Rollei RPX 400 is a black and white negative film, a 30.5 m (100 ft) bulk roll, ISO 400, standard black and white processing. It is a plain general-purpose film from the RPX line: no particular character, no tricks, and noticeably cheaper than the name-brand emulsions in its class.

How the picture looks

RPX is an honest working film with even, classic grain and predictable tonality. The maker states outright that its resolution, sharpness, fine grain and halation protection are lower than the more expensive emulsions — Ilford Delta 400, Ilford XP2 Super 400, Ilford HP5+, Kodak T-Max 400, Kodak Tri-X. That is exactly why it costs less. At postcard size, in a scan for the web and across most real subjects, you have to go looking for the difference.

Exposure

Exposure holds no surprises: the nominal ISO 400 behaves as printed on the box, and any modern meter reading can be taken at face value. It can be pushed — look up the development time for the higher rating in Rollei's datasheet; beyond that it asks nothing special of your technique.

What to shoot on it

The maker calls it a film for sport, action, street, reportage and low light — which is exactly what it does. Add everything where the picture matters more than technical perfection: travel, parties, everyday shooting, and learning a new camera without burning expensive emulsion on test frames.

About the bulk roll

A 30.5 m (100 ft) roll is about eighteen 36-exposure cassettes. The cost per frame drops several times over, which is why a bulk roll pays off for anyone shooting a lot and often. You will need a bulk loader, reusable cassettes and a changing bag or darkroom. It is on an ordinary base and loads without surprises.

Processing

It develops in every common developer. Times are in Rollei's datasheet, including for pushed development. The film is forgiving of small errors — exactly what you want when learning to develop your own, without the fear of ruining expensive material.

How it compares

Its nearest neighbours on the shelf and in price are Kentmere 400 and Fomapan 400; the more expensive alternatives the maker measures itself against are Ilford Delta 400, Ilford XP2 Super 400, Ilford HP5+, Kodak T-Max 400, Kodak Tri-X. It differs from Rollei Retro and Superpan fundamentally: those are aerial emulsions with steep contrast and infrared reach, this is an ordinary, quiet film you load and shoot.