Anyone use Ilford 'SFX' ?

[Dave Wilkinson]

A friend of a friend just gave me a roll of Ilford SFX, ( 1 year out of date!) - he knows nothing about it, - niether do I!, I thought I'd tried everything after forty years!. The box recomends a red filter, and I'm assuming it's similar to i.r film?
I like to shoot street stuff and architecture, - and am wondering what kind of results i'll get? - or if it's worth bothering with? .....expose @ i.s.o 200??

Regards, Dave

 

[Xmas]

Speed cameras supposedly, there is a data sheet on the ilford site...

many points on your D licence?

Noel

 

[Mike Richards]

I tried out the film and basically don't like it. It has some IR sensitivity, so I put a B+W 091 filter on the camera, as recommended. There was some IR effect, but not enough to be visually interesting. I also tried 092 and 093 filters, but they cut out way too much light, resulting in ISO of perhaps 4 or 2. And it's grainy for an ISO 200 film. I suppose you could use a red filtered flash for surreptitous night shots if you are a private eye. I believe it was developed, as xmas indicates, for traffic cameras. Here, a red filtered flash produced enough light to capture the image, but not so much as to blind drivers.

 

[Xmas]

http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/prod_html/sfx200/sfx200.html

Noel

 

[Peter_Jones]

I use a bog standard red filter but expose at 50 ISO, need strong sunlight to get an effect.
Ilford reccommend a dark red filter, or their own SFX filter. It's worth experimenting with, to see if you like it. I can see the attraction for architectural shots.

 

[fidget]

I run the odd roll in 120 format (but I've got a 35mm roll left from a magazine freeby). I love it. I agree that it's not IR, at least not a strong effect. Using a standard red filter R25, gives stronger than normal effects which is great. In 120 I use the SFX filter or an R25. Grain is a little strong in 35mm, but of course not as much of an issue in 120. If you use a red filter, give it a little less extra exposure than a normal film, say 1.5 to 2 stops rather than 2.5.

Dave...

 

[sweathog]

I was given a roll of this at work a while back (predominantly because it was a year and a half out) and put it through my Trip 35, without using any filters, at 200. The results weren't particularily stunning, but some came out rather interestingly.

 

[John Robertson]

I never quite got my act together with this film, used it with Rodinal, but terrible unattractive grain, and weak IR effect. But now it is back on the market, and Konica IR750 is gone:bang: , perhaps I will try again.
P.S. anyone tried it in T Max, either at 1+4 or 1+9??

 

[P3tr]

It is interesting film. 400 with Diafine. The test should be somewhere here:http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42366&highlight=sfx+diafine

 

[charjohncarter]

I just completed my first roll (120). I used a red filter (25) and exposed with my hand meter at 40. I WAS NOT trying for IR effect. I wanted high contrast, but with some shadow detail. Here is one:

 

[Ronald_H]

I just completed my first roll (120). I used a red filter (25) and exposed with my hand meter at 40. I WAS NOT trying for IR effect. I wanted high contrast, but with some shadow detail. Here is one:

No experience with the film, but this is a fine shot!

 

[sevo]

I'd also give it a thumbs up in 120, where its grain does not matter quite as much, and where more decidedly IR film is scarce and can only be loaded in a darkroom. In 135 there are better alternatives.

Sevo

 

[BTMarcais]

I actually LIKE the grain it produces in 35mm.
As far as filtration... i usually use a b+W 091... shoot in bright sunlight... and I usually underexpose slightly, otherwise the sky doesn't go quite as dark as I'd like. It's not true infrared, or even really close, but you can definitely get some stunning results with some practice. For a more dramatic effect, you can use a deeper filter, but nothing more than say a R72 (hoya, 720nm cut off). And you'll NEED a tripod for that. and some patience. (Ilfords SFX filter works well too, if you can find one).
-Brian

 

[ncd_photo]

I really like this film, its quite grainy but I like the tones and contrast you get with and without the supplied filter. Its got a good latitude and gives nice blacks.
I've been devving mine with LC29 with good success.

 

[luketrash]

I was shooting it with a R2 filter on a hot sunny day. I bought 20 rolls of it, but have only used one. I should do something about that

It has hardly any noticible IR effect, but maybe does glow a bit more than regular film. If you shoot ANY panchro b&w film with a red filter, the results are going to be more dramatic than normal.

 

[charjohncarter]

I was shooting it with a R2 filter on a hot sunny day. I bought 20 rolls of it, but have only used one. I should do something about that

It has hardly any noticible IR effect, but maybe does glow a bit more than regular film. If you shoot ANY panchro b&w film with a red filter, the results are going to be more dramatic than normal.

What's an R2 filter? As I said: I did not want IR effect, but I've seen some great IRs from this film. The shots you have shown are the effect I like.

Thanks Ronald H; here is another. I was trying to get the 1940s look of no haze. This film does work for that:

 

[BTMarcais]

Pretty sure R2 is another designation for a 25 red? (or b+w 090). I prefer a littler darker red w/ this film, as I posted above. (b+w 091 / 29 red)
-B.