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Thread: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

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  1. #1

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    Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    This question may be asked before, but can't find the answer.

    I'm trying to find my personal film speed E.I. for fomapan 200.
    I have an Gandolfi 8x10 and an Nikkor-T ED 600 mm.

    If I should focus at infinity, (as Ansel Adam writes) I'll have to place my grey card "in the neighbor's garden" and it will appears as a stamp on the film.

    If I focus at infinity an fill the film whit the gray card, it's impossible to measure any different with the density meter.

    Any suggestion?

  2. #2
    Goldman
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    Re: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    I shoot 4x5, but to find my film speed I put my grey card closer and focus. The gray card should fill up the screen. Than mesure and shoot. I am doing this for 30 years and I am happy with the result. (Even Ansel Adams can be wrong, Nobody is perfect!)

    Bill

  3. #3

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    Re: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    Quote Originally Posted by OMU View Post
    This question may be asked before, but can't find the answer.

    I'm trying to find my personal film speed E.I. for fomapan 200.
    I have an Gandolfi 8x10 and an Nikkor-T ED 600 mm.

    If I should focus at infinity, (as Ansel Adam writes) I'll have to place my grey card "in the neighbor's garden" and it will appears as a stamp on the film.

    If I focus at infinity an fill the film whit the gray card, it's impossible to measure any different with the density meter.

    Any suggestion?
    The objective is to have the gray card out of focus so that texture does not enter the equation. Focus at infinity and then place the gray card in position to fill the frame.

  4. #4

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    Re: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Noel View Post
    The objective is to have the gray card out of focus so that texture does not enter the equation. Focus at infinity and then place the gray card in position to fill the frame.
    Have tried that, but the film get so even exposed that it's difficult to measure the different in densities in the different exposures.

  5. #5

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    Re: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    Quote Originally Posted by OMU View Post
    Have tried that, but the film get so even exposed that it's difficult to measure the different in densities in the different exposures.
    Your exposures should be a third of a stop apart and easily distinguishable.

  6. #6
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Re: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Noel View Post
    The objective is to have the gray card out of focus so that texture does not enter the equation. Focus at infinity and then place the gray card in position to fill the frame.
    exactamundo.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  7. #7
    jp's Avatar
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    Re: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    Focusing at infinity also removes the variable of compensation for bellows draw.

  8. #8

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    Re: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    I focus right on my target, but make sure that it's evenly lit. Knowing the focal length of the lens and the distance to the target, I can calculate the bellows correction. I reverse correct the evaluated speed with this bellows correction.

  9. #9

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    Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    I have done some test according to the advisees above, got my IE to 100 ASA. In Xtol 1:1 . Normal development time in a tray, it seems as 7:45 is about right time. 20 degrees C.

    Neil, I would like to get your mathematic formula to calculate the bellow correction.

  10. #10
    ic-racer's Avatar
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    Re: Testing for film speed "focus at infinity"

    If you need to have the target in focus you could add this bellows factor calculator to the target and read the factor off your ground glass as you work.
    http://www.southbristolviews.com/pic...ic/SBVCALC.pdf

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