Speaking of the “wheatiest-looking chaff“1 — and inspired by my disappointment with Rollei RPX 25 in Rodinal — continuing my midweek goal to just use a camera, I loaded another roll of Rollei RPX 25 in my lightest-of-all cameras.
So my goal was two-fold: (a) push through my photographic malaise; and (b) see whether treating the RPX 25 like the film it “actually” is2 would get me results that I find more pleasing.
As for (a)?
I exposed and developed two rolls yesterday and enjoyed it all very much. Once I scan the rolls I will know whether I’m back to rights, but it sure felt like it.
As for (b)?
Overall? Yes. While the film is far more contrasty than I tend to like, I feel like developing it with the Rollei Retro 80S time in Mic-X (1+3) gave me more pleasing results than in Rodinal at the RPX 25 times, especially in shadier areas (i.e. pigeons, pumpkins above).
As for why I purchased this film in the first place?
Having not at all looked into it before purchase and inspired only by how it was packaged, positioned, and named, I was hoping that I would get photos along the same lines as I would get with Agfa APX 25, which was discontinued 20+ years ago. Unfortunately, it’s not even a little bit the same.
Camera
Lens
Film
Developer
Time & Temp.
Scanner
Location
Date(s)
Filing
Canon EOS Kiss Lite
Canon Lens EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Rollei RPX 25 (EI80)
LegacyPro Mic-X (1+3)
12m25s at 22.3°C
Plustek 8200i / SilverFast 9 / Apple Photos
Ottawa, Ontario
September 23, 2026 (1-9)
September 24, 2026 (10-12)
Series 7, Roll 175