Efke Infra red questions

[John Brady]

I just purchased some 8x10 Efke Infra Red film off ebay. $75 per 50 sheet box. The only information I got was that the seller had a batch made for him about three years ago and he has had it in the freezer. He has more listed if anyone is interested.

So my questions are is there more than one type of Efke infrared? (these box's only say Efke infrared, no number etc.)

What filter should I use for the most dramatic ir effect? I have a #25 and #29 will these work? What iso should I meter at?

What developer should I use, times etc?

Any other special precautions? I haven't shot IR film in 35 years.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. I definitely take more from this site than I am capable of offering.

www.timeandlight.com

[vinny]

You'll need an infrared filter for the effect you're expecting. I rate it at 1.5 and use an 89b filter. Usually 4 seconds at 22 gives adequate exposure in full sun. Reciprocity is pretty bad too. Efke has ir820 and ir820 aura. You likely have the 820. I have some in 8x10 from freestyle when they still sold it for $7/sheet.

[drew.saunders]

Most likely it's regular IR820, not Aura, as the Aura is a fairly new version, and I don't think it was available 3 years ago.

Lots of good info, and pics, here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/efkeir820/

You'll want an IR filter, and your exposure will depend on the filter. The Hoya R72 is very popular, and you'll get between ISO 1-3 with that combination. The Lee filter is denser, so you'll want to try ISO 0.5-1 with that filter. IR820C has an anti-halation backing, so a pre-wash is a good idea. If you do a pre-wash and the water isn't dark blue afterwards, then you have the Aura version of the film.

You can buy it in 35mm or 120 from Freestyle if you want to do some tests with your filter of choice first.

Drew

[vinny]

Drew, Aura isn't new, they just brought it back a couple years ago.

[stradibarrius]

Here are a couple of examples I have taken. I rated it a ISO 1.5 and used an 89B filter just like Vinny said. This is the AURA version and I really like it. I processed it in Rodinal. Another good thing is you can shoot it in the middle of the day when you normally wouldn't expect to get good images.
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4092/4952180763_68964985de_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradibarrius/4952180763/) Monastery Steeple (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradibarrius/4952180763/) by Stradibarrius (http://www.flickr.com/people/stradibarrius/), on Flickr
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5149/5746744156_f6d7a9a6a3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradibarrius/5746744156/) Mother- Daughter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradibarrius/5746744156/) by Stradibarrius (http://www.flickr.com/people/stradibarrius/), on Flickr

[stradibarrius]

Here is one more that shows the IR effect in the trees.
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4082/4870659248_7e75d56ee1_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradibarrius/4870659248/) Chapel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradibarrius/4870659248/) by Stradibarrius (http://www.flickr.com/people/stradibarrius/), on Flickr

[vinny]

Oh, and wear gloves when loading your holders. Fingerprints can show up on your processed film. Not as bad as kodak hsi but it has happened to me.

[John Brady]

Oh, and wear gloves when loading your holders. Fingerprints can show up on your processed film. Not as bad as kodak hsi but it has happened to me.

Thanks for all the great dvice everyone! Actually the fingerprints could be kind of cool!

It looks like the first thing I have to do is get a filter. Damn those Hoya 77mm are expensive!

[Maris Rusis]

I've bought several IR720 filters, sizes 37mm to 82mm, out of China via Ebay at $10 to $20 each. They seem to work fine in front of Efke IR820. Daylight exposures at 1sec @ f16 seem good.

[vinny]

If you use a lee hood, get a cokin 89b (lee size), otherwise bite the bullet. There's a guy selling infrared filters for lee holders on ebay advertised as 89b, they are not. Completely opaque and the first one he sent me didn't fit. Try looking for 82mm glass filters! That's my $tandard $ize and you can forget a name brand ir filter.

[stradibarrius]

Because I have shot so many different formats I decided the Cokin filters were the best way to go. Just buy the different adapter rings and you can you the same filters on any lens. The Cokin 89B is what I use too.

