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Thread: New film - Rollei R3

  1. #1
    Leonard Metcalf's Avatar
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    New film - Rollei R3

    Thought you may be interested in this press release..... the large format film is on an especially thick film base... there is a quite detailed technical brochure on the rollei website... some good news for us film based photographers...



    Title: Rollei launches black-and-white rescue package
    Feature: news
    Date: 24 November 2004

    With Ilford's future still hanging in the balance, the outlook for black-and-white film production never looked so unsure. But, reports Simon Bainbridge, a newcomer to the market promises a longterm future

    It sounds like the most improbable story of the year, but it's true - a major camera manufacturer previously unassociated with film production is about to launch a new range of black-and-white products.

    Bucking the trend towards a rapidly declining market for traditional black-and-white materials, Rollei has stepped into the breach with R3, a negative film designed for professionals.

    Explaining the move, the German company explained: 'As a world-renowned pioneering camera manufacturer, it is one of Rollei's major concerns to make sure that discriminating photographers can rely on an uninterrupted, long-term supply of high quality monochrome film.'

    Rollei added: 'In order to create a film that lives up to these expectations, we decided to enter into a joint venture with MACO, the Hamburg black-and-white specialist.'

    One of Rollei's requirements for the film was that it should be able to handle a wide range of sensitivity - and indeed, R3 is said to cover the range from ISO25 to ISO1600. Citing a process similar to colour film manufacture, Rollei says the new introduction is coated with three thin emulsions of different sensitivities.

    The super-panchromatic film is highly responsive to specific developer properties, the selection of which determines the film's equivalent sensitivity.

    Its extreme sensitivity to daylight means that exposed film needs to be kept in specially designed black cartridges, as traditional 35mm cassettes, for example, will show 'grey lateral stripes', while 'roll film will be exposed through the film leader'.

    R3 also employs an 'antihalation' layer that is coated directly onto the transparent film base, resulting, says Rollei, in greater sharpness, as 'reflections are not allowed to penetrate the film support before being reduced, but are eliminated even before they can enter the base'. The film's polyester film support is also said to guarantee the highest levels of archive stability.

    The film will be available in sizes from 35mm up to 8x10 inch sheet film, along with a roll 20 inch wide and 50m long version.

    Pricing and availability is not yet available, but further information is available online at www.rollei.de. The Studio Workshop plans to handle UK distribution through its Manchester premises. Call 0870 443 7986 for details.


    Len Metcalf

    Leonard Murray Metcalf BA Dip Ed MEd

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  2. #2

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    New film - Rollei R3

    Silverprint <http://www.silverprint.co.uk> list and price Rollei chemicals and 35mm and 120 film only, but no large format.

  3. #3

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    New film - Rollei R3

    Silver Print does not list sheet film as of yet, but the Rollei publication (dated 10/04) list the following available sizes:

    135-36

    120 roll film

    Sheet film:

    6.5x9 cm 50 sheets

    9x12 cm 50 sheets

    4"x5" 50 sheets

    5"x7" 50 sheets

    18x24 cm 50 sheets

    8"x10" 25 sheets

    Roll of 50.8 cm/20" wide x 10 meters long



    Now if they would only bring back the quarter plate!

  4. #4

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    New film - Rollei R3

    I am so excited after reading the PDF file that I forgot to post the link:


    http://www.silverprint.co.uk/PDF/GBA-R3_GB_18.10.pdf




    IT IS NICE TO HEAR GOOD NEWS FOR A CHANGE!

  5. #5

    New film - Rollei R3

    Now hear the bad news... I first heard of this film almost two months ago. I found a German site that sold it, only to discover that the little marvel was two to three times more expensive than Ilford sheet film of the same size. Yep, R3 really looks like a great product and I'd be curious to read some trial reports about it, but it's way too expensive for me.

    On the other hand, maybe the price will go down a bit. And maybe we'd better get used to the hefty price tag, R3 might well be the specialty B&W film of the future, when Forte and Ilford and the others have all gone belly up (I hope they'll stay but the future looks bleak indeed for Forte - sad).

  6. #6

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    New film - Rollei R3

    It looks like J&C is selling this film in sheet sizes. They don't seem to have the Rollei developers however.

  7. #7

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    New film - Rollei R3

    Yes indeed it is on J&C's web page...it's a small fortune! Around $75 for 50 sheets of 4x5. However, if it performs Tech Pan at ISO 25 (300 lpm) then it will be nice to have as an option!

  8. #8

    New film - Rollei R3

    Here's a link to some people who have tried it. It seems that so far, there is nothing flattering to say about it. My tests show the same....grainy and soft. No replacement for APX25 or Tech pan!


    http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00A2gF

  9. #9

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    New film - Rollei R3

    I spoke to The Studio Workshop in the UK and they have been caught out by the news getting out before they knew! They don't yet have any stock and don't know when they will; they are taking your details and will contact you when they get more information. Silverprint are doing 35mm and 120 roll film with no plans (I can't see why) to stock sheet film.

    Details of the film are on the Rollei website at http://www.rollei.de/cct/files/rollei/data/ACFE9C.pdf

    The performance of the film, I don't know - but I have 5 rolls on their way to me.

    As to the price, this beats me. We spend a fortune getting the best equipment, the photograph is lovingly framed and taken, the time and dedication that goes into processing and printing is immense and then we bitch like hell about the cost of film! In the greater scheme of things it's nothing. In the UK the 120 roll film is about 90% more than Ilford FP4+, the 8x10 sheet film will be about the same over Ilford and Forte - if they remain in business will probably put their prices up by 15%. If it works for you - and the jury is out on this one - then you pay the price.

    The way things are going we should be supporting (within reason) anyone brave enough to produce sheet film - they are an endangered species!

    I'll let you know how I get on with the roll film.

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