Rollei R3 - New exiting bw film

Haven't tried the R3 yet, but the less expensive "sister" MACO Cube 400c (for detailled information on both films look at the information at the manufacturers site Mahn.net

The Cube 400c / R3 seems to have some interesting features but I wasn't able to reveal them after four rolls exposed and developed with the explicitly matching developer Cube XS. All I got after 20+ minutes of development were some "thin" 400 ASA negs without any significant advantages.

Finally, I decided to stick with usual films like Acros and TRI-X and dip them in my new favorite staining developer Tanol.

Johannes
 
Rollei's film division has always seemed like a luxury marque. They package their film in beechwood boxes and charge high prices.

Maybe that's how they plan to survive the revolution.

Clarence
 
It has been available in Europe for a year or so, I read about it last summer. It has also been tested in Black&White Photography (I think). I thought I had a scan of the article on my disk, but I can't seem to find it. From what I remember, the results weren't that impressive at that rather steep price ($6.69/£4). Nevertheless, it is nice to see that new films are still being developed, Fuji also releasing two new films early this year.
 
Quite close to day we were crying about film doom day, now we seem to cry about price of new film. Since it looks like there is an inherent relation between rangefinder and tears, I think someone here should offer handkerchiefs for sale. Perhaps with that Leica logo stamped.
But seriously speaking, even if half of what this new film promises (according to the link I provided above) becomes true, it is worth the price. And remember guys & girls that film is very much about systematic testing to obtain the best.
Finally that 120 screwed canister is for me worth of an extra dollar! (shame for for the others not providing it !)
Cheers,
Ruben

For their bold corporate vote of confidence in film
Kudos for Rollei ! ! !
 
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I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news - Rollei is not making film. It is repackaged from another manufacturer. Rollei has no film factory. I wish they did.

In my humble opinion, repackaging existing film and charging a higher price for it is not giving us additional choices in film.

Oh, and R3 has been around for awhile now. Nothing new here.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
clarence said:
Is it repackaged Maco, Bill?

Clarence
Click to expand...

It was, as I understand it. Maco does not make film, either. They got it from Tura. Tura does not make film either. They got it from Efke (most emulsions) or Agfa (out of business).

I have heard rumors at one time or another that Tura does or did make one or another brand of film in their very own factory, but I cannot find any evidence of this. To the best of my knowledge, there is no more photographic film made in Germany, and when there was, it was all Agfa.

If I am mistaken, I am perfectly willing to be educated on this.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I've also heard that the R3's claims about speed variability is really, really, absurddly exaggerated. And that the film is very grainy.

Shrug. I have no interest in trying it, but I guess I'd be interested in seeing what people get out of it.

allan
 
bmattock said:
...Maco does not make film, either. They got it from Tura. Tura does not make film either. They got it from Efke (most emulsions) or Agfa (out of business).
....
Bill Mattocks
Click to expand...


OK Bill, why don't you confess it is made at your garage?

Best,
Ruben
 
kaiyen said:
I've also heard that the R3's claims about speed variability is really, really, absurddly exaggerated. And that the film is very grainy.

Shrug. I have no interest in trying it, but I guess I'd be interested in seeing what people get out of it.

allan
Click to expand...

I don't know what kind of results people are getting out of it, but I wish them the best. I wish that there were more B&W film manufacturers, I really do.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
bmattock said:
It was, as I understand it. Maco does not make film, either. They got it from Tura. Tura does not make film either. They got it from Efke (most emulsions) or Agfa (out of business).

I have heard rumors at one time or another that Tura does or did make one or another brand of film in their very own factory, but I cannot find any evidence of this. To the best of my knowledge, there is no more photographic film made in Germany, and when there was, it was all Agfa.

