Rollei RPX 25

dsmithhfx · 11-23-2015, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by K David

That's curious and is exactly the opposite of what an acquaintance at a film reseller indicated.

"The Rollei RPX line is developed and made by Harman Technologies / IlfordPhoto for Maco / Rollei-Film. That is official.
So most probably the RPX 25 is also a Harman design.

We will have confirmation if we look at the box: If "Made in EU" is printed on it, it is from Harman.
If "Made in Germany" is on it (like on the Rollei Ortho 25, which is indeed an emulsion made by FilmoTec), it is from FilmoTec.

The film is definitely not from Agfa in Mortsel: Agfa cannot make such niche films, such small volume productions.
But Harman Technologies / Ilford is able to do such tiny production runs."

(interesting points made/raised in both threads I linked to)

**bobbotron** · 11-23-2015, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by K David

I developed my first RPX 25 in 120 the other day. I haven't digitized it yet, but it's stunning film. I love the look and quality of Rollei films.

K David, if any work out well from the roll, it would be great if you could post a few here. I'm interested to see other people's work with it.

K David · 11-23-2015, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by bobbotron

K David, if any work out well from the roll, it would be great if you could post a few here. I'm interested to see other people's work with it.

Some of them turned out very well. I have to hit the darkroom to make proof sheets tomorrow but hope to have time to digitize soon.

**ChrisPlatt** · 11-26-2015, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by dsmithhfx

"The Rollei RPX line is developed and made by Harman Technologies / IlfordPhoto for Maco / Rollei-Film.

If so I'd like to see a comparison of this film and Ilford Pan F Plus, including full sensitometric analysis.

Chris

K David · 11-28-2015, 01:57 PM

So I did some darkroom prints on my 120 RPX 25 this week. It's not the hardest film I've ever tried to focus with a grain finder (that's Kodak 2383, which is a zero-findable-grain ISO 1.6 film), but RPX 25 is the second-hardest I've ever tried to focus. The grain s incredibly tiny and fine, but once I found it I noticed that it has a nice structure. I found that it prints with mixed results. I printed one image that was a bit dense due to over-developing. I also printed one that was about as spot-on as a negative can be. The over-developed negative, even with a 3.5 filter, looked flat. The other one, however, was stunning and required neither filtration nor dodging and burning. The detail, also, is incredible. I'll be digitizing all the negatives in December and will have more to report then about how the digital conversions behave.

**gofour3** · 11-28-2015, 03:04 PM

Looks like a good candidate as well for processing as a reversal film:

dr5 CHROME - Black and White slide / B&W transparency process + THE ONLY RELIABLE SCALA PROCESSING WORLDWIDE - RPX-25

Have to try it when DR5 Chrome processing is back after their move.

Phil.

**ChrisPlatt** · 11-28-2015, 05:25 PM

I always use an enlarging grain focusing aid. Using one with films like this is always a real PITA.

I miss my old Panatomic X so a few years ago in another fit of nostalgia I shot a few rolls of Pan F+.
I was disappointed with the results. Negatives were flat and a bit muddy, so I never pursued it.

Chris

K David · 11-28-2015, 05:41 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

I miss my old Panatomic X so a few years ago in another fit of nostalgia I shot a few rolls of Pan F+.
I was disappointed with the results. Negatives were flat and a bit muddy, so I never pursued it.

PanF+ is really hard. Unlike HP5+ (as an example), PanF+ only has one emulsion layer (as I understand it.) I've had good results with PanF+ but I pull it to 25 ISO and then add contrast (either in Photoshop or in the darkroom with filters.) Pulling it reigns in the highlight detail loss while also preserving a lot of shadow detail. But it's not a film that lends itself to filterless printing.

titrisol · 11-29-2015, 08:28 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

I always use an enlarging grain focusing aid. Using one with films like this is always a real PITA.

I miss my old Panatomic X so a few years ago in another fit of nostalgia I shot a few rolls of Pan F+.
I was disappointed with the results. Negatives were flat and a bit muddy, so I never pursued it.

