Can You Use C41 B&W in a Red Window Folder?

[Steve M.]

I have a roll of XP2 in 120, but sold the Rolleiflex I was going to try it in. The only MF cameras I have left are both red window folders. Can I shoot the XP2 in one of them, or will it fog the film?

 

[n5jrn]

I have successfully used both XP2 and regular color film in red-window folders. If the camera doesn't have a little door over the red window, you might want to use a piece of black electrical tape to cover it when not advancing the film.

Note that even most "traditional" B&W films these days are panchromatic, not orthochromatic, and thus sensitive to red light. So if the red window can fog XP2, it can also fog, say, TriX.

 

[hans voralberg]

Most likely no, most of my MF are red window folder, never had fog.

 

[Brian Legge]

I've had light leaks in the two I've used with red windows. It would probably be possible to prevent the light from leaking around though.

 

[Steve M.]

Thanks guys. I'm going to give it a try. Brian had trouble in his, so I'll make sure I'm in the shade when I peep in the little window.

 

[sevo]

Apart from cameras from ortho film days, it is irrelevant what film you use in a "red window" camera - cameras from the mid twenties on generally are panchromatic safe.

Old cameras often have flaws to their red window, mostly missing or decayed felt seals or metal blinds - but defects to the red windows mechanism affect all film similarly (or not). If any, ortho film (rare, if not extinct in 120) could be immune to them (provided that the red window was ortho safe to start with and has not faded since then). On only marginally leaky cameras, you may just about get away with slow film, so that chromogenics could be more unsuitable, just like any other mid speed film - but that is no matter of type, but one of speed...

 

[Roger Hicks]

If, of course, you can see Ilford's notoriously faint numbers...

Cheers,

R.

 

[graywolf]

Usually, there is no problem as long as you avoid pointing the red windows towards the sun. Remember the backing paper on the film will block normal room light*, so only really bright light would be a possible problem.

*That is why you do not want to load 220 in such a camera, no backing paper behind the film, just a leader and trailer.

 

[Brian Legge]

Thats the part I don't understand. I got light leaks twice when using the Moskva with color film but no problems with black and white. My theory was that light was hitting the backing paper and getting around the gap between it and the pressure plate. I don't know why I only had issues with color film.

That could have been specific to that camera though.

 

[sevo]

Usually, there is no problem as long as you avoid pointing the red windows towards the sun. Remember the backing paper on the film will block normal room light*, so only really bright light would be a possible problem.

It should not. The backing paper ought to be to be 100% light tight - and it generally is, at least apart from oddities like IR film (and some Efke batches with paper issues). It is nonetheless wise to avoid direct sunlight during loading, but that is a different matter - the edges may be somewhat leaky.

 

[oftheherd]

If, of course, you can see Ilford's notoriously faint numbers...

Cheers,

R.

Usually, there is no problem as long as you avoid pointing the red windows towards the sun.
...

How else are you are you going to see Ilford's notoriously faint number? And they sure are. I have had to point folders red windows at the sun or shine a flashlight on them. Old eyes don't help of course. It's not without reason you read about dim eyes in older people.