Bessa R and Infrared Film...

[George Bonanno]

I have a few rolls of Kodak IR film. Shot two rolls with my Konica Auto S2 and a red 25A filter. Negs came out great using the recommended exposure on the Kodak cheat sheet.

Now I'd like to shoot a roll using my Bessa R and Elmar lens. However the Bessa R has a plastic back. After thinking about it for a moment I thought... "bad idea".

Any comments ?

TIA,
George

 

[Al Kaplan]

My guess is that it would be safe, otherwise they'd mention it in the camera directtion booklet. Just remember to use a changing bag to load and unload the camera. At least that's what the film leaflet used to say years ago. Since most cloth is synthetic fiber, in other words "plastic", you shouldn't have a problem with the plastic camera back. Shoot part of a roll, soup it and find out. Let us all know what happens.

 

[bigdog]

I had no problems shooting the EFKE IR film on my R2a but I covered the film check window on the back with foil and a piece of tape. I do not know if the EFKE is as sensative as the Kodak. I don't imagine you will have problems but I can understand your concern seeing that people pay as much as $50 for a single box of Kodak HIE film these days.

 

[George Bonanno]

Thanks Al... what a great idea. I'll shoot six exposures then soup the strip.

I load and tank IR film directly from the camera in my darkroom. Rewind is kind but why bother ?


Bigdog... $50 a roll !!! I was given a frozen brick !!! Anyway, thanks for the heads up on the film window. I will do that.

 

[Al Kaplan]

It's a good idea to do a test anyway. The amount of infrared light varies quite a bit and there's no easy way to meter it. Some meters really aren't sensitive to I.R. You should meter through the same filter you'll shoot with, then bracket and make notes. Keep the film refrigerated, then warm up a roll to ambient temperature shortly before you use it. Try to fill the frame and avoid cropping. That film is very grainy.