Minolta a-7 and lford sfx200

absalom1951 · Jun 22, 2022

By the information I have read I can't shoot infrared film in my Minolta a-7, but can I shoot Ilford sfx 200 in it ?

xkaes · Jun 22, 2022

Makes me wonder about other Minolta cameras of the same period, such as the Maxxum 5 -- which I use. This is the first I've heard of this!

Paul Howell · Jun 22, 2022

It is not a true infared film, you don't need the infared adjustment mark on the lens to correct for distance.

Paul Howell · Jun 22, 2022

None of my AF lens are set up the adjustment mark on the lens barrel to adjust, so it would a matter of guess work to determine the focus shift if using true infrared film. Does anyone make a true infrared film?

absalom1951 · Jun 22, 2022

I'm not sure if this is legal but here is a quote I have copied from a site::

"The one thing you should not use the Minolta Dynax 7 for is Infra-Red photography. This is because it does not use conventional sprockets to move and measure the film, instead it has a little IR emitter and sensor inside the back that counts sprocket holes and makes it possible to change films mid-roll and then pick them up again with less wastage. The down-side is that the IR emitter will fog IR film."

https://www.35mmc.com/10/07/2020/minolta-dynax-7-review/

So since the sfx isn't a true infrared film it will be safe to use in an a-7 ?

MattKing · Jun 22, 2022

absalom1951 said:
So since the sfx isn't a true infrared film it will be safe to use in an a-7 ?

Maybe.
It depends on how close to the visible spectrum the light from the IR emitter is.

absalom1951 · Jun 23, 2022

xkaes said:
Makes me wonder about other Minolta cameras of the same period, such as the Maxxum 5 -- which I use. This is the first I've heard of this!

I'm wondering now too, Not sure how one could find out ?

MattKing said:
Maybe.
It depends on how close to the visible spectrum the light from the IR emitter is.

I might just run a roll through the camera and hope for the best. Or, with this being my first experience with sfx I might use my 800si. I don't think it has the ir emitter.

Paul Howell said:
None of my AF lens are set up the adjustment mark on the lens barrel to adjust, so it would a matter of guess work to determine the focus shift if using true infrared film. Does anyone make a true infrared film?

My 50mm 1.7 af has the infrared adjustment mark but my other af lens don't. Not sure of any manufacturers of a true infrared film..

xkaes · Jun 23, 2022

The Minolta Maxxum 7 is not the only camera that did away with the film spockets. There are other Maxxum cameras, like the Maxxum 5, and other non-Minolta cameras that did the same. Whether these will fog IR film is unclear to me.

There is an easy formula to compute the IR distance adjustment based on the focal length of the lens. I don't have it in front of me, but it will be easy to find on line. Then you can make an IR mark on your lens -- this will be more involved with zoom lenses, of course.

Paul Howell · Jun 23, 2022

Unless you find a true Infrared film you do not be concerned about changing the focused distance or worry about shooting with a sprocketless camera. Both ILford and Rollei IR style films do not appear to be true Infrared. Both can be loaded in daylight, can shot with and without a red filter, can be used with yellow, green, and orange filters etc.

Andrew O'Neill · Jun 23, 2022

You do not need to worry about focus correction with SFX or Rollei IR. The only film I corrected for was with good old HIE, but only when I had an opaque filter on the lens.

Paul Howell · Jun 23, 2022

With Kodak and Konica HIR you had to load and unload in the dark, had to guess at exposure, Konica provided a table, the sunny 16 for HIR, and shoot with the correct red filter. Kodak made a lot of HIR in long rolls for the Air Force and Navy for specialized recon. I think it was last made in the early 2000s. I see expired rolls on ebay and ESTY occasionally, but unless frozen I doubt it would hold up well.

Henrik Wilson · Sep 22, 2022

I was hoping to use the Ilford SFX200 as a substitute for Rollei Infrared. The Rollei had sold out at my local store. I picked up a B+W E55, opaque filter, and intend to shoot with my Minolta SRT303, 5.6 at 5 seconds at iso 400 through the 24mm at infinity or the 58mm (above 2.8). I am pointing at some big ol' trees, fields, a bronze age burial ground, and most likely in cloudy Scandi- conditions. The sun could turn out to be super sharp. Has anyone had any experience with this particular combo? What would be the ideal range and setting for this film with this filter? Thanks.

xkaes · Oct 10, 2022

Minolta was not the only company to do away with the sprockets. The AMAZING MAXXUM 5 does not have sprockets -- but it has just about everything else! I don't have a list but it's easy to see if your camera has done away with them and uses an IR-type system. Just open the back and see if there are sprockets. Will the light fog a particular film? I doubt it, but it's easy to find out.

Minolta a-7 and lford sfx200

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Minolta a-7 and lford sfx200

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