We are due for some good news....

Jorge · Oct 7, 2004

Hey, looks like Rollei will launch a new B&W film they call Rcube....with possible EI's of 25 to 6400 and it will be available in 8x10 sheets, now, here is something to get exited about...

http://www.photographyblog.com/comments.php?id=4030_0_1_0_C

Eric Rose · Oct 7, 2004

cool. I hope we don't need some weird developer to use it.

Jorge · Oct 7, 2004

EricR said:
cool. I hope we don't need some weird developer to use it.

Nope, it seems it is the next step on tabular grains, these seem to be cubes...

John McCallum · Oct 7, 2004

"Film speed is variable from ISO 25 to ISO 6400" Holy variability Batman!

jim kirk jr. · Oct 7, 2004

I think Maco announced this last month when they announced also that they were coming out with the new 840c IR film.Both films sound great and hopefully will be bearers of good things to come.

mark · Oct 7, 2004

This is interesting. I wonder if other camera makers will follow suit. Hasselbrand film. Costs an arm and a leg but it looks good.

Helen B · Oct 7, 2004

Rollei R³ film got mentioned in a thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

It is available now in some sizes, in fact. I've already got my camera bag stuffed with it, and some Rollei R³ (!) developer ready for it.

The two recommended developers are 'Rollei R³ Low Speed' (probably very similar to Maco Cube developer) and 'Rollei R³ High Speed' (probably very similar to Maco Supergrain developer). You could try Perceptol instead of the Low Speed and Xtol or D-76 instead of the High Speed. I've found that Cube 400c works well (to my taste) in Perceptol 1+3, Xtol 1+3 and W2D2+. There are other devs mentioned in the Maco pdf for R³ (currently in German only). All the times are pretty much the same as Cube 400c - R³ is a close relative of Cube 400c. It has the same SFX-like spectral response, with lower graininess than SFX. Very nice for skin tones.

There are some pretty ambitious claims for this film. I'll be interested to see how it performs, and how the two R³ developers compare to my favourites.

Best,
Helen

jandc · Oct 7, 2004

Jorge said:
Hey, looks like Rollei will launch a new B&W film they call Rcube....with possible EI's of 25 to 6400 and it will be available in 8x10 sheets, now, here is something to get exited about...

http://www.photographyblog.com/comments.php?id=4030_0_1_0_C

This is a modified traffic film like cube. It is 3 layers in an unconventional arrangement of largest grains on the surface. Development takes a long time because you have to get through all 3 layers. The film will look lousy if underdeveloped as you will get very large grain from the outer layer and nothing from the inner layers. It will be always better to over develop this film. We have run some tests using other developers and development times in the 25-30 minute range are looking about right. Despite the cube designation this is not a flat crystal film like TMax but a conventional crystal structure. Maco has two developers for this film a low and high speed. But the reality is that there will be several conventional developers that will work as well. It's just a matter of testing the combinations.

Jorge · Oct 7, 2004

Thanks Helen and John. Is JandC going to stock it?....show us some pics Helen...

jandc · Oct 7, 2004

Jorge said:
Thanks Helen and John. Is JandC going to stock it?....show us some pics Helen...

Yes, roll films in a few days and sheet films in about a month.

Jorge · Oct 7, 2004

jandc said:
Yes, roll films in a few days and sheet films in about a month.

Any chance they will do 12x20 and how does this one stack against JandC 400, price and image wise...?

jandc · Oct 7, 2004

Jorge said:
Any chance they will do 12x20 and how does this one stack against JandC 400, price and image wise...?

We can order any size to be made up no problem. However the sticker shock will hurt. I can't tell you how it performs as compared to Classic 400 yet. I've only developed 3 rolls of 35mm so far and am still trying to figure out the developing times.

Helen B · Oct 7, 2004

Based on initial tests with Cube, something coming out of oblivion to work with R³: Amidol in bisulphite. The upside-down developer.

Jorge · Oct 7, 2004

jandc said:
We can order any size to be made up no problem. However the sticker shock will hurt. I can't tell you how it performs as compared to Classic 400 yet. I've only developed 3 rolls of 35mm so far and am still trying to figure out the developing times.

Ah well, if it is going to be more expensive than Tmx 400, I am sticking with the yellow evil.....but would love to hear your comments on the film once you get a handle on it.

Leon · Oct 8, 2004

this does sound very interesting - does someone fancy doing some testing and maybe writing up a review here for us?

c6h6o3 · Oct 8, 2004

John-

Please post an announcement here when you have the sheet film in stock. Thanks.

rjr · Oct 8, 2004

Jorge,

a roll of R³ 120 is rated at approx. 6EUR in Germany... but don´t be shocked - if you buy 60rolls at once you´ll get a decorative wooden box with charred "Rollei" imprinting. ;-)

jandc · Oct 8, 2004

rjr said:
Jorge,

a roll of R³ 120 is rated at approx. 6EUR in Germany... but don´t be shocked - if you buy 60rolls at once you´ll get a decorative wooden box with charred "Rollei" imprinting. ;-)

Prices will be about as follows:

35mm - $6.75
120 - $6.30
4x5 50sh - $70.00
5x7 50sh - 126.00
8x10 25sh - $140.00

As I said sticker shock. But I suppose the fancy box makes it all worthwhile.

I'll post when the films arive though I'm not waiting for a rush of orders at these prices.

SteveGangi · Oct 8, 2004

Let us know how the negatives and prints turn out.

Jorge · Oct 8, 2004

jandc said:
Prices will be about as follows:

35mm - $6.75
120 - $6.30
4x5 50sh - $70.00
5x7 50sh - 126.00
8x10 25sh - $140.00

As I said sticker shock. But I suppose the fancy box makes it all worthwhile.

I'll post when the films arive though I'm not waiting for a rush of orders at these prices.

Ok, it might have the Rollei brand name, but these people have lost their mind, or jumped the gun in trying to squeeze the traditional market. I can get 50 sheets of Tmx 400 for $147, do they really think their film is twice as good as Tmx? Frankly I doubt it. I am sticking with my previous tought and will order the JandC 400.

Francesco · Oct 8, 2004

Jorge said:
Ok, it might have the Rollei brand name, but these people have lost their mind, or jumped the gun in trying to squeeze the traditional market. I can get 50 sheets of Tmx 400 for $147, do they really think their film is twice as good as Tmx? Frankly I doubt it. I am sticking with my previous tought and will order the JandC 400.

Jorge, Classic 400 is a fantastic film, the fact that it is cheaper just screams "BARGAIN"! At those prices for Rollei sheet film, I would entertain purchasing some put options or selling some call options on that segment of Rollei's business. I await instead the possibility of John and Efke coming up with Efke PL200 and PL400 at prices that truly reflect current market conditions for sheet film.

Tom Duffy · Oct 8, 2004

Jorge,
stop squawking. TMY will probably cost the same as the Rollei film within a year!

matt miller · Oct 8, 2004

Tom Duffy said:
Jorge,
stop squawking. TMY will probably cost the same as the Rollei film within a year!

Bite your tongue man!

Jorge · Oct 8, 2004

Tom Duffy said:
Jorge,
stop squawking. TMY will probably cost the same as the Rollei film within a year!

I am on my way to my mexican withc doctor to put a curse on you for even mentioning this...

Helen B · Oct 8, 2004

Well, now I know which films to compare it with - I was going to use Tech Pan and TMZ.

Best,
Helen

We are due for some good news....

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