Using IR googles in the darkroom - effect of red'ish IR lights

Fatih Ayoglu

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Hi all,

I know this has been discussed but I couldn’t find an answer for this specific question.

So I have purchased Ir googles from Amazon, however they have red lights on the side next to the camera.

I’m wondering if they would fog film? Currently i am covering the lights with a strip of developed color film which lowers the intensity. I have tested this on RA4 print and it works fine but I’m wondering if it would fog if I don’t cover the lights.

The specific model I have purchased is https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B088ZQ6B64?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

The spec sheet says it has 850nm led’s bit there is an obvious red glow, which I’m trying to block with film as mentioned.


Many thanks,
Fatih
 
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Rick A

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I have that NVG, haven't fogged any film yet. Disclaimer: I don't trust them with IR film. They work great for loading 8x10 film holders, but I really don't need them. They probably would be great for tray developing LF.

Nightvision goggles for developing film?

I know I've read somewhere (I believe Ken Lee) that it's possible to develop film while wearing nightvision goggles to help see what you're doing. Normally I wouldn't need an aid to develop film in trays but now that I'm developing my film at home it's become a lot more difficult to maneuver...
www.largeformatphotography.info
 
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Kino

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Those are the exact same IR goggles I have and the lights can be defeated.

I have a 940 nm IR flashlight I use, pointed up at the ceiling to avoid shining a beam directly on the film. The flashlight is rechargeable, rather inexpensive and does a good job of illuminating the work area with indirect IR light. The rechargeable part is particularly nice, as it is easy to forget the flashlight is even on, unless you touch it. It does get warm, but not blazing hot...

Miramagjus Zoom Infrared Illuminator IR 940NM Led Flashlight hunting light night | eBay

1 502B IR 940NM Led Flashlight. v Single Mode/One Mode 940 IR Flashlight: 1 switch mode(On/OFF). Press the tail button of the ir flashlights to turn on/off it, when the ir night vision flashlight is turning on, you can look at the led bulb of infrared flashlight, and by your naked eyes you can...
www.ebay.com

Has worked fine for X-Ray and Arista EDU 100 film with no fogging.
 
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Fatih Ayoglu

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Yes this is 950nm model which doesn’t have red glows around IR leds, sadly mine is 850 version and has the red glow
 
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Fatih Ayoglu

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Sorry yours is 850nm version as well? I can check the torch method as well
 

Kino

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Fatih Ayoglu said:
Sorry yours is 850nm version as well? I can check the torch method as well
Click to expand...

Yes, as I stated, I have the exact same night vision goggles. I place the lamp output on "0" and shine the flashlight up at the ceiling to avoid shining the lamp light from this unit directly on the film.

However, once I did leave the 850nm lamps on while loading a sheet of 4x5 film and didn't notice any fogging from the headlamps.
 

mshchem

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It's just a matter of time and sensitivity. If you can see it given time It's going to fog film.I use IR goggles, illumination is invisible, no problems, I had a cheap IR flood light I tossed as I could see it.
 

mshchem

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Consider that without a lens even your eyeballs would have a hard time detecting 850nm light. Still I don't want to be in a rush. There's invisible IR lamps available, I have one, the only way I can tell if it's on is with my goggles.
 

eli griggs

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Seeing this for the first time, I believe I'd like having these in my darkroom, both for cutting plate sized films and papers and to see if I could detect dust motes in film holders and the film or paper going into it.

Is that even possible?
 

reddesert

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My experience with light leaks onto digital detectors such as CCDs, is that black tape like gaffer's tape is often opaque to visual light but passes a substantial amount of light longward of 700 nm or so. Even black plastic like that of an encapsulated optoisolator (like an IC chip) can leak a lot of IR.

If you can see it, it's emitting shortward of 700nm or so and film can see it. Put black tape over it and most likely, the IR goggles will see it but film won't.
 

Philippe-Georges

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This one is safe (attachment), the IR lamp is on top of the viewer.
Kodak had a perfectly safe filter for their Beehive Darkroom Lights (I must still have a spare laying somewhere).




Made in the USA by FJW Industries
 
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lamerko

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I have a Nightfox Swift 2 Pro. It has two built-in diodes - at 850 and 940 nm. I haven't had a problem with fogging, but the glasses are big, heavy and steam up a lot on these warm days.
 
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Fatih Ayoglu

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Yes the upgraded model has 2 leds ans apparently 940nm version of the leds doesn’t have red glow, only 850nm version has. I should have red the specs carefully
 

Kino

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eli griggs said:
Seeing this for the first time, I believe I'd like having these in my darkroom, both for cutting plate sized films and papers and to see if I could detect dust motes in film holders and the film or paper going into it.

Is that even possible?
Click to expand...

In my experience with the Original Nightfox Swift goggles, the resolution is not fine enough to see dust, but it is useful enough for cutting film and loading holders.

I also had to rig-up a second strap to ensure the mask is tightly pressed against my face to avoid light leaking from around the mask edges. As Lamerko states, they do tend to fog-up as well, but they are not $2K goggles either...
 

eli griggs

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Cheers!
 
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Fatih Ayoglu

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So, I have ordered couple of 850nm floodlights from Amazon and 940nm torch. Although if I directly look at 850nm floodlights I can see the red glow but if I tilt them towards the ceiling, red glow is not visible plus the whole darkroom is IR illuminated. (It is well enough that I dont need NVS IR turned on, so can keep it at IR0)

With 940nm torch, obviously there is no red glow so I will keep it close to my enlarger where I might need a bit more illumination.

Thanks all for your help and suggestions.
 

Philippe-Georges

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I found the IR filters for the Kodak beehive safelights, these are my never used spares.
Apparently there are two versions which you can see by the way the product indentfication is marked, but I suppose they do the same thing.


 

koraks

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Fatih Ayoglu said:
850nm led’s
Click to expand...

At 850nm RA4 paper has virtually no sensitivity.
The main question is how much side-band emission those LEDs have at shorter wavelengths that the paper does 'see'.
Don't worry about the numbers, though. Just do a safelight test. Be sure to test not just the level at which the paper whites fog cyan; that's several stops above the threshold where the color balance starts to shift. Expose a print, and then cover half of it with an opaque material. Expose the other half to the light of your IR goggles. You could test various IR exposure times to see at what point (if any) the color balance starts to change.
 

Philippe-Georges

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This is the LED 'beam' I have, it's perfectly safe for E-6, C-41 and B&W emulsions, I have used, and tested, it for over 20 years...
I don't know the light frequency but I don't care, I simply asked the (Italian) supplier for an absolutely safe system and this is what he provided.


 
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