2022

Andrew O'Neill said:
Ilford films are the cheapest on the shelf at my local camera shop...

Just a pity that it doesn't sell films called Fantome 8, Babylon 13, Harry Lime specials, Berlin Check Point Charlie or any other of these exotic but meaningless names that seem to be the current fashion

Mind you I suspect the heart of the operation at Mobberley is much the same as it was on my two visits in 2006 and 2008. Like you and I they all looked to be "old unpretentious but reliable farts" even then

pentaxuser

MattKing · Jan 17, 2022

Here is the list of brands of film that Andrew's local camera shop carries (the reference to Canon is in error - it links to printer ink):

otto.f · Jan 18, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Duh, some people prefer traditional grain, that does not mean they are better photographer and it the vein of your post, they are also smarter photographers.

No, they've just a better taste

Rollei RPX 100/400 film now more expensive than Ilford FP4/HP5. What gives?

Juan Valdenebro

Sirius Glass

AgX

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AgX

otto.f

albireo

relistan

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Jonno85uk

Marcelo Paniagua

Tony-S

Sirius Glass

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Andrew O'Neill

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pentaxuser

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Rollei RPX 100/400 film now more expensive than Ilford FP4/HP5. What gives?

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