Rollei Ortho 25 in 5x7 Question

[Roseha]

Hi I will be getting a 5x7 pinhole camera soon and I was hoping to order some Rollei Ortho 25 to use in it. It's backordered at B and H, but over at Freestyle I saw this line:

"Film may not fit in 5x7 film holders. Manual trimming may be required." Rollei's own page links to the Freestyle page.

Has anyone used the film and can shed some light on this? Thanks

[Jim Noel]

I haven't used this film, but presume it is 9x12 cm which is slightly too large for 5x7" holders. Also, any 25iso film is going to call for extremely long exposures in a pinhole camera.

[Roseha]

Thanks. Perhaps I will ask Freestyle.

The reason I like to use ISO 25 films for pinhole is that my pinhole cameras generally don't have cable releases and I find that in bright light I can generally expose them for 20 to 30 seconds and avoid vibration issues. I also like the look of Rollei Ortho a lot.

Thanks again.

[William Whitaker]

Thanks. Perhaps I will ask Freestyle.

Please let us know what you find out. I, too, would like to try Rollei Ortho in 5x7

[Dugan]

Litho films are cut to nominal plate sizes...5x7 is actually 5x7. 5x7 film is slightly undersize to fit holders.
Freestyle has house brand lith film cut to film holder size.

[revdoc]

If you need longer exposure times, you should consider Foma 100. I use it in my 8x10 pinhole camera, and it reciprocity failure means exposure times are never less than about 10 seconds.

[Roseha]

Please let us know what you find out. I, too, would like to try Rollei Ortho in 5x7

Thanks, I will. This is all new to me! Apparently there is a 13 x 18 cm size which I wasn't aware of. I will see what they say, and also ask about the 4x5 (which I have already bought).

[Roseha]

If you need longer exposure times, you should consider Foma 100. I use it in my 8x10 pinhole camera, and it reciprocity failure means exposure times are never less than about 10 seconds.

Thank you I will consider that also. I have used Foma 400 (exposed at 200) in 35mm and like it.

[Roseha]

Okay I have now gotten 2 different answers to this question:

From Freestyle:

"Thanks for your inquiry!
This film size is generally for duplicates, masking, or plate holders. The film is cut 5" x 7" but modern 5x7 films are cut about 4.9" x 6.9" to fit the film holder.
Rollei Ortho 25 ISO 5x7/25 Sheets | Freestyle Photo & Imaging"


However here is the reply from B and H

"Does this film fit a standard 5x7 inch film holder? 1 ANSWER
Asked by Rosemary on May 25, 2021

Yes this film does fit a 5 x 7 film holder.
Answered by Kirk Staff May 26, 2021"

I don't see a way to contact Rollei themselves unfortunately. I wonder whether they cut it in both sizes.

[Delfi_r]

Rollei Orho 25 is available only in american sizes: 4x5” 5x7” and 8x10”

Old european or metric sizes are not available for Rollei films

[Roseha]

Rollei Orho 25 is available only in american sizes: 4x5” 5x7” and 8x10”

Old european or metric sizes are not available for Rollei films

So it should fit the 5x7 holder correct as B and H says?

Thank you!

[Delfi_r]

Yes.

All and only film marked 5x7” fits on 5x7” holders

[abruzzi]

I don't know Rollei Ortho, but if you look at Arista Ortho Litho at Freestyle, you'll see that the 4x5 explicitly doesn't fit 4x5 film holder and they sell 3.9x4.9 for that purpose. I've shot the 3.9x4.9 so I can confirm that that size does fit the 4x5 film holder. You can see the same with Arist Ortho Litho 5x7 and 4.9x6.9. So I wonder if the Freestyle rep is confusing the two?

[Roseha]

I don't know Rollei Ortho, but if you look at Arista Ortho Litho at Freestyle, you'll see that the 4x5 explicitly doesn't fit 4x5 film holder and they sell 3.9x4.9 for that purpose. I've shot the 3.9x4.9 so I can confirm that that size does fit the 4x5 film holder. You can see the same with Arist Ortho Litho 5x7 and 4.9x6.9. So I wonder if the Freestyle rep is confusing the two?

I suspect so. Unless they have some other version in their store.

I have heard back from Fotoimpex:

"Hello Rosemary,

thank you for your message!

The standard format´s 4x5" and 5x7" will match with your holders.

For 9x12 cm or 13x18 cm formats which are a little bit different from the above mentioned formats you would need seperate holders.


Thank You!

Best Regards,

Benjamin
Fotoimpex GmbH"

Thanks to everyone's help in this thread.

[William Whitaker]

Thanks so much for chasing this one down!
I guess all that remains is for me to ante-up and purchase some to try. :-)

[Roseha]

Thanks so much for chasing this one down!
I guess all that remains is for me to ante-up and purchase some to try. :-)

You're welcome!