Rollei Retro 400S: A High-Contrast Black-and-White Film That Delivers Drama

Rollei Retro 400S is a high-contrast, superpanchromatic black-and-white film with infrared sensitivity and a clear PET base that keeps scans flat and sharp. Likely produced for Maco Direct by Agfa Gavaert and related to Aviphot 400S and similar Rollei/Street Pan lines, it excels at dramatic images with crunchy shadows and bright highlights. It supports infrared work with an R72 filter (roughly six-stop exposure compensation) and long exposures, and its clear base makes reversal processing for B&W slides feasible. Despite debates about exact lineage, the film remains a versatile, drama-ready choice for photographers seeking bold visuals.