Chris

True, I tried this Rollei 25 films a few years back and was able to enlarge up to 40x60 inches
What I found in the old Tech Pan and Efke25 is that I needed to develop in Rodinal 1+100 or 1+200

stevebrot · 11-30-2015, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by dsmithhfx

I'm wondering who is marketing film under the trademark

Maco/Mahn in Germany

Originally posted by dsmithhfx

though it's still unclear who actually makes the film

Maco does not make film, though they do have facilities to "confection" film sheet stock to their branding that they acquire from established manufacturers. A good example would be Rollei Retro 80s which is made from Agfa Aviphoto Pan 80 stock.

Steve

stevebrot · 11-30-2015, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by K David

That's curious and is exactly the opposite of what an acquaintance at a film reseller indicated.

Not surprising. There is a lot of misinformation in regards to the Rollei-branded film products* and also in regards to films currently sold with Agfa Photo branding (example current product APX 100).

Steve

* The Rollei brand is incredibly "diluted" and has been for many years. In my storage closet is a very nice 6x7 enlarger bearing the traditional Rollei logo. It was made in Japan by LPL. The enlarger's importer also had rights to the Rollei name in the U.S. and opted to brand the enlarger as such.

K David · 11-30-2015, 08:14 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Not surprising. There is a lot of misinformation in regards to the Rollei-branded film products* and also in regards to films currently sold with Agfa Photo branding (example current product APX 100).

Well, that settles it. I had decided not to buy any more film until my stockpile of spooled film and 100-foot segments is gone, but I'm picking up some Rollei tonight to see where it's being made.

titrisol · 12-01-2015, 06:34 PM

I think MACO took over the old Gevaert factory in Belgium

K David · 12-07-2015, 12:14 PM

Received my RPX this weekend. I picked up 400 and 100 in both 35mm and 120 and 25 in 35mm, 120, and 4x5. All say made in the EU and list Maco's name next to the manufacturing location.

**bobbotron** · 12-07-2015, 12:29 PM - **1 Like**

I'd love if we could get some more RPX 25 shots posted here!

11-23-2015, 12:21 PM	#16
dsmithhfx Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,144	Originally posted by K David That's curious and is exactly the opposite of what an acquaintance at a film reseller indicated. But wait, there's more! "The Rollei RPX line is developed and made by Harman Technologies / IlfordPhoto for Maco / Rollei-Film. That is official. So most probably the RPX 25 is also a Harman design. We will have confirmation if we look at the box: If "Made in EU" is printed on it, it is from Harman. If "Made in Germany" is on it (like on the Rollei Ortho 25, which is indeed an emulsion made by FilmoTec), it is from FilmoTec. The film is definitely not from Agfa in Mortsel: Agfa cannot make such niche films, such small volume productions. But Harman Technologies / Ilford is able to do such tiny production runs." (interesting points made/raised in both threads I linked to)

11-30-2015, 04:42 PM	#26
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by K David That's curious and is exactly the opposite of what an acquaintance at a film reseller indicated. Not surprising. There is a lot of misinformation in regards to the Rollei-branded film products* and also in regards to films currently sold with Agfa Photo branding (example current product APX 100). Steve * The Rollei brand is incredibly "diluted" and has been for many years. In my storage closet is a very nice 6x7 enlarger bearing the traditional Rollei logo. It was made in Japan by LPL. The enlarger's importer also had rights to the Rollei name in the U.S. and opted to brand the enlarger as such. Last edited by stevebrot; 11-30-2015 at 05:02 PM.

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11-23-2015, 01:00 PM	#17
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349 Original Poster	Originally posted by K David I developed my first RPX 25 in 120 the other day. I haven't digitized it yet, but it's stunning film. I love the look and quality of Rollei films. K David, if any work out well from the roll, it would be great if you could post a few here. I'm interested to see other people's work with it.

11-23-2015, 05:30 PM	#18
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	Originally posted by bobbotron K David, if any work out well from the roll, it would be great if you could post a few here. I'm interested to see other people's work with it. Some of them turned out very well. I have to hit the darkroom to make proof sheets tomorrow but hope to have time to digitize soon.