[John Brady]

Because I have shot so many different formats I decided the Cokin filters were the best way to go. Just buy the different adapter rings and you can you the same filters on any lens. The Cokin 89B is what I use too.


If you use a lee hood, get a cokin 89b (lee size), otherwise bite the bullet. There's a guy selling infrared filters for lee holders on ebay advertised as 89b, they are not. Completely opaque and the first one he sent me didn't fit. Try looking for 82mm glass filters! That's my $tandard $ize and you can forget a name brand ir filter.

I have a lee 100x100 (4inx4in) kit including a bellows. Do you have to worry about stray light getting behind the filter? I would prefer to go this route so I can use various lenses. I haven't seen the 89b sold for Lee yet, I guess I will have to look harder. Thanks!

[stradibarrius]

I have never had a problem. The 89b fits tightly in the holder.

[vinny]

Cokin doesn't call it an 89b, it's a 007.

[drew.saunders]

I have a lee 100x100 (4inx4in) kit including a bellows. Do you have to worry about stray light getting behind the filter? I would prefer to go this route so I can use various lenses. I haven't seen the 89b sold for Lee yet, I guess I will have to look harder. Thanks!

That's what I use, and I've never had problems with light behind the filter. I have the wide angle hood with 2 slots, and I use the slot nearest the lens. The Lee IR filter comes as just a plain piece of polyester, so you have to buy the mount, cut it and fit it to the holder (which is a bother, I'd pay more for it to be pre-loaded)

Filter: http://www.leefiltersusa.com/camera/products/show/ref:C4757E77C05DCB/

Mounts (10/pack): http://www.leefiltersusa.com/camera/products/show/ref:C47BE96B4E501C/


The gel-snap works with the IR filter too, but you have to be more careful about making sure you cover the lens completely. I've had light leaks with the snap holder:

http://www.leefiltersusa.com/camera/products/finder/ref:C475679C8606E3/

Drew

[Andrew O'Neill]

John, who is the seller on ebay? By the way, I always use an opaque filter (kodak 87) and EI 1.5.

[John Brady]

John, who is the seller on ebay? By the way, I always use an opaque filter (kodak 87) and EI 1.5.
This is the person and listing I bought from.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110761786780?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_922

I haven't used any of the film so I can't vouch for it.

[Andrew O'Neill]

Thanks John. I snagged a box. Too good to pass up.

[Maris Rusis]

I've just finished testing my batch of Efke IR820 8x10 format sheet film that I got from Ebay last year. My film 'fridge runs at 4 Celcius and the film has been in there about 6 months. The film may be showing its age with the sensitising dye for infrared response degrading and the overall sensitivity diminishing. Here are some results:

Exposed as a normal panchromatic film, no filter: effective EI = 8.
Exposed behind a #25 red filter: effective EI = 1
Exposed behind a IR680 or IR720 filter: effective EI = 0.15

Development was 11 minutes@ 20 Celcius in Xtol.

The negatives show no overall fog but contrast is low. Perhaps this is consistent with an aging emulsion. Contrast boosting experiments continue.

In spite of the lower than expected sensitivities I'm going to shoot this intriguing and inexpensive film ($75 a box of 50) and see what wonders will emerge.

Curiously, the Efke IR820 emulsion on my 120 format and 4x5 format films seems good and delivers a consistent EI = 1.5 (behind IR680 and IR720 filters) and these films have been in my 'fridge for more than a year.

[Cor]

Maris,

I have been shooting relabeled EFKE (MACO) for years now, I keep my film stock at -20degC, and a box "ready to (almost) go" at 4deg C, as well as a couple of loaded holders at room temperature. Haven't seen a loss of contrast (and it has heaps of it) nor increase of fog, my oldest batch must be more than 5 years old


I too end up at 1-1.5 Asa with a 70 red filter.

Best,

Cor

[stradibarrius]

If you are looking for the "IR' effect I would rate the film a little slower. I shoot it a ASO 1.6 with a dark red 89b filter.