IR film: any users of it in sheet film size?

Can you enlighten me on the results of IR sheet film, Freestyle has it and I've not used it in sheets and only very limited in roll film sizes decades ago?

With or without a filter, which red and what effect, what developer, your experiences etc.?

Thanks,
Curt

i use efke ir820 sheet film occasionally. 4x5 size.

The red filter is not enough for this film. With 720 ir filter the result is nice.

I expose with exposure index 1.5 when the filter is on. Sometimes iso 3 is also enough.

For develop i use d-23 as two bath.

The IR films out there are crap compared to the long gone Kodak stuff. I've tried them all. I've stuck with Efke's, but it's a love hate relationship. If you want classic IR effect, you have to shoot with an opaque IR filter (kodak 87), rate the film at EI 1.5, and get used to exposures at f/11 on a sunny day to run up and beyond 22 seconds (with reciprocity factored in). I get best results in xtol 1+1, developed for 14:00, in BTZS tubes. Rollie's isn't any better, but the grain is. Hate that micro thin film base though!! SOMEONE PLEASE BRING BACK KODAK'S IR FILM!!! Come on China!

I also use Efke IR820 with R72, rated 1.5-3. Rodinal has given me good results in the past. With my Burnette Combo, I am, with some difficulty, able to shoot it handheld at 1/30s :lol:

http://flic.kr/p/7S6mJS
http://flic.kr/p/7RcFYM

Handheld:
http://flic.kr/p/7QFVce

I think that both b/w IR films available today are great. Each has a different look. Efke is grungy, has a wonky curve, and has a more intense IR effect. Rollei is very clean and modern looking and has a milder IR effect; it also works very well as a standard film, even without the IR filtration. I like either of them better than Kodak's for most things, and they are available in a larger array of formats. It's all a matter of opinion, as you see.

The big advantage of the Kodak was that you could get decent IR effects hand with a 25A or 29 filter held without a focus adjustment.

I would like to figure out how to do the required defocusing to get things sharp when using a large format camera.

I have never used a 22 second exposure on a clear and sunny day. On overcast days, yes; it needs a ton of exposure then. But in the sun at f/11, I would usually shoot a bracketed sequence at 2 sec, 1 sec., and 1/2 sec.

There's a formula for the amount of focus shift required depending on the focal length of the lens. Basically add .25% of focal length to the bellows extension (or Focal Length ÷ 400). I've also seen 1/200 (or 0.5%) mentioned elsewhere.... I'll have to do some tests :LOL:

Efke IR820c 'Aura' has best HIE look, but it's far away from it like others too
Efke also has a big 'disaster factor' due the nonexist quality control.

Something like HIE would be nice to have...


Couple of Efke samples:

120: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/3753458066_fd917262e3_o.jpg

4x5: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2610/3873337247_b02e740e37_o.jpg
4x5: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3874472390_04119eba8d_o.jpg

Thanks all, nice photos and excellent feedback.

Curt

In 4x5 I only use Rollei IR 400 and Efke IR 820. I'd say Efke has more of a typical, dreamy IR look, bu lacks some sharpness/crispness. Mainly because of its dreamy/glowing look. Sometimes it can come in handy, sometimes I prefer a more accurate look, which the Rollei IR 400 provides. Still IR, but much sharper, less grain.

As a filter I use a Heliopan RG 715 (715nm). In medium format I use a 700nm filter made by Rollei.

Exposurewise, when using the 715nm filter, I set my light meter to 1-3 ASA for the Efke and to somewhere between 3-12 ASA for the Rollei. As always with IR, I do some "bracketing". I usually estimate the correct exposure (light meter + experience + some guessing) and then take another shot overexposed by one stop.

I process film at home. Recently, I got hooked to black & white slides, so I now mostly do b&w reversal processing. It's the same process, no matter what film it is.

Here's an example of a recent IR shot in 4x5 on Efke IR 820 with a 715nm filter.

IR film

I use Rollei IR in 120 and 4x5 without a filter and with red 29 and 25. My main use however is with a 720 nm filter. It has a decent speed of 6 with that filter, developed in replenished xtol stock for 8 min. Much finer grain than Efke, which as has been said, has unpredictable quality. Their regular b/w film has the same problems. Saving money on film is poor economics.