Rollei Retro films?

[batey_1020]

Relativley new to the film game here.

I have noticed that i can get Rollei Retro 100 and 400 for just over half what i pay for Tmax 100 and HP5 (what i have been using).

My questions is how do they compare and what are peoples experience with these films? I was going to buy 10 rolls of each before an trip in late january and hopefully run a few through my cameras before i go.
What developer? I have been using ID-11 currently.

 

[Richard G]

Rollei Retro 100 is lovely, very creamy tones with almost no grain. Combined with my Zeiss C Sonnar I have got some gorgeous tonality. I've even used RR 25. Haven't used the 400.

 

[pakeha]

This is a wet print scan form RR 100, not sure if the look will show that well as the scanner is a miserable epson 1650. This was developed in ID 11 and printed on expired Tura paper.

Actually, on second thoughts it may not have been printed, it may be a lab scan..my filing system is non existent...and memory is failing..🙂

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

I LOVE Rollei Retro 100 in ID-11/D-76.
I haven't yet seen any impressive images from Retro 400, though. I'd stick to Tri-X or HP5 for an ISO 400 film.

But, if you're used to certain films already, and will have to test a few rolls of a new stock prior to a trip, aren't you eating up any money you would be saving? Why bother to switch? I personally would favor the Retro 100 over a T-Grain film, but that's just a personal preference. The TMax probably has finer grain, if that's what you're after.

 

[valdas]

I now regularly shoot Rollei Retro 100 - I love it in developed Rodinal. Cheap iso 400 alternative is Rollei RPX 400. Not quite HP5, but in xtol I find it very acceptable to my taste.

 

[Mablo]

Rollei Retro 100 is rebranded Agfa APX100. What you see is all old stock from 2005. I still have a few rolls left but when it's gone it's gone.

Rollei Retro 400 (rebranded Agfa APX400) has been dead and buried for a long time. What you see now on the shelves is mostly Rollei Retro 400S which is totally a different film. Very sharp but not the easiest film to develop right.

I'm with valdas and recommend Rollei RPX100 and RPX400. These films are manufactured by Ilford and are generally regarded as a good buy. ID-11 suits fine for these films.

 

[batey_1020]

Thanks a lot guys. Some interesting info. I don't think it can hurt to pick up 10 or more rolls for everyday use from what has been said.

Mablo, thanks for the info there being old stock and what not. I started seaching for the RPX 100 and found it even cheaper then what i was looking at.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

mablo has it right: retro 100 is on the way out, (APX 100) some sell it relabeled, just repack with more "fresh" expire date. This is not a problem for usage, B&W film starts to "age" usually only when it is pulled out of deep freeze and cut & packaged. There is at least two vendors doing this:Maco and the guys in berlin (...) maco has finished their supply and replaced the Retro/APX with RPX. It is a subcontracted master roll stuff from Harmann, same as Kentmere. MACO cuts and sells it themselves and have it available both 35mm and 120 If you like TRI-X and HP5plus, you will like RPX 400

 

[steveniphoto]

where are you finding RR that cheap? i normally see Tri-X and HP5 for $4 a roll and RRBB 100 for $5.

 

[valdas]

where are you finding RR that cheap? i normally see Tri-X and HP5 for $4 a roll and RRBB 100 for $5.

macodirect has RPX400 for 3.23EUR and TriX for 3.9Eur this includes 19% VAT (not applied if one buys from outside EU)

 

[Muggins]

Slightly tangentially, anyone know whether Rollei Retro100 in 127 is dependent on the existence of Fotokemika for its continued production?

Now I have a trannie scanner, I shall be gutted if my last six rolls of Efke are all the 127 I'll ever shoot... and I don't even have a VPK yet!

Thanks,

Adrian

 

[Retrotech68]

Slightly tangentially, anyone know whether Rollei Retro100 in 127 is dependent on the existence of Fotokemika for its continued production?

Now I have a trannie scanner, I shall be gutted if my last six rolls of Efke are all the 127 I'll ever shoot... and I don't even have a VPK yet!

Thanks,

Adrian

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but I have been harbouring the same concerns since the recent news about Efke's demise... Unfortunately, I think Rollei Retro 100 was indeed dependent on Fotokemika. I have a reasonable stock of Efke 127 rolls to keep mt Yashica 44 and 44 LM going, together with a Baby Rollei, but I would like to know of alternative sources for the format...

Alex

 

[k__43]

APX100 is my standard film for ISO 100-200, I'll miss it when it's gone. Supply in germany is good tho.

 

[wakarimasen]

Any more example images for this film?

 

[mfogiel]

Maco now sells APX 100 for a very reasonable price. I have shot a lot on RR100 before, always developed in Rodinal 1+50 10 min for an EI 64, but you can also push it a bit.
This is a very good all round medium speed film, reasonably sharp, good tonality, not excessive grain.


20128503 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[Muggins]

I have a reasonable stock of Efke 127 rolls to keep mt Yashica 44 and 44 LM going, together with a Baby Rollei, but I would like to know of alternative sources for the format...

Likewise - the UK supplier states that it's made by Agfa-Geveart in Belgium, but it suddenly seems to be unavailable (It's also ISO80 - my bad), and the internet is a source of confusion. I guess I'll email the supplier and see...
Adrian

 

[Sanders McNew]

I have questions:

1. I read that the Rollei Retro 80s is coated on a base that dries completely flat.
Is that also true for the Rollei Retro 400s? For RPX100?

2. How do the three films compare in performance? I know the Rollei Retro 80s
is repouted to render results that rival MF negatives when enlarged. If anyone
has experience with the three, could they offer some comparisons?

I ask because I used to shoot the old Fomapan 200 in my M3, and am looking
for a new 35mm film to replace it, and would like to move to something easy
to handle on a scanner glass (as was Fomapan).

 

[valdas]

here is an example of Rollei retro in xtol (1+2):

 

[mfogiel]

Sanders,
Perhaps somebody else can answer the questions relative to RR 80s and 400. On the other hand, what's wrong with Fomapan 200? I had problems in the past with the 120 version, but apparently this has been fixed. Apart from that, if you develop in FX39 or Prescysol EF (pyro developer) and fix in alkaline fixer, the results are very nice, and normally there are no quality issues on the negative.


20080811 by mfogiel, on Flickr



2008090301 by mfogiel, on Flickr


2008090247 by mfogiel, on Flickr


2008090201 by mfogiel, on Flickr


20081012 by mfogiel, on Flickr

In Prescysol EF


20095513 by mfogiel, on Flickr


20092102 by mfogiel, on Flickr

In general, if you have curl problems, you could try to put the negatives in pergamene sleeves on a warm plate, pressed by a tile or something flat and heavy, after a day or so they tend to flatten out.
The only films that come out flat, are Rollei Superpan 200 ( not a bad film, but strange tonality) and AGFA SCALA, which I believe is being reproposed now by ADOX as SILVERRICH, or something similar.

 

[DriesI]

mfogiel,

is that last one on a train in Belgium?