Canon QL17+Red Filter+Ilford SFX

[MikeMGB]

I haven't used this film for about 18 years, I'm looking forward to running a roll on Saturday and seeing what I can do with it.

The Canon rangefinder seems like the ideal camera for it, I won't be looking through the red filter like on an SLR, but the meter is behind the filter so I won't need to compensate for it.

 

[BLKRCAT]

beware that SFX isn't a true IR film and you may not get the full IR effect with just a red filter.

 

[MikeMGB]

beware that SFX isn't a true IR film and you may not get the full IR effect with just a red filter.

I know that, I just like the very high contrast and grain I used to be able to get from this film.

 

[BLKRCAT]

have fun with it

 

[emayoh]

Heck yah. I like where you're going with this and want to see the results!

 

[charjohncarter]

I shoot SFX with a Red Filter, at 32 E.I., develop in HC-110h I think 18 minutes (If you care PM me). I've been using SFX for the same reason you are. I don't like IR and this is really a different look.

SFX200 HC-110h by John Carter, on Flickr

SFX200 HC-110h by John Carter, on Flickr

I don't like it for portraits (it wasn't intended for portraits, but I tried it).

Ilford SFX by John Carter, on Flickr

 

[MikeMGB]

Thank you for the comments, John, those photos are awesome.

I'll be spending Saturday at a classic car show, in a wooded park, next to a lake, I can't think of a better setting to try this roll.

 

[charjohncarter]

I sent you a PM, and I agree that would be a perfect setting.

 

[Huss]

SFX200 HC-110h by John Carter, on Flickr

This one is great.

 

[MikeMGB]

Finally finished the film, I used John's suggestions as a starting point and got some pretty good results. I do need to fine tune the exposure and development time though.

 

[charjohncarter]

They came out well, did you meter through the filter? I think I told you I am shooting a 32 EI for this film, and from the looks of your filter I think mine might be a little darker Red. I use a hand meter because I read someplace the CDS meters do not read red well. I found this to be true with some of my SLRs/

 

[MikeMGB]

I used a hand-held meter and the TTL meter and compared the two. The camera meter tended to overexpose by one stop, after taking the filter into account. Now I know I can rely on the camera's meter somewhat, I just need to adjust the ISO to compensate.

Which filter are you using? I have a Tiffen 25.

Thanks again for your advice, it was a great starting point!

 

[gb hill]

These really look cool. I'd like to shoot some of this film sometime.

 

[charjohncarter]

This one is great.

Thanks....

 

[charjohncarter]

I used a hand-held meter and the TTL meter and compared the two. The camera meter tended to overexpose by one stop, after taking the filter into account. Now I know I can rely on the camera's meter somewhat, I just need to adjust the ISO to compensate.

Which filter are you using? I have a Tiffen 25.

Thanks again for your advice, it was a great starting point!

My red filter has B+W 090 5x written on it, it looks darker than some other red filters I have BUT not as dark as the deep red ones. I figured 2 1/3 to 2 2/3 stops. But with my personal adjustment I figured 200 down to 32 EI.

EDIT: I was lucky with this film (for once), I started out with this one filter and guess at EI 40. The negatives were beautiful but I dropped it to 32 EI the next roll. I never have had any luck with Red filters on CDS cell meters (and even Orange filters), and that is why I use a handheld and adjust down the EI. Someone here years ago said that the CDS cells have a sensitivity that is not compatible with red light. Chris101 was right.

 

[MikeMGB]

According to Dr. Google your filter is a 5x, mine is a 8x, I have no idea what that means and I don't think it matters much, I believe technique is more important than depth of red. I still need to fine tune my technique to get the best out of this film.

My next film I'm going to run through my Leica IIIA with a Summar lens, I get the feeling this uncoated lens will produce interesting results. I've just ordered a red filter and adapter ring for it.

 

[charjohncarter]

I just looked up filter factors, I haven't used them since the 60s. But my five looks like about 2.5 stop reduction. And the 8x is a 3 stop reduction. So you can't be far off even though the numbers seem like more. When I get a filter which I haven't for years I figure the reduction in EI (ISO) and then use that on my handheld meter to get exposure.

 

[MikeMGB]

I just looked up filter factors, I haven't used them since the 60s. But my five looks like about 2.5 stop reduction. And the 8x is a 3 stop reduction. So you can be far off even though the numbers seem like more. When I get a filter which I haven't for years I figure the reduction in EI (ISO) and then use that on my handheld meter to get exposure.

I'll certainly be using a handheld meter with the Leica, I'm glad you looled up the filter factors, it'll help, thank you.