For those of us who do not also read the LEG, Mike Levy has just posted the
following on that forum. I felt many here might find it interesting. :)
----- Original Message -----
With its R3 Rollei introduces a black-and-white film in "Rollei Quality" in a lot of sizes from 35mm up to sheet film.
Released by Rollei: Rollei present themselves as "The new Rollei" offering an impressive line of digital cameras and attractive new products all around bits and bytes. However, they have not lost sight of the company's tradition. Proof of this are, among other things, twin-lens reflex cameras such as the Rolleiflex 4.0 FW, going back to the type of camera that made Rollei world-famous.
Not going back to Rollei's own tradition, but to the tradition of photography is a new line of products which Rollei present at the 2004 photokina: Exclusive high-end monochrome film designed to attract attention in a world flooded with colour.
The new Rollei R3 film will be available in all sizes, from 35mm to 120 roll film and 8x10" sheet film. Both professionals and discriminating amateurs will find it ideal for optimum tonal control and images with perfectly rendered, subtle tones of gray.
Film speed is variable from ISO 25 to ISO 6400, allowing the material to be used in practically any light. This is made possible by a multilayer design with cubic silver-halide crystals of different size embedded in the various layers. Spectral sensitivity also covers a wide range from orthochromatic to panchromatic right into the infrared.
Excellent resolution and contrast allow almost unlimited enlargement. The high resolving power is due, among other things, to an antihalation layer directly under the emulsion.
Great importance has been given to high flatness and dimensional stability, which are truly outstanding: The large-format version of the film is an alternative to glass negatives. This is made possible by a new PET base that is not dyed gray, but completely transparent.
The material is suitable for heavy-duty use. It will not only withstand extreme climatic conditions, but also fluctuations between very high and very low temperatures encountered, for example, in desert regions without any damage to film support or emulsion. In addition, the film can be processed in high-temperature machines.
In addition to the Rollei photo chemicals offered for the purpose, the new Rollei film can be developed with any D76 process. Reversal processing for B/W slides is also possible without any problem. The top layer of the material is a supercoat so that the film will easily withstand the bleach solutions used in some processes.
Rollei R3 film was developed in close cooperation with the MACO B/W specialists and is made in Germany. Although it is partly packed in the EU, it fully deserves the "Made in Germany" label.
http://www.photoscala.com/node/view/394
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David Young, | égalité, liberté, Victoria, CANADA | fraternité et Beaujolais.
Personal Web-site at:
http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr
Leica Reflex Forum web-page:
http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr/lrflex.htm
