IR Film With Ebony Cameras

[Mahombi]

Has anyone heard of any problems using IR film with Ebony cameras? I intend to shoot some IR film with my SW45 and have read that some camera bellows are susceptible to IR light leakage. I was wondering if Ebony was one of them.

[Don Hutton]

Has anyone heard of any problems using IR film with Ebony cameras? I intend to shoot some IR film with my SW45 and have read that some camera bellows are susceptible to IR light leakage. I was wondering if Ebony was one of them.

I have heard (i.e. this is not first hand) that the universal bellows (which have a leather front portion and if I remember correctly, the SW45 has the same "dual material" bellows) will leak IR through the leather front portion of the bellows. It's not an insurmountable problem - simply wrap that portion of the bellows with something which is IR impervious (I believe that one of those "wetsuit" material lens wraps works very well).

[Jim collum]

I have heard (i.e. this is not first hand) that the universal bellows (which have a leather front portion and if I remember correctly, the SW45 has the same "dual material" bellows) will leak IR through the leather front portion of the bellows. It's not an insurmountable problem - simply wrap that portion of the bellows with something which is IR impervious (I believe that one of those "wetsuit" material lens wraps works very well).

i shoot with an ebony and use a betterlight, which is very IR sensitive. using the universal bellows, i get significant IR fogging. as said, wrapping it with a lens wrap fixed it. their synthetic bellows works just fine

jim

[Steve Hamley]

Folks,

News to me. I've shot a box of 4x5 Maco IR with an Ebony SV45U and Universal bellows, no fogging at all that I could tell.

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/48246218

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/45623422

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/46037406

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/46120671

Steve

[Don Hutton]

Folks,

News to me. I've shot a box of 4x5 Maco IR with an Ebony SV45U and Universal bellows, no fogging at all that I could tell.

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/48246218

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/45623422

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/46037406

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/46120671

Steve
Steve

My guess is that the Maco is only sensitive to a very particular end of the IR spectrum; and even then, is not that sensitive at all! I've been doing some bizarre 11x14 palladium stuff with it - I shoot it at an ISO of 3 with an 87 filter!

[Steve Hamley]

Don,

True, I use a #92 filter and it's hard to fog the film with an open shutter. ISO about 1 or maybe 1/2.

But IR coming "through" a bellows wouldn't have the "benefit" of the filter.

Steve

[Mahombi]

Thanks for the information fellers. For the record, I will be shooting the new Rollei IR film which is made by Maco. This film has extended IR to 820nm (it says, on the label).

Don, are these lens wraps you recommend branded? I've got some synthetic Calumet ones, although I wouldn't exactly describe them as "wetsuit" like.

[Don Hutton]

Thanks for the information fellers. For the record, I will be shooting the new Rollei IR film which is made by Maco. This film has extended IR to 820nm (it says, on the label).

Don, are these lens wraps you recommend branded? I've got some synthetic Calumet ones, although I wouldn't exactly describe them as "wetsuit" like.

The Domke wraps are made from this material.

[Mahombi]

Much obliged Don.

Oh, incidentally, for those interested. I have had confirmation from Ebony that the bellows on the SW45 is not infra red proof. Although that is not necessarily the case with their other models. The SW45TE apparently is ok.


Mahombi

[DrPablo]

Which filter will you use for the new Rollei, and how will you meter?

A friend suggested a #87 and to open up 9 stops above standard metering.

[alec4444]

Anyone have IR experience with Wisner bellows? Was going to ask it in a separate thread then I saw this one... Also, is Maco making 11x14 IR film anymore? Saw an ad for some older film in that size.

--A

[Don Hutton]

Anyone have IR experience with Wisner bellows? Was going to ask it in a separate thread then I saw this one... Also, is Maco making 11x14 IR film anymore? Saw an ad for some older film in that size.

--A
I'm pretty sure they have discontinued it. I have a reasonably fresh box which I am using for a project - if you're interested in the balance when I am done (probably 10 sheets or so), drop me a line.

[Mahombi]

Hi Paul

I intend to use an #87 (mainly because it's the only one I have). The tech info I got says to rate the film at ISO 25 if using a #88A or RG 715. I'm going to run a test roll first through a Hasselblad, halving the film speed with each frame. That should take me beyond the 9 stops you were advised to go for. I'll meter as for regular Pan film. Exposure with IR is generally hit an miss to a certain degree, depending on the level of infra red at the time. I bracket the exposures in the field. I'll let you know how the test roll turns out. All I have to do now is decide which dev to use.

Does anyone have any dev times for this film with Xtol (1:3 or 1:4) or Rodinol (1:100)? The Massive Dev Chart is a bit sparse with info on this film.

Terry

[alec4444]

Thanks, Don, I'm definitely interested, but I need to make sure my bellows will be sufficient. Then I need to check on whatever film holders I get to make sure they're "IR Compliant" as well. =)

--A