• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

RPX400 / PXD - A high ASA combination?

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
202,029
Messages
2,834,065
Members
101,079
Latest member
Yorkshire Amateur
Recent bookmarks
0

piu58

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
1,545
Location
Leipzig, Germany
Format
Medium Format
Dear photographers,

I want to share my experience with the combination Rollei RPX 400 and the developer RPX-D (identical to SPUR PXD). Both, the film and the developer can be bought by Maco. You can find this material in their English pages, but the data sheet is only available in German until now. The recommended times and dilutions are:

ISO Dilution Temperature/°C Time/minutes
.400....1+11.........20............11
.800....1+7...........22...........13
1600....1+5..........24...........14
3200....1+4..........25...........15

Agitation: First 30 seconds permanently, then one sweep every 30 seconds.

Real ASA values are characterized by shadow tones. I did not belief that one can really reach 3200 ASA from a 400 film. From Kodak TMZ I got only 1000 ASA. But if we’d came in the near of 1000 ASA, this could be an interesting combination.
I loaded three cameras with that film and selected a rather contrasty scene. Every film I exposed like 200, 280, 400, 560, 800, 1100 and 1600 ASA. This is a difference of half a stop between each shot. I developed these films with the time, temperature and dilution like 400, 800 and 1600 ASA.
In the lab I selected grade 2 paper and determined at first the minimum time for maximum black. Using this time I made full format prints at 9.5x7 inch paper. I looked at the prints which had decent shadow tones.
I scanned all of these print using identical scanning parameters. The following link gives all images at one view.

Examples - please click

Please look at the shadows at the arches – this shows the following results:
- Developed-as-400 gives 280 ASA. This is quite normal for a “400” film
- Developed-as-800 gives real 800 ASA. It is interesting that that highlight density remains normal. Pushing with other developers leads to burned highlights.
- Developed-as-1600 does not give more shadow density. What not can be seen in the prints: The fog increases obviously.
Besides this I tried make a decent print form a negative exposed like 1100 ASA. Using paper of grade 3.5 this was quite easy. This print is included in the page.

Conclusion: The combination RPX400 – PXD/RPX-D gives real 800-1100 ASA: This is in the range real sensitivity of the high sensitive material like Kodak TMZ. The grain remains low and does not increase with forced development.

I further experimented with a more difficult scene which is characterized by deep shadows in backlight. The shots need more light, which was clear from the beginning. The prints show well that shadow density cannot be increased using a like-1600 development against a like-800:

More examples - please click

Please compare the Exposed-like-560-prints: Quite similar.
 

montecarlo

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Messages
23
Format
35mm
hello.
I received today a RPX-D developer (well,m i ordered something else from MACO but it seems that this one arived :-( ) i after a search on google (+digitaltruth) i didnt find much information about developing times/concentrations regarding this item. Not even for RPX 400 film , at lest npt a clear and precise , concetratinon/time/temperature table , like those one can find for D76 for example.
If someone knows more or tried using rpx-d please, I would like to know.

Thank you.

ps. As i know is the same as SPUR PXD
 
OP
OP
piu58

piu58

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
1,545
Location
Leipzig, Germany
Format
Medium Format
RPX-D is much less common in comparision to D76. You cannot expect the same amount of data.
 

Oscar Carlsson

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Oct 15, 2009
Messages
231
Location
Stockholm, Sweden
Format
Multi Format
For RPX400, the time/concentration/temperature table is printed on the bottle. I've used RPX400 (in RPX-D) both at 800 and 1600, and I'm very pleased with the results at 800 and the results at 1600 is still better than most 400 films in 800.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

grommi

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
165
Location
continental
Format
Multi Format
RPX 400 now is a different film than it was at the beginning imho. Since the management of Maco changed, they are very "careful" with statements. The last reply that I received ignored my opinion, that RPX 400 now and then are different films. No answer also is an answer, and regarding the context of my inquiery the no-answer was loud and clear.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom