Ilford HP5 vs. Rollei RPX 400

[schlops]

Hey folks!

I've been using only HP5 for years now but the price increase over the last years has been so heavy that I looked for an alternative and was told the Rollei is pretty much the same.

Is that true? What are your experiences with it? I quite often push it to 3200 and was wondering if the Rollei is capable of that too?

If I make the change to the Rollei which developer would you recommend? I've had great results with the Ilford Ilfotec DD-X which is also prett expensive but I think it pays off.

Thanks!

Alex

 

[gsgary]

Im sure i read that the Rollei 400 is made by Ilford, where do you live ? i get 100 feet of HP5 for £50 including delivery

 

[schlops]

I'm from Austria!

A roll of HP5 is 8€ now (!!!) Rollei is 3,50 Euros

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I'm from Austria!

A roll of HP5 is 8€ now (!!!) Rollei is 3,50 Euros

Gosh, where do you get the Rollei so cheaply? We visit Austria almost every summer (the Innsbrucker and Salzberger areas) and I gave up carrying film cameras, because the cheapest film I've ever found was 135/36 for 6.50 Euros in Innsbruck.

Beautiful country and very nice people!

 

[mfogiel]

You are exaggerating, you can easily buy film cheaper:
http://www.macodirect.de/ilford-plus-p-2107.html
http://www.macodirect.de/kodak-p-614.html
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/192364-Arista-Premium-400-ISO-35mm-x-36-exp.

I think that Tri X is a better film for pushing than HP5, and if you order 500 rolls of arista premium (tri x) from freestyle, you will pay 2 EUR per roll plus postage and taxes - still a lot less than 4 EUR here in Europe.

 

[jschrader]

Fotoimpex in Berlin has HP5 for 4,94 Euro and 30.5 m (100 ft) for 64.-, that is 19 films for each 3,40.

http://www.fotoimpex.de/shop/filme/schwarzweissfilme/

Bulk loading is simple, You just need a pitch black room (I do that only in the night) and some orientation in the dark.

If You change film types, you need to get used to it and in a some time You don't get that any more and try to find a new one....

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . I think that Tri X is a better film for pushing than HP5 . . .

Interesting: I'd say the opposite. But I'd also say that it's marginal either way (Frances uses more Tri-X, I use more HP5).

Cheers,

R.

 

[schlops]

Gosh, where do you get the Rollei so cheaply? We visit Austria almost every summer (the Innsbrucker and Salzberger areas) and I gave up carrying film cameras, because the cheapest film I've ever found was 135/36 for 6.50 Euros in Innsbruck.

Beautiful country and very nice people!

http://www.fotofachversand.com/

Cheapest place in Austria to get film.

You are exaggerating, you can easily buy film cheaper:
http://www.macodirect.de/ilford-plus-p-2107.html
http://www.macodirect.de/kodak-p-614.html
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/192364-Arista-Premium-400-ISO-35mm-x-36-exp.

I think that Tri X is a better film for pushing than HP5, and if you order 500 rolls of arista premium (tri x) from freestyle, you will pay 2 EUR per roll plus postage and taxes - still a lot less than 4 EUR here in Europe.

I'm not exaggerating. You posted a German site, they don't have taxes like we do plus shipping.

+ i wont order 500 rolls of a film I don't know, let alone I couldn't afford that.



I would be really happy if someone could help me with my question regarding the Rollei.


I'm more than happy with HP5 when it comes to pushing. This is HP5 at 3200 devloped in Promicrol. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/9177457209_abc7457aed_o.jpg

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . I would be really happy if someone could help me with my question regarding the Rollei. . . .

Not very much help, but perhaps a little. First, Rollei is not a manufacturer, but a licensed brand, which leaves you with no absolute guarantee that it will be the same film twice running. Second, "pretty much the same" is a very subjective and flexible term, and it's virtually impossible to judge quality from pictures on a screen, so I'd suggest that the only way to find out for sure whether it suits you is to try a couple of rolls.

Oh: and I quite agree about ordering 500 rolls. It's hellish expensive and bulky, and even at 2 euros a roll, without any other taxes you'll be paying shipping, VAT and handling charges -- I'd guess at least 300 euros on top of the 1000 euros for the film.

Cheers,

R.

 

[robbeiflex]

http://www.fotofachversand.com/
...
I'm not exaggerating. You posted a German site, they don't have taxes like we do plus shipping.
... http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/9177457209_abc7457aed_o.jpg

I don't see what the issue is. Germany and Austria are both in Schengen, you can order from there without issue. I order from there to Luxembourg all of the time. They have a minimum order of around 40€ plus around 13€ for shipping, so what I do is buy large quantities of my usual film and developer when I need them, and then throw in two or three other rolls of film if I want to experiment.

