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Thread: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

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    dperez's Avatar
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    Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    I would like to experiment with IR film and have been thinking of getting some Rollei IR400. I have an Arca-Swiss F line basic. I am wondering what things I should be aware of when using IR films.

    I have read some of the threads about bellows issues and that one should conduct a test to make sure their bellows is IR tight. Besides the need for a Hoya R72 filter (for the Rollei stuff), are there any other things I should be aware of? For example, does the shot process differ at all?

    Thanks in advance.

    -Daniel

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    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    Don't forget about the focus shift of IR. If you are shooting with a wide-angle and stop down enough, this might not be a issue.

    Load and unload film in total darkness, and store in light tight container.

    Good luck.
    When I grow up, I want to be a photographer.

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    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    It's been years since I've used any IR film and I've never used the Rollei IR film, my experience was with Kodak HIE in 35mm and 4x5. But since you've only gotten one response I'll mention a couple things.

    Assuming Rollei shares similar characteristics to Kodak, you should make sure your darkroom is 100% light tight, not the 99% that maybe has been working for normal film. When I handled IR film I took precautions like taking off my watch to eliminate the dial that glows in the dark, covered the timer to eliminate it's lighted numbers, covered the little red lighted dots in my printer head that indicated its status, etc. I don't know whether that kind of thing is necessary with Rollei but it was with Kodak IR film (at least I was told it was and I never messed up a roll of IR).

    For processing there was nothing special about Kodak IR except that the 35mm film was very thin and hard to load on a reel because it kept twisting up. But I just processed it for whatever the recommended time was and don't recall doing anything special.

    After using IR film for a while I stopped worrying about focus shift. The amount of movement you make to compensate for it is almost infinitesimal and impossible to figure precisely when the lens doesn't have an IR marking as my LF lenses didn't. Plus it didn't really seem to matter even with 35mm lenses that had the marking. Depth of field will handle the tiny difference in focus and an IR negative isn't going to look super sharp anyhow, that's one of its appeals (at least with Kodak IR).

    Good luck, IR is a lot of fun, you never know what you're going to get until you make the print and occasionally you get a really good surprise.
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    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Ellis View Post
    Assuming Rollei shares similar characteristics to Kodak, you should make sure your darkroom is 100% light tight, not the 99% that maybe has been working for normal film. When I handled IR film I took precautions like taking off my watch to eliminate the dial that glows in the dark, covered the timer to eliminate it's lighted numbers, covered the little red lighted dots in my printer head that indicated its status, etc.
    That borders on superstition, though. Even HIE (which was more infrared sensitive than any currently available infrared film) was modestly sensitive overall (about ISO 24 when shot without filter, with light and IR sensitivity adding up). Weak visual light sources did not matter more to HIE than they would have to Tri-X, and the luminous paint on your watch or red LEDs are visual only. What you have to do is block infrared sources - but these generally are not visible, and hunting down them used to be close to impossible, which originated "block every potential source in sight" methods like the one you mention.

    Today, some twenty-five years after CCD video became consumer standard, checking a darkroom for IR tightness (or indeed a scene for IR intensity and quality) is easy and cheap - any old video camera with "night shot" mode can do it, and suitable Video8 camcorders with dead recorder section are next to free at any garage sale.

    Sevo

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    jp's Avatar
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    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    I've only done digital IR on a converted DSLR. Focus is very important unless you are using a very wide lens at a middle aperature. I typically lock the focus for the distance involved (focus, adjust, lock) and shoot away.

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    Drew Saunders drew.saunders's Avatar
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    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    Do a search for Infrared here, there was a thread a couple months ago in which many people added some technical information.

    Flickr groups with useful discussions are
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/efkeir820/
    and
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/68975634@N00/
    The moderator of the Efke IR820 group has a web site about using that film with a Holga that has good general information:
    http://www.theplasticlandscape.com/

    Digital Truth has a whole bunch of articles on modern IR films at the top of this page:
    http://www.digitaltruth.com/articles.php

    I've used Efke IR820 and Rollei IR400. The Efke has a stronger IR "glow" effect, but is a less convenient film. It is very scratch prone (needs a hardening fixer with all the lovely scents associated with it) and less sensitive. With the R72, the Efke IR820 is best shot at around ISO 1 if using an external hand-held meter. Yep, that's 1 second at f16 on a sunny day. The Rollei is more sensitive, less grainy, and not scratch prone, and it works between ISO 2 and 8 if using an external meter. Of course, if you're not metering through the filter, then you have to figure out how IR sensitive your meter is relative to the film. Both the Rollei and Efke have an anti-halation layer that you'll want to remove with a good pre-soak before developing. The Efke is essentially useless without a really good pre-soak.

    It's convenient to learn on 35mm or 120 and with a camera with a TTL meter, then compare the results to your hand-held to calibrate your external meter. If doing that, set the TTL meter for ISO 25 or 32 for the Efke IR820 and 50 to 100 for the Rollei. Test & bracket and decide what you like.

    Here's my IR set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drew_sa...7618657774764/
    I include some exposure details on some of the pics.

    It's fun stuff, but very far from plug & play.

    If you're looking for the HIE effect, I've heard the new Efke IR820 Aura is closer to the old Kodak HIE, but is only available in 35mm. It has enhanced "glow" but enhanced grain and is a bit over the top for my tastes.

    The Rollei doesn't require loading the film in the camera in absolute darkness, but the Efke suggests doing so, but only for 35mm (since the "fuzz" that the film travels through as it leaves the cassette is apparently not IR light tight). I've found no problems loading the 35mm Efke in subdued light.

    Drew
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/drew_saunders/

  7. #7

    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    Quote Originally Posted by drew.saunders View Post

    Flickr groups with useful discussions are
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/efkeir820/
    and
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/68975634@N00/
    The moderator of the Efke IR820 group has a web site about using that film with a Holga that has good general information:
    http://www.theplasticlandscape.com/

    That would be me I have used the Efke film quite a bit but mainly in medium format. Check out the links above for more info

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    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    Now I was told from a guy at BH months ago that the Rollei IR film (for 120) did not need to be loaded in total darkness. That being said, if this was true would this affect the film for total IR effect output? Just a thought and a question.

    santo

  9. #9

    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    Quote Originally Posted by Santo Roman View Post
    Now I was told from a guy at BH months ago that the Rollei IR film (for 120) did not need to be loaded in total darkness. That being said, if this was true would this affect the film for total IR effect output? Just a thought and a question.

    santo
    You can treat it like any standard B&W. I would not load your camera in full mid-day sun in the middle of the desert but then again I would also not load up Tri-X in full mid-day sun in the middle of the desert

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    Re: Infrared Film Question - Is it plug and play?

    Wallace,

    I'm with you. I try to avoid direct sunlight with any loading of film. I think the guy at BH was blowing smoke through the bellows.

    santo

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