4x5 Infrared?

Ole · Nov 21, 2006

Fotohuis said:
Efke 100 film is completely red blind.

Red=black.

No - EFKE 25 and 50 are red-blind (not completely, the sensitivity extends a tiny little bit into what's called "red"), and Efke 100 is a normal panchromatic film. At least it was so a few months ago!

Robert Hall · Nov 21, 2006

If you want to chase down every spec sheet out there AND have hours for exposure, I believe there are some films that have enough red sensitivity to show a near IR effect.

For the life of me, I wouldn't know which ones (if any, really).

Fotohuis · Nov 21, 2006

Yes, in this case you're right:
http://www.efke.nl/art100.html

http://www.efke.nl/art25.html

I made a mistake with the Efke 25/UP25 (Maco version), this one is almost red-blind.
We made an interesting grain and grey scale test for this film against Rollei PAN25, both in AM50 developer.

Thanks for correcting me.

For N.I.R. you can use e.g. Rollei R3 film. Extended red sensitivity.

timeUnit · Nov 21, 2006

Ilford Delta 3200 can be used with a R72 filter for an IR effect... there was a post here about it some time ago.

I'd like to clarify my statements regarding Middle Europe films. My personal opinion, based on my own results and experience, is that they do not live up to the QC of the big three. I have shot ten rolls of eFKe R50/Adox CHS 50, and three of them had quite a lot of pinholes, one had big bits of emulsion flaked off. Of the ten rolls of Foma film I've bought, all were defect. This is a known fact discussed here on APUG. Of the ten sheets of Fortepan 400 I've shot, about half had strange spots in the emulsion.

I've had one or two pinholes on Kodak film, no problems on Ilford films, none on Fuji films. I've shot hundreds of rolls of Kodak, Ilford and Fuji films, plus some sheets from Ilford and Fuji (just starting out with LF).

This is MY experience with these films, regardless what other people say.

I do not mean that these films are bad. I mean that my experience with these films has been less than great.

That said, I do love the skintones I get from eFKe 50. That straight middle part and lower red sensitivity is just lovely.

Terence · Nov 21, 2006

timeUnit said:
Ilford Delta 3200 can be used with a R72 filter for an IR effect... there was a post here about it some time ago.

I'd like to clarify my statements regarding Middle Europe films. My personal opinion, based on my own results and experience, is that they do not live up to the QC of the big three. I have shot ten rolls of eFKe R50/Adox CHS 50, and three of them had quite a lot of pinholes, one had big bits of emulsion flaked off. Of the ten rolls of Foma film I've bought, all were defect. This is a known fact discussed here on APUG. Of the ten sheets of Fortepan 400 I've shot, about half had strange spots in the emulsion.

I've had one or two pinholes on Kodak film, no problems on Ilford films, none on Fuji films. I've shot hundreds of rolls of Kodak, Ilford and Fuji films, plus some sheets from Ilford and Fuji (just starting out with LF).

This is MY experience with these films, regardless what other people say.

I do not mean that these films are bad. I mean that my experience with these films has been less than great.

That said, I do love the skintones I get from eFKe 50. That straight middle part and lower red sensitivity is just lovely.

Not to discount your experience, but the issues you mention with the Efke sound like they are probably due to:
[A] A softer emulsion (flaking emulsion), which although less desirable is not necessarily a defect when treated with care, and
Use of an acetic acid stop (pinholes) when a water stop bath would suffice.

Both of these issues have also been discussed extensively here. I have shot dozens of 120 rolls and a couple dozen 4x5 sheets of the various Efke/Adox films and have had no such issues. The films are certainly a little more finicky and delicate, but I wouldn't call them defective.

I can't speak to the Foma issues, as I have not used their products.

As for "the big three", I love Ilford, appreciate the fact that Fuji seems commited to film and will miss Kodak. Like it or not, Kodak's "new" color film is more of a "tweak" than a new product, and Kodak has all but said that they intend to get out of the non-digital business.

Fotohuis · Nov 21, 2006

No big deal: I am aware of sending Plzen beer to Göteborg instead of my latest SS20 rocket.

You're right about the less Q.C. of some European films. We have draw a line and for us Foma is an acceptable margin. Even we are aware about some % more risk about reclamations when selling these films. About my own experiences: Fuji none, Rollei none, Ilford rare and we got replacement, Foma we had some problems in the past and got replacement.
Kodak we do not use anymore. (But I am sure they will be OK).

Further you do not have to appologize, I just want to get rid of the idea that e.g. all Czech products are crappy. Or that everything is old fashioned overthere a.s.o.
Sweden is also OK, I have also been there, very modern country, more than Cz and even more modern than Holland.

timeUnit · Nov 21, 2006

Terence said:
Not to discount your experience, but the issues you mention with the Efke sound like they are probably due to:
[A] A softer emulsion (flaking emulsion), which although less desirable is not necessarily a defect when treated with care, and
Use of an acetic acid stop (pinholes) when a water stop bath would suffice.

As I knew both of the above, I try to use extra care when handling efke films, and I never use a acid stop bath for film. Despite this, I had some big holes in the emulsion.

You can see the holes here:
http://timeunit.se/article/192/Toandfro

Of course, I could have made the holes myself by being careless or not careful enough, but I must say I was surprised to see them as I examined the wet roll.

Terence · Nov 21, 2006

timeUnit said:
As I knew both of the above, I try to use extra care when handling efke films, and I never use a acid stop bath for film. Despite this, I had some big holes in the emulsion.

You can see the holes here:
http://timeunit.se/article/192/Toandfro

Of course, I could have made the holes myself by being careless or not careful enough, but I must say I was surprised to see them as I examined the wet roll.

I stand corrected.

Great photos, though. I love the top one.

poutnik · Nov 22, 2006

timeUnit, the toandfro photos are really great, something similar I have in my mind for quite a long time (but have not found the time so far to execute it) - but your photos made me think that I really have nothing important to do this evening Hope you don't mind...

timeUnit · Nov 22, 2006

Thanks Terence and Jiri!

Jersey Vic · Nov 24, 2006

Fotohuis said:
The Czech Republic can be proud of it's products and their industry. They certainly have some highlight on optical industry and metall fine parts. By the way it's Middle Europe, not Eastern Europe.

Robert

Exactly

Last time I checked both Prague and Zagreb were West of Vienna and I haven't heard Austria refered to as 'Eastern Europe" in too many conversations. No wonder my family in Zagreb was wondering (in Croatian, German, Italian and English) about the Americans' obsession with toliet paper availability in their country.

4x5 Infrared?

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