If I am mistaken, I am perfectly willing to be educated on this.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
Click to expand...

http://www.mahn.net/Frameset.htm
QUOTE
Rollei films, produced by MACO, "Made in Germany"
ROLLEI R3 a convincing film and development concept for all areas of pictorial black-and-white photography
ROLLEI PAN25 panchromatic sensitised Black & White film with low speed ISO 25/15°
ROLLEI INFRARED infrared film for the creative, esperimental and scientific photography, 820nm, ISO 400/27° w/o filters, excellent tonality
ROLLEI ORTHO25 orthochromatic sensitised Black & White film, high resolving power, suited for general graphic purposes.
ROLLEI RETRO 100 und 400 panchromatic sensitised Black & White film with medium speed ISO 100/21° and high speed ISO 400/27°


FROM AVOBE SITE ATTACHED PDF:

"As a world-renowned pioneering camera manufacturer, it is one of Rollei’s major concerns to make sure that dicscriminating photographers can rely on an uninterrupted, long-term supply of high-quality monochrome film. In order to create a film that lives up to these expectations, Rollei decided to enter into a joint venture with MACO, the Hamburg black and white specialists.
For the purpose of this cooperation, Rollei set forth a number of requirements that would have to be fulfilled by this film...

"The following companies have contributed to development of the new type of film:
ROLLEI Fototechnic, Braunschweig.
Above all providing technical specifications and supporting the different stages of development by Rollei Quality Control.
MACO PHOTO PRODUCTS, Hamburg/Stapelfed.
Implementation of Rollei’s photochemical specifications resulted in an outstanding product, manufactured and quality-controlled in Germany.
TURA, Düren.
By advanced manufacturing techniques and quality control.
The result is ROLLEI R³, a film “Made in Germany”.

END OF QUOTE
 
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I'm not being antagonistic towards a lesser known film. Heck, I use a lot of stuff from efke, foma, forte, etc.

I appreciate you correcting my information. That is what I heard, though. It just happens to be wrong.

But the film is more than 3x what it costs to buy, say, the arista.edu Ultra (foma) stuff from Freestyle. So I can buy the 100, 200, and maybe some TXT 400 for the cost of the single roll of Rollei. With the Rollei, I need a couple of different developers (right?) to get the control over high and low speed. Well, I currently keep a couple different developers around now for the exact same purpose. So why not shoot the three different film stocks?

Similarly, why not just shoot the Rollei? They are equivalent questions.

allan
 
Maco does not make film that I am aware of, Ruben. When Maco relabed some Agfa products, it was possible to say "Made in Germany" and not be misleading. However, with Agfa gone, it becomes clear that there is no no B&W film made in Germany by anyone.

I'm sorry, the statement made by Rollei may have been true at one time - when Maco got their film from Agfa, which *was* made in Germany. I do not believe that it is true now, however.

It has been long speculated that most of the Maco products were rebranded Efke.

I'm sorry, really I am.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Where the heck does one find the Rollei chemistry, anyway? Freestyle has the high speed one. I can't find the low speed one anywhere. They are separate ones, right?

allan
 
RJ- said:
I'm unsure as to why forum members sound so antagonistic towards a lesser known film. One consequence of a shrinking selection of film palette and variety is a manoeuvre like the Maco/Rollei venture in establishing a specific developer recipe for a film to acquire greater flexibility as well as look. Unfortunately the Rollei R3+ Rollei developer combination is not idiot proof so this combination may be of no interest to some.
Click to expand...

I'm not antagonistic. I am not happy about what appears to me to be raised false hopes.

If Rollei makes film, I would like to see their factory. There should be a photo of the factory somewhere, right?

If they get it from Maco, and Maco makes it, then there should be a Maco factory somewhere, right?

But I've emailed Maco many times over the past two years, and asked them simply if they manufacture their own film. They have never responded.

Bergger, Maco, Tura, and others - these appear to be rebrands of existing films which we know about.

If people want to use them, then I'm all for it. If they are indeed 'unique' formulations made just for them, then that increases the choices available to us as photographers, and I'm all for that, too.

But if it is just old wine in new bottles, and much more costly wine at that - this is just (in my opinion) a rip-off of photographers who hope against hope for a new B&W film manufacturer to arise.

I'm sorry if that makes it seem I am antagonistic towards a lesser known film.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
bmattock said:
....Bergger, Maco, Tura, and others - these appear to be rebrands of existing films which we know about.

Bill Mattocks
Click to expand...

Ok Bill, if it is not your garage either, then what is the source ?

Cheers,
Ruben
 
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