Rollei Retro 400S with the Mamiya C330

My second film with the Mamiya C330, and this time I'm in my local forest experimenting with a roll of Rollei Retro 400S. This film has a "debatable" background, with many people assuming it's based on an aerial surveillance film manufactured by Agfa.
It promises strong contrast, so join me in the late afternoon sun to see what it delivers!
The film was developed in Rodinal at 1+25.
Music:
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Reflection
uppbeat.io/t/luke-moseley/ref...
License code: RO8JBFACYBYKUB0F
Amber, by Vyen
Calm
uppbeat.io/t/zimpzon/calm
License code: VGHEMJDTCZBSJQJE

[@strongislanduk]

Awesome set of images from that walk!

[@JamesBillingsPhotography]

Thank you! Yeah, I was quite pleased how they came out- some moreso than others of course!

[@nightscapejournals]

Excellent, video, James - really enjoyed the relaxed pace. And fantastic images. Again - film’s a mystery to me!! Excited for your eclipse trip. 😎

[@JamesBillingsPhotography]

Thanks! I was pleased with some of these, think the nice light helped :)

[@iNerdier]

You got more mid tones than I ever did at 400. I bought a brick of this for cheap and ended up rating it at 80 and developing for half time in xtol 1:1 to have any greys at all. Weird film with specific uses I think.

[@JamesBillingsPhotography]

Interesting - you'd think your technique would have reduced the contrast if anything. I did read somewhere it's actually identical to the slower film just with a higher box speed and appropriately adjusted development times, but who knows!

[@iNerdier]

@@JamesBillingsPhotography Sorry, that's what I meant. I only got acceptable contrast at 80, at 400 it was far too extreme which is why I was surprised you got usable results there.

[@JamesBillingsPhotography]

@@iNerdier ahh, I'm with you now. No idea why, I didn't do an awful lot of work in Lightroom to get detail back; perhaps I was just lucky with conditions and lighting somehow 🤷‍♂