Back to your original question: No, Rollei RPX is nowhere near the same as HP5+. It has a thinner base and a different look to the grain. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try it, but I would not recommend that you go buying huge quantities expecting it to be similar to HP5+. I would say it is most similar although not exactly the same as Ilford's Kentmere 400.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[schlops]

Not very much help, but perhaps a little. First, Rollei is not a manufacturer, but a licensed brand, which leaves you with no absolute guarantee that it will be the same film twice running. Second, "pretty much the same" is a very subjective and flexible term, and it's virtually impossible to judge qyality from pictures on a screen, so I'd suggest that the only way to find out for sure whether it suits you is to try a couple of rolls.

Cheers,

R.

that actually helps me a lot. cause consistancy is something id like to count on.


bulking film seems still to be the cheapest option. is it much of a hassle???

 

[schlops]

I don't see what the issue is. Germany and Austria are both in Schengen, you can order from there without issue. I order from there to Luxembourg all of the time. They have a minimum order of around 40€ plus around 13€ for shipping, so what I do is buy large quantities of my usual film and developer when I need them, and then throw in two or three other rolls of film if I want to experiment.

Back to your original question: No, Rollei RPX is nowhere near the same as HP5+. It has a thinner base and a different look to the grain. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try it, but I would not recommend that you go buying huge quantities expecting it to be similar to HP5+. I would say it is most similar although not exactly the same as Ilford's Kentmere 400.

Cheers,
Rob

thank you so much. I think that answers my question!

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . bulking film seems still to be the cheapest option. is it much of a hassle???

Astonishingly little: see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps how load bulk.html -- the most difficult bit is finding good, reliable, re-usable cassettes, and that is far from insurmountable.

See also http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps how choose cassetes.html about choosing cassettes.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

Cheapest place in Austria to get film.

Thanks for the link!

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

actually i realised something on the http://www.fotofachversand.com/ website.

Lomography Lady Grey is selling at 9.90 euros for a pack of 3 x 135 format in 36
exposures per roll. This is the cheapest Lomography Lady Grey anywhere, and this
film is noneother than T-Max 400. So I think at 3.30 euros per roll for Tmax 400 is
quite a good deal, non ?

raytoei

 

[Roger Hicks]

actually i realised something on the http://www.fotofachversand.com/ website.

Lomography Lady Grey is selling at 9.90 euros for a pack of 3 x 135 format in 36
exposures per roll. This is the cheapest Lomography Lady Grey anywhere, and this
film is noneother than T-Max 400. So I think at 3.30 euros per roll for Tmax 400 is
quite a good deal, non ?

raytoei

Do they sell in-date film for Lomography? Are you sure they don't leave it in a hot warehouse for a few months just to get the Lomography look?

They almost certainly don't, but it would never have occurred to me to look at a Lomography film, and I'd no idea that Lady Grey was T-Max 2 (a vastly better film than the original), so I am both fascinated by and grateful for the information.

Cheers,

R.

 

[newtorf]

Have you considered the option of bulk loading? BH and Adorama has 100ft HP5 for ~$50. Not sure about the tax and shipping though.

Hey folks!

I've been using only HP5 for years now but the price increase over the last years has been so heavy that I looked for an alternative and was told the Rollei is pretty much the same.

Is that true? What are your experiences with it? I quite often push it to 3200 and was wondering if the Rollei is capable of that too?

If I make the change to the Rollei which developer would you recommend? I've had great results with the Ilford Ilfotec DD-X which is also prett expensive but I think it pays off.

Thanks!

Alex

 

[Fotohuis]

FP 100-200-400 would be possible in 122m/400ft for a price around EUR. 75,- (excl. VAT) but the minimum quantity for such an order is a problem in the Netherlands.
Almost nobody is using bulk film anymore so the regular 30,5m/100ft is not on my stock anymore.
On the other hand, 120 roll film has a better turnaround then the 35mm films.

 

[gsgary]

How much is Orwo film there ? I have just bought 100 feet of UN54 (iso100) but they also make a 400 i have seen some beautiful results

 

[Fotohuis]

N74+ is a bit more expensive but only interesting in price on 122m/400ft. Same problem as the Fomapan films, the minimum order quantity. Around EUR. 110,- (excl. VAT).