5 Frames with a Minolta 16MG and Rollei RPX 25

After reading an interesting post from Geoff Chaplin about processing 35mm Rollei RPX 25 in 1:100 Rodinal semi-stand rated at ISO 100 I thought it could be a good match for 16mm. My investigations into various films for 16mm and 110 use have turned up some interesting things. For example, Geoff informs me that RPX 25 is the same film as Rollei 80S so speed must be governed by processing as much as anything else. 80S can be rated between 25 and 100 according to The Massive Development Chart. Another film I have had some success with, Fomapan 400, can be rated anywhere between 100 and 6400 with dev times between 7 and 90 minutes respectively. It is very workable in 16mm at ISO 100 and 7 mins is a civilised development time for an impatient soul. So these mostly surveillance emulsions where many current films seem to take their origins are flexible indeed.

These examples from 11mm x 14mm negatives are very good from a detail and grain point of view. They are all taken around one of my usual stamping grounds, Queen’s Gardens, Dunedin, NZ early on a winter’s afternoon.

The Cenotaph – some evidence of the slight flare the MG seems prone to.

One of the flanking bronzes on Queen Victoria’s statue with the Cenotaph beyond.

Bust of an early administrator of the new settlement.

Name plate on a preserved Double Fairlie locomotive, Josephine, on display in the Early Settlers’ Museum.

There was some uneven development apparent on some frames, either a result of stand development itself or combined with leftovers from the pre-soak I used. Some water maybe diluted the edges through clinging to the spiral after draining. Other than that, I have no complaints with the images. I prefer conventional development, however, so I will see how the 80S performs.

Share this post: