Does anyone make 4x5 Infrared film anymore?

dschmittle

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• Dec 10, 2006

• #1

I have shot infrared in 35mm in the past and loved the challenges that go with it and of course the results. I'm just getting into 4x5 but I haven't seen any Infrared in that size?
Are there companies I don't know about or has everyone discontinued making them?:confused:
Dave

 

lamda

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Vermont

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• Dec 10, 2006

• #2

Infared compatible with bellows?

I have read that typical large format camera bellows will not stop infrared, so infrared is not available in sheet film sizes. I've never tried it myself, so I'm not certain this is true.

 

keeds

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• Dec 10, 2006

• #3

Retrophotographic sell a Rollei IR film in 5x4. Never used it.

 

Peter Black

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• Dec 10, 2006

• #4

Rollei (formerly Maco) make IR film in 4x5. US stockist is presumably J&C, UK supplier is Retro Photographic.

Dead Link Removed

 

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dschmittle

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• Dec 10, 2006

• #5

Thanks!
Dave

 

BarryWilkinson

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• Dec 10, 2006

• #6

Robert White also stocks it.

Barry

 

DrPablo

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• Dec 10, 2006

• #7

I really like the new Rollei 400 IR film for 4x5. I rate it at ISO 3 using an r72 filter, and it works great. I've developed it in Xtol 1:1 for 12 minutes. I bought a box of 25 sheets at B+H.

This is a pano crop of a 4x5 image shot as described:

http://www.pbase.com/drpablo74/image/71423181/original

 

colrehogan

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• Dec 10, 2006

• #8

Now if they only made it in 8x10 (which they don't).

 

WRSchmalfuss

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• Jan 9, 2007

• #9

The reason while the ROLLEI IR 820/400 film cannot be made in larger formats as 4x5", is his 100 micron polyester film base! As an fairly good substitute, you can also try the ROLLEI R3 film, at ISO 25, with the IR filters 89B or 88A. The R3 film has an extended sensibility up to 730-750 nm. The wood effects are not as good as for example the KODAK HIE, but therefore much better in sharpness, tonality and fine grain. Give it a try!

 

pgomena

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• Jan 9, 2007

• #10

Some camera bellows are not "infrared-proof," others are. If you have a wooden field camera with a leather bellows, you're in for trouble. A metal Sinar with Sinar bellows does not pass infrared, at least not enough over the length of an exposure to fog film. Film holders are not created equal, either. Old Riteway holders pass infrared, newer Lisco and Fidelity do not. You need to test both your holders and your camera/bellows setup before exposing 4x5 film. A cheap way to help with the bellows is to wrap it in aluminum foil. Not foolproof, but helpful. These tips from when I was a student at Brooks.

Peter Gomena

 

Terence

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• Jan 9, 2007

• #11

pgomena said:

Some camera bellows are not "infrared-proof," others are. If you have a wooden field camera with a leather bellows, you're in for trouble. A metal Sinar with Sinar bellows does not pass infrared, at least not enough over the length of an exposure to fog film. Film holders are not created equal, either. Old Riteway holders pass infrared, newer Lisco and Fidelity do not. You need to test both your holders and your camera/bellows setup before exposing 4x5 film. A cheap way to help with the bellows is to wrap it in aluminum foil. Not foolproof, but helpful. These tips from when I was a student at Brooks.

Peter Gomena

Click to expand...

I've had the opposite experience. Leather bellows and wooden film holders have been fine, but some synthetic bellows and plastic holders have NOT been opaque to IR.

 

pgomena

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• Jan 10, 2007

• #12

Test, test, test. Your results may vary. Given all the possible combinations of bellows and camera construction, it's better to test first rather than blow a shot in the field. Some wood (or the paint on it) may pass IR or not. Is it the leather, the dye in the leather or the lining of the bellows that is impermeable to IR or reflects it? Hard to say. When I was using 4x5 IR in school, it was Kodak. It likely was more sensitive to a broader spectrum of IR than the currently available films, as is the 35mm HIE. Other films may not be as easily fogged in the same holders or cameras.

Peter Gomena

 

JBrunner

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• Jan 10, 2007

• #13

The Rollei 400 IR film is available in 4x5 from Freestyle.

 

markbb

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• Jan 10, 2007

• #14

I've used the Maco film in an Ebony with no problems with leaks. Film was held in a graphmatic as I've heard the light trap in normal holders can sometimes cause problems.