Ilford SFX 200

WillMcC

Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
7
Location
Stockholm, S
Format
35mm
Has anybody shot with this without a filter?
Has anyone got some photos they're willing to share of the results?
I've not shot with it before, was curious as to the results.
Am I right in thinking that it'll come out just like a regular expensive B and W film as it's not a true InfraRed film?
Kind regards,
Will.
 

markbarendt

Member
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
9,422
Location
Beaverton, OR
Format
Multi Format
I don't have any scanned to share but yes it looks very normal shot without filters.
 

bdial

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
7,463
Location
North East U.S.
Format
Multi Format
It's grainy compared to the contemporary usual suspects (Tri-X, TMax xxx, HP5,FP4), which gives it a bit of an "old school" look.
 

IloveTLRs

Member
Joined
May 22, 2007
Messages
1,132
Location
Boston
Format
Sub 35mm
Last edited by a moderator:

Thomas Bertilsson

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2003
Messages
15,708
Location
Switzerland
Format
Multi Format
It's a really great portrait film. Its grain is beautiful, and I would like to imagine that its slightly extended red sensitivity helps skin tones.

Why not purchase a few rolls and try it out on the subject matter you like? Discover its possibilities by changing your technique with exposure, different lighting scenarios, different developing times, etc. Print a few of the negatives, and then judge for yourself.
 

Robert Ley

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 9, 2004
Messages
664
Location
Buffalo, New
Format
Multi Format
How does one shoot this film with an IR filter such as the Hoya R72? Any problems with a dark red filter?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 

Thomas Bertilsson

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2003
Messages
15,708
Location
Switzerland
Format
Multi Format
Robert Ley said:
How does one shoot this film with an IR filter such as the Hoya R72? Any problems with a dark red filter?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...

A dark red filter will produce minimal IR effect. In order to fully bring it out, it's best to use the SFX filter that Ilford makes (I think they still make it), which lets through only a narrow band of wavelengths to hit the sweet spot of the film.
You'd have to be on a tripod, and use a meter as if the film was around ISO 1 to ISO 3 or so, and then bracket. Like with any IR film you will soon learn what works and what doesn't.

I hope that helps.
 

Tony-S

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Messages
1,144
Location
Colorado, USA
Format
Multi Format
Thomas Bertilsson said:
A dark red filter will produce minimal IR effect. In order to fully bring it out, it's best to use the SFX filter that Ilford makes (I think they still make it), which lets through only a narrow band of wavelengths to hit the sweet spot of the film.
Click to expand...

The Cokin 007 is the same filter.
 

polyglot

Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2009
Messages
3,467
Location
South Australia
Format
Medium Format
I use a generic Chinese clone of the R72 (720nm lowpass) and SFX comes out well at EI2 with that filter.

I also found that TTL metering with my Dynax 5 worked fine through the filter with this film (DX box speed 200) - your results will vary with the spectral sensitivity of your camera's meter so you might need to apply a consistent adjustment, e.g. by forcing the camera's ISO setting to something else.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,836
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
My entry in the Ilford APUG contest a few years ago was shot on unfiltered SFX 200.

The slightly different spectral response is interesting to work with.
 

Attachments

  • Dead_tulips-01b.jpg
    312.2 KB · Views: 153

Truzi

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2012
Messages
2,650
Format
Multi Format
I've only shot a couple rolls, and do not have an IR filter (sorry, don't have a scanner to post pictures).

I really like SFX. It does look like "normal" B&W without a filter, but seems to have a different "feel" to it.
 

Robert Ley

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 9, 2004
Messages
664
Location
Buffalo, New
Format
Multi Format
Thanks for the exposure info on this film. I shot a few rolls of this film years ago, but forgot how I shot it. I have found a few frozen rolls of 120 that I think I might like to try and will probably try to process it in Thornton's two bath developer. Any other processing suggestions?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…