Ilford FP4 Control Strips?

darinwc · Nov 16, 2014

I recently purchases 4 100-foot rolls of Ilford FP4 Control strips.
I had no idea what they were, but I thought it sounded like fun.

So they are rolls of pre-exposed film in 1 foot increments. As FP4 is my favorite film, this will be useful in ensuring my development technique is good.

However, I was hoping to have some fun with them and load it in some 35mm film canisters. But the film is unperforated, so it wont work in any of my cameras.

Any other ideas?

Bill Burk · Nov 16, 2014

Since it's pre-exposed... I don't think you want to put it in cameras unless you want to double-expose the film with a control strip pattern?

summicron1 · Nov 16, 2014

828 cameras don't need perforations.

darinwc · Nov 16, 2014

Bill Burk said:
Since it's pre-exposed... I don't think you want to put it in cameras unless you want to double-expose the film with a control strip pattern?

Thats exactly what I wanted to do!

pdeeh · Nov 17, 2014

Got an MF camera and a couple of empty spools?

A folder works for this with least fuss.

(If you've got a 3D printer or access to one or want to go to a 3D shop, there are also a few public domain plans available for making a 135-to-120 adapter, e.g. Dead Link Removed)

AgX · Nov 17, 2014

-) use the Rapid System

-) use a standard camera, but advance by opening the back in changing bag and advance by turning the take-up spool at ist flanges

-) cut off strips and fix them with some tape on the rails

In any case: you don't know of the positioning of the pre-exposed Images on the film Strip, thus you likely get overlapping double-exposures.

Bill Burk · Nov 17, 2014

darinwc said:
Thats exactly what I wanted to do!

How about just rolling some in a 120 spool with backing paper... Shoot in any 120 camera, shooting sideways (wide landscapes)?

It would probably be awesome in a 6x9 folder like an Ikonta

pdeeh · Nov 18, 2014

I already suggested that
But you don't even need backing paper - though you do need to make sure the red window (if there is one) is properly light-tight in that case. You can load and unload in a dark bag -

ic-racer · Nov 18, 2014

Conventional control strips are already exposed. You process them at your usual development time and record the resulting gamma. Now you have a reference point to compare other films or to compare the same film process through time. I believed those strips were made to monitor process on the Ilford FP40 Minilab-style B&W film processor.

This PDF from Ilford explains how to use the strips: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/20114271214382932.pdf and more info here: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2011427121401968.pdf

You can also easily make your own control strips with an enlarger and a step wedge or other sensitometer.

Ilford FP4 Control Strips?

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