SFX update

[Don Mills]

I contacted the good folks at Freestyle and asked about the availability of this film. They called Ilford and were told that there was no launch date. They did not check with the factory before making their announcement that SFX would soon be available on a limited basis.

 

[jim appleyard]

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Petzi]

Why are people so excited about SFX? What is so unique about it?

 

[Mark Pope]

It's an extended red film. So you can get infra-red type effects with it using a deep red filter. Not quite as extreme as other infra-red films.

 

[jim appleyard]

You'll actually need an IR filter (Hoya R72 or similar) to get the "best" infrared look. Otherwise this film behaves like an ordinary b/w film. A red 29 will only go part way into IR with this film, but has it's own look.

Other bennies are that unlike true IR film, you can load and unload SFX in daylight and you don't have to change the focus of your lens like you do with true IR. Plus, newer cameras may have an IR counter that will fog IR film. With SFX, you can run it thru any 35mm regardless of what type of counter it has.

IR filters suck-up a lot of light and you'll need a tripod. I've found the best use for SFX is in scenics on bright, sunny days with a few clouds. Skies go dark and foliage goes white. It's also fun for female portraits.

 

[Terence]

I loved it for sunny days with a few puffy white clouds. With a red #25 filter you could get the sky BLACK and the clouds white without the blownout IR look you get with Kodak EIR.

Another great use for it is with rusty steel (old railroad truss bridges, etc) on a bright sunny day. Rivets and plate edges really pop.