Rollei APX 100 or Formapan 100 Classic?

Johnmcd

Johnmcd

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CORRECTION - RPX not APX 🙂 can't seem to change the title.

There is some reasonably priced Rollie RPX 100 and Formapan 100 for sale locally in 30m bulk cans.

I have a supply of Delta 100 and 400 and have just picked up two cans of TMX400. I am happy with these films but wouldn't mind trying a different (older style?) type of film. And every 30m can I put in the fridge gives me a warm feeling inside. Like stockpiling for a nuclear winter...

Any recommendations and developer combinations would be great. And of course any images 🙂

Thanks - John
 
Last edited:
APX 100 in Rodinal is not bad, except that it is not so certain which APX 100 we are talking about. There was THE APX 100, then it became Rollei Retro 100, but then it got sold out, and what is today sold as APX 100, is neither APX 100, Nor Rollei Retro 100, alias APX 100.
All clear?
If not, I would recommend to go with RPX 100, which is a new film, and very good at that.

Rollei Retro 100 in Rodinal


20133610 by mfogiel, on Flickr
 
mfogiel said:
APX 100 in Rodinal is not bad, except that it is not so certain which APX 100 we are talking about. There was THE APX 100, then it became Rollei Retro 100, but then it got sold out, and what is today sold as APX 100, is neither APX 100, Nor Rollei Retro 100, alias APX 100.
All clear?
If not, I would recommend to go with RPX 100, which is a new film, and very good at that.

Rollei Retro 100 in Rodinal
Click to expand...

You're right, I should have said RPX not APX. Thanks.

Sorry all for the confusion. I have edited the original post.

Cheers - John
 
Personally I don't like either RPX or the 'new' APX, since I've been unable to get good-looking results from them in Rodinal. Must be me though, some folks report and show brilliant stuff from the combo...

I'd go with Fomapan 100 in Rodinal, since it's the closest you can get to the 'old' APX in Rodinal. Which IMHO is the European equivalent of Tri-X in D-76: readily available and easy as pie!
 
Johnmcd said:
Thanks for all the comments. I use Rodinal with all my medium format so success with Rodinal would be a bonus. Are either of the films prone to curling? Cheers - John
Click to expand...

I thought you were talking about bulk film = 35mm.
Whilst Foma gives a nice tonality I have horrible experiences with the film quality. It may have been a bad batch, but I am not using it anymore.
RPX is quite nice - but I do not bath it in Rodinal. Lately I used some Atomal 49 but I doubt you will find that outside of Europe. ( Www.fotoimpex.de )
 
I love the look of Fomapan Classic in Rodinal, mainly used in medium format.

7980938555_3c5e2056c6_o.jpg
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A lazy day by Photo Utopia, on Flickr[/IMG]
Rolleiflex Fomapan 100 in Rodinal.


Southwold town by Photo Utopia, on Flickr

76222961.jpg


It has some of the feel of the old APX DNA although it is different in a few areas. In my opinion all the Foma emulsions are slower in standard developers and need to be developed in a speed increasing brew like Microphen to get the box speed.

They are however very nice films worth playing with, certainly old tech looking.
I like the 200 and 400 as well the latter having a nice gritty gain that reminds me of the old APX 400 with a touch of Fortepan.
Hope that helps, stay cool 🙂
 
I find Fomapan 100 ok in Rodinal. Perhaps the shadow detail is not as good as say Tri-X or HP5, but its reasonably priced. I would say RPX 100 is better by what others have posted. mfogiel's images with it are particularly crisp, but I would say he has mastered his development with RPX 100.

Here is one from me with Fomapan and Rodinal.

11796067514_e492b17927_b.jpg
 
Merumeni said:
I thought you were talking about bulk film = 35mm.
Whilst Foma gives a nice tonality I have horrible experiences with the film quality. It may have been a bad batch, but I am not using it anymore.
RPX is quite nice - but I do not bath it in Rodinal. Lately I used some Atomal 49 but I doubt you will find that outside of Europe. ( Www.fotoimpex.de )
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm talking about 35mm bulk film. But seeing I already use Rodinal for MF it would be easy to use it for 35mm also.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Cheers - John
 
Thanks for all the images. They are very impressive and both films look very different to the films I use at present. Leaning towards Formapan or maybe a can of both? Maybe I should also try some in MF?

Any feedback on curling?

Cheers - John
 
John
I buy the Fomapan for about £2.50 per roll from Silverprint, that's as cheap as chips so well worth a try.
I have been using it for several years and have not found a roll with defects, athough they did stop making the 200 for a while because of problems which have now been fixed.
Here is a review I did about seven years ago:
http://photo-utopia.blogspot.co.uk/2007/03/fomapan-100-classic-foma-is-czech-firm.html

I haven't noticed any excessive curl, but that will vary depending on the environmental conditions as much as anything, I put water in my drying cabinet or put them in the shower.
Have fun
 
Photo_Smith said:
John
I buy the Fomapan for about £2.50 per roll from Silverprint, that's as cheap as chips so well worth a try.
I have been using it for several years and have not found a roll with defects, athough they did stop making the 200 for a while because of problems which have now been fixed.
Here is a review I did about seven years ago:
http://photo-utopia.blogspot.co.uk/2007/03/fomapan-100-classic-foma-is-czech-firm.html

I haven't noticed any excessive curl, but that will vary depending on the environmental conditions as much as anything, I put water in my drying cabinet or put them in the shower.
Have fun
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. I'm sold. Certainly worth a try. If I roll my own it works out at about $2.50 AU per roll.

Cheers - John
 
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