ILFORD SFX 200 in 4x5 sheets

[Vangelis]

Hello!

I ask if there is any chance to produce this film in 4x5.
Today, the only infrared film available in sheets is the Rollei, but i think it is discontinued for this format.

 

[removedacct1]

Rollei Infrared isn’t discontinued. I see several retailers listing it, and the packaging has been updated/new graphics, so I doubt it’s discontinued. SFX doesn’t come in sheet format. Never has, to the best of my knowledge.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Rollei IR hasn't been discontinued, as far as I know. Why do you think it is? Also, it would be nice to have SFX in sheet sizes, but it won't happen. A sheet version would probably impact on the sales Delta 400...and there is a reason Delta 400 isn't available in 4x5... it would impact HP5 sales. Tis all a balancing act...

 

[Harman Tech Service]

Just to let you know I have passed this on to our Marketing staff for them to consider. However, SFX is not as big a seller as our conventional films and sheet film sales are always the lowest of each type...
If film lasted forever there would be no problem but the challenge is always to sell the film before it ages too much. Making a whole roll of film, selling part and sending the rest to silver recovery would only be a short lived business model
-David

 

[Donald Qualls]

Making a whole roll of film, selling part and sending the rest to silver recovery would only be a short lived business model

Agreed, and experimenting on customers to see who has how much tolerance for fog and loss of contrast is another one...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Well, if it ever got off the ground, I'd buy several boxes. I wouldn't even care if you used the same film base as the roll film... I mean, Rollei IR's base is super thin, and I've gotten used to it. If not, then you could always add a wee bit more red sensitivity to D400... Just keep it in roll format...That would make it a very unique film, and I would buy tons, as it has become a favourite of mine.

 

[removedacct1]

I'd be curious to know how much of the 4x5 Rollei IR400 is sold annually. I bet its a tiny amount - barely worth Rollei continuing production of it. For Ilford to step in and claim part of that market would make it a minuscule amount of product they're likely to sell. As much as I'd like to see an alternative to the Rollei IR product in sheet film, I can't imagine it would be worth Harman pursuing it.
Now if Kodak started making HIE in sheets again......whew!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Well, as soon as there is Rollei IR 4x5, on the shelves from where I order it from, it's gone. So Rollei must be doing okay, otherwise, they would keep making it. If they stop making it, I'll be in a bind as it's the only decent IR film out there... especially when my small stash of Efke IR is gone.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

...and yes, it would be lovely if Kodak brought back HIE, but very unlikely.

 

[removedacct1]

...and yes, it would be lovely if Kodak brought back HIE, but very unlikely.

Oh, its definitely not going to happen, but one can wish. At least I still have 12 sheets of HIE in 8x10 I can fiddle with.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Oh, its definitely not going to happen, but one can wish. At least I still have 12 sheets of HIE in 8x10 I can fiddle with.

8x10! Lucky you! Must be really old. I started shooting that stuff in the early 90's, and could only get my hands on 4x5. I do have about 25 sheets of expired 4x5 sheets... expired in 1967! It still produces decent images. I also have about 25 sheets of Efke IR 8x10, and about 45 sheets of 4x5.