11-26-2015, 06:33 PM	#19
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	Originally posted by dsmithhfx "The Rollei RPX line is developed and made by Harman Technologies / IlfordPhoto for Maco / Rollei-Film. If so I'd like to see a comparison of this film and Ilford Pan F Plus, including full sensitometric analysis. Chris

11-28-2015, 01:57 PM	#20
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	So I did some darkroom prints on my 120 RPX 25 this week. It's not the hardest film I've ever tried to focus with a grain finder (that's Kodak 2383, which is a zero-findable-grain ISO 1.6 film), but RPX 25 is the second-hardest I've ever tried to focus. The grain s incredibly tiny and fine, but once I found it I noticed that it has a nice structure. I found that it prints with mixed results. I printed one image that was a bit dense due to over-developing. I also printed one that was about as spot-on as a negative can be. The over-developed negative, even with a 3.5 filter, looked flat. The other one, however, was stunning and required neither filtration nor dodging and burning. The detail, also, is incredible. I'll be digitizing all the negatives in December and will have more to report then about how the digital conversions behave.

11-28-2015, 03:04 PM	#21
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	Looks like a good candidate as well for processing as a reversal film: dr5 CHROME - Black and White slide / B&W transparency process + THE ONLY RELIABLE SCALA PROCESSING WORLDWIDE - RPX-25 Have to try it when DR5 Chrome processing is back after their move. Phil.

11-28-2015, 05:25 PM	#22
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	I always use an enlarging grain focusing aid. Using one with films like this is always a real PITA. I miss my old Panatomic X so a few years ago in another fit of nostalgia I shot a few rolls of Pan F+. I was disappointed with the results. Negatives were flat and a bit muddy, so I never pursued it. Chris

11-28-2015, 05:41 PM	#23
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt I miss my old Panatomic X so a few years ago in another fit of nostalgia I shot a few rolls of Pan F+. I was disappointed with the results. Negatives were flat and a bit muddy, so I never pursued it. PanF+ is really hard. Unlike HP5+ (as an example), PanF+ only has one emulsion layer (as I understand it.) I've had good results with PanF+ but I pull it to 25 ISO and then add contrast (either in Photoshop or in the darkroom with filters.) Pulling it reigns in the highlight detail loss while also preserving a lot of shadow detail. But it's not a film that lends itself to filterless printing.

11-29-2015, 08:28 PM	#24
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,852	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt I always use an enlarging grain focusing aid. Using one with films like this is always a real PITA. I miss my old Panatomic X so a few years ago in another fit of nostalgia I shot a few rolls of Pan F+. I was disappointed with the results. Negatives were flat and a bit muddy, so I never pursued it. Chris True, I tried this Rollei 25 films a few years back and was able to enlarge up to 40x60 inches What I found in the old Tech Pan and Efke25 is that I needed to develop in Rodinal 1+100 or 1+200

11-30-2015, 04:39 PM	#25
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by dsmithhfx I'm wondering who is marketing film under the trademark Maco/Mahn in Germany Originally posted by dsmithhfx though it's still unclear who actually makes the film Maco does not make film, though they do have facilities to "confection" film sheet stock to their branding that they acquire from established manufacturers. A good example would be Rollei Retro 80s which is made from Agfa Aviphoto Pan 80 stock. Steve

11-30-2015, 08:14 PM	#27
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	Originally posted by stevebrot Not surprising. There is a lot of misinformation in regards to the Rollei-branded film products* and also in regards to films currently sold with Agfa Photo branding (example current product APX 100). Well, that settles it. I had decided not to buy any more film until my stockpile of spooled film and 100-foot segments is gone, but I'm picking up some Rollei tonight to see where it's being made.

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12-01-2015, 06:34 PM	#28
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,852	I think MACO took over the old Gevaert factory in Belgium

12-07-2015, 12:14 PM	#29
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	Received my RPX this weekend. I picked up 400 and 100 in both 35mm and 120 and 25 in 35mm, 120, and 4x5. All say made in the EU and list Maco's name next to the manufacturing location.

12-07-2015, 12:29 PM - 1 Like	#30
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349 Original Poster	I'd love if we could get some more RPX 25 shots posted here!