Film Review: Rollei Ortho 25 Plus

In this video, Jules and I review the Rollei Ortho 25 Plus. Rollei recently released this updated version of their film which features a slightly altered emulsion and new film base. Of course, that was reason enough for us to give it another try and test it shooting architecture and some indoor portraits with LED lighting.

Rollei Ortho 25 is famous for its fine grain and high sharpness. These features can be strengthened by using specific developers such as Spur Acurol-N which we also used for our test. Some online stores even offer this combination as a set. You can find it, for instance, here.

All photos were exposed at box speed, developed in Spur Acurol-N and scanned with an Epson Perfection V550 Photo.

Equipment:
Hasselblad 501CM with 50mm f/4 Distagon and 150mm f/4 Sonnar
Mamiya RZ67 with 110mm f/2.8 Sekor

Take a look at the results and let us know what you think in the comment section below.

[SoExpired]

The photo with the surveillance camera is so rad! I enjoyed expired Agfa Ortho 25, what I especially liked that it almost grainless. Would be interesting to compare them.

[richhaytonNZ]

This channel is pure class 👌 very inspiring, easy to listen to and superbly edited 👏

[TheMrMKultra]

Before shooting this film, if one plans to develop it in Acurol-N, one should read the current datasheet for the developer (found on the spur-photo website, it's the one that lists both the old and the "Plus" versions). In 120 medium format it recommends shooting it at 64ISO. That's not pushing, just the latitude they found to be available in combination with their developer. I just did that and I'm impressed by the results.

[tommorgan]

Love the architectural shots and dare I say that film is so clean and clinical it has a certain digital quality about it.

[markharris]

Brilliant video, I must try the film. You are both amazing photographers who get completely immersed in what you are doing. I especially enjoyed the architecture and the geometric shapes in Jules's work. Definitely going to try a roll or two in the Bronica. I did enjoy this video very much and you’ve given me some great ideas for composition.

[JPKVan]

Thank you for your film review and everyone else for the discussion.  Nobody else here seems to use Rollei films and its a real treat to compare what I'm doing with others.

[SteveKleinheider]

Max and Jules...once again a very nice informative video!  I plan to give Rollei Ortho 25 a try in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.  I think it could be a valuable addition to my photographic arsenal.  Keep up the good work...I look forward to the next video!

[joesasser]

I’ve shot the Rollei Ortho 25, since 2007. Didn’t realize they released a new formulation of it recently. The original is so beautiful in Rodinal 1:50 for 10min @20 grad C. I shoot it mainly in my Rollei TLRs, (1945 Tessar/1951 Planar/1953 Xenotar. Always meter by eye, and the results are amazing. Your results are excellent (of course), and I’ll be trying this on my next project, as a “shoot along” in my Mamiya M645Pro.

[jbradfordphoto]

I love watching your film reviews and "behind the shoot" series. Keep up the great work!

[qnetx]

Love the architecture images and the Rollei Ortho 25 film. I'm going to have to try it. The images also inspired a new style of seeing and composing architecture for me. Thank you!

[tapiopitkaranta]

This makes me want to try the film, never tried anything that slow. My favorite is the shot at 9:33, beautiful pattern and composition and I like that the sky is still separated from the white frame. Good job on the video once again!

[fossilizedlemonade]

Your photos that you took look excellent, I will need to pick some of this film up for myself.

[franciscovalenzuela]

Really nice minimalistic bw architecture photos!

[luigytkd]

Loved the high contrast look. At achitecture and portraits as well. Really cool. Kudos

[freakymalik]

Man, those architectures photos were incredible!! Good job guys!

[andylaurel]

Great video, and great photos as usual guys.
Do you plan to do a video about the effects different colour filters have on black and white film?

[devroombagchus]

Beautiful! Thanks for including architecture and portraits. I will try it out on architecture and winter scenes. P.S. why use Rollei film and a Rollei tripod, but not a Rollei 6x6? 😇😊🤭👍

[Xingqiwu]

Finally a contributor who can correctly pronounce "Rollei"!

[ralphjaywallace]

Excellent demo video. I especially liked the architectural images, since I like shooting buildings, doorways, windows and archways in ‘older’ parts of town. May I ask please, what was the handheld meter you were using with the Hasselblad?

[steveember]

Hello, Maximilian - Delighted to have discovered your YouTube channel, as a result of doing some web research on (original) Rollei Ortho-25 to get an idea of best types of motifs to shoot for that film's range of color sensitivity. While your video was on a new version of the film, it left me all the more enthusiastic about getting out with my "new" medium format Pentax 645N and trying out this film. I like your approach to showing both the shooting process and the results, making for an engaging presentation. Let me also - as a voice actor - compliment you on a fine and nicely modulated voice and polished style of delivery (something of a rarity in YT photography videos ;-) ) I have subscribed to your channel and will look forward to hearing and seeing your takes on other films. One question - which spot meter were you using? Alles gute. Steve