Pushing Rollei Infrared 400?

OrientPoint · Feb 18, 2023

This is probably a stupid question, so forgive me, but why aren't there infrared light meters? Or are there?

Neil Grant · Feb 18, 2023

OrientPoint said:
This is probably a stupid question, so forgive me, but why aren't there infrared light meters? Or are there?

...very little IR film is used these days, so the market for a meter would be miniscule. Getting exposure correct with IR film - even without a meter - isn't that difficult. No doubt helped due to the narrow range of lighting conditions under which the film is typically exposed, namely bright sunshine. FIltration with the only? IR film (Aviophot 200) is also more-or-less standardised to the R 72.
The negative is also an intermediate - with substantial tolerance to overexposure.
Most of the members here suggest a barely double digit ISO with the R72 which is a good starting point.

Helge · Feb 18, 2023

There is SFX, Aviphot 80 and 200, Tasma (tragically unavailable now obviously) and there is a third I seem to recall, but can’t remember the name.

You can do your own IR meter by removing the blue filter from a silicon meter (only meter type that reaches into IR).
Then place an IR gel over the metering window. Or just meter with the gel and live with the reduced sensitivity.
You’d have to completely recalibrate the meter though.
Most easily done with a dial meter like the Gossens.

retina_restoration · Feb 18, 2023

Rollei IR tends to be very contrasty and has difficulty retaining shadow information, so pushing it is only going to exacerbate these qualities.

MattKing · Feb 18, 2023

FWIW, I've had good results with an older version of Rollei IR films and Ilford SFX on days where there isn't any bright sunshine - high overcast instead.

Helge · Feb 19, 2023

retina_restoration said:
Rollei IR tends to be very contrasty and has difficulty retaining shadow information, so pushing it is only going to exacerbate these qualities.

Only when pushed or exposed “wrong”. The toe is surprisingly big, when you shoot it at actual speed and develop it carefully.

retina_restoration · Feb 19, 2023

Helge said:
Only when pushed or exposed “wrong”. The toe is surprisingly big, when you shoot it at actual speed and develop it carefully.

But the OP is inquiring about "pushability" of the film, which is - in effect - NOT exposing it correctly.

Pushing Rollei Infrared 400?

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