FPP 200 Infrared first try and conclusion

First, let me say I have never worked with a sheet film with an emulsion on this thin of a base. That might not sound like that big a deal, but trust me, it is. Just handling the stuff is bad enough, but then try to get it in and out of 4X5 sheet film holders. But that's not half as bad as when it comes to developing this film. I love my SP-445 sheet film tank and have never had a problem using it until this film. The SP-445 tank has two holders that each hold two sheets for four total. When I tried loading the sheets I would get one side loaded, turn it over to load side two and the just loaded sheet would fall out. The film is so flimsy it sags when upside down a falls out. For the rest of my sheets, I'm going to make a set of BTZS tubes and develop with them. I think the film itself is great, except for the base thickness. I tried a couple of shots with my 4X5 falling plate camera and those were so dense that I could just make out the highest thin shadow area and my old Epson just couldn't penetrate it. Total bust. I also used my Chamonix 4X5 and Fuji A 180mm f9 + R72 filter and those were keepers.
Here is a look at some results.


I think I would rate this FPP IR 200 film at EI 160 and use either UFG or XT-3R. The fireworks shots I took with the 1898 Cyclone Senior Falling-plate box camera sitting on the ground and holding the camera on my knee. Just threw them in for Andy. I used HP5+ and XT-3R for those. I'll be going out somemore with the Cyclone camera, but it won't be with FPP IR 200 that's for sure. The first "A" steam locomotive coal tower shot was not FPP200 IR. I used Shanghai GP3 for that one, and it's just a reference shot.

Nice results! Including the firework shots!
Yes, I also struggle with those thin sheets of film, especially when pulling them out of the BTZS tubes, unless I pre-wash prior to development, before inserting into the tubes. Then they slide out quite easy. The first box I ever got many moons ago, I accidentally loaded two sheets together on one side. The stuff is so thin! And to make matters worse as I progressed through the box, the notch codes became less and less until nothing! Thankfully, I haven't had that happen since!

Andrew O'Neill said:

Nice results! Including the firework shots!
Yes, I also struggle with those thin sheets of film, especially when pulling them out of the BTZS tubes, unless I pre-wash prior to development, before inserting into the tubes. Then they slide out quite easy. The first box I ever got many moons ago, I accidentally loaded two sheets together on one side. The stuff is so thin! And to make matters worse as I progressed through the box, the notch codes became less and less until nothing! Thankfully, I haven't had that happen since!

Click to expand...

Thanks Andy! The results aren't top-notch since I wasn't feeling 100% and it was just a practice run anyway. You can see shot "C" has two creases across it. I honestly did not even know I did that or how.
All the sheets so far have a corner cut off. I had to waste a sheet since I was looking for the typical notches on the narrow edge. My main problem is that when I came back from that wonderful year long vacation to Southeast Asia that my Uncle Sam sent me on I came back with severe nervous system problems and have almost no sensitivity feelings in my extremities, such as the tips of my fingers. My fingers and those thin sheets just don't see eye to eye. That's why tray processing sheet film is extremely hard for me. The SP-445 sheet film tank still isn't easy for me, but pretty darn good anyway.