Efke IR film and Largeformat

[AndreasT]

Hi all,
I would like to use IR film for the very first time. What I am unsure about is how safe the bellows are. I remember reading many years ago that one must use a metal camera otherwise the film will fog or go black. Surely this is exaggerated, but how safe are the normal canvas and the leather wide-angle bellows from Cambo.
Thanks,
Andreas

 

[keithwms]

Nah you don't need a metal camera. You just have to test. I would also recommend putting a (non cotton) thick dark cloth over the whole rig while exposing. Another potential source of fog are the filmholders, you have to test those too (so far I am having no issues with the new fidelity holders). It's hard to say whether certain bellows will or won't work, you have to test them. I had some bellows on my horseman VH that definitely leaked IR. I haven't had issues with any other bellows, including cambo bellows. Leather should be fine. But it's almost always best to err on the side of caution!

 

[AndreasT]

Thanks keithwms,
I will try it out.
Andreas