The Rollei Retro 100 Tonal is a black and white film that is highly valued in the photography industry. It was developed through a cooperation between the companies Rollei-Maco, Agfa-Gevaert, Photostar and efke (Fotokemika). The film is known for its orthopanchromatic sensitization, which allows it to distinguish between red and black, unlike normal orthochromatic films.
This film offers excellent tonal gradation and maximum density, as well as the high resolving power, fine grain, and excellent sharpness advertised by Rollei. It's no wonder the film is popular with architectural, landscape, and portrait photographers. Its characteristics make it an ideal film for capturing fine detail and contrast.
Rollei Retro 100 Tonal is developed in a suitable black-and-white developer such as Rodinal. The fact that the emulsion is cast on a clear film base also allows the film to be used as reversal film, which is then developed as monochrome slides. These slides can later be projected onto the wall with a projector.
Unfortunately, the Rollei Retro 100 Tonal is no longer available. It used to be available in several formats, including 35mm/135-36 in cartridges and by the meter, 120 medium format film, 4x5" and 8x10".
For 35mm format, there are a variety of great cameras that you can use for film. For example, there are great SLR cameras from Praktica, Minolta or Olympus or compact cameras from Nikon and Yashica. Of course, black-and-white film also cuts a great figure in a Leica.
Development of the film
Times for developing Retro 100 Tonal.
| Developer | Dilution | ISO | Time | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-76 | Stock | ISO 100 | 7 min | 20 °C |
| ID-11 | Stock | ISO 100 | 7 min | 20 °C |
| Rodinal | 1+50 | ISO 100 | 13 min | 20 °C |
| Xtol | 1+2 | ISO 100 | 16 min | 20 °C |
Calculation of the development solution
| Dilution | Developer (ml) | Water (ml) |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | 500 | 0 |
| 1+50 | 10 | 490 |
| 1+2 | 167 | 333 |
Before development, it should be pre-watered and then tilted 1 time every 30 sec.
