Infrared film & filters

T

TomOScott

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I have a 7ii, and I'd like to experiment a bit with infrared photography. I'd like to hear your opinions on which film to use, and if a filter is required, which one is the best.
 
i have done a little a long time ago.
i used the konica ir film as it is not a true ir film but gives very similar effects and is easier to handle.
i used a #25 red filter and adjusted the exposure compensation dial on the 6 to counter the filter factor.
it was fun and i always planned to try it again.

joe
 
Sounds reasonable to me, Tom! Can't help a whole lot, missing any personal experience with that. But I do understand that RF cameras are more convenient for IR than SLR's, since the viewfinder still gives you a nice bright view even with the deep red filter on the lens.

There are filters that block all visible light, and let through only IR. But the deep red (Wratten #25) is commonly used, perhaps because it passes visible non-IR wavelengths through to the SLR viewing system.

I think you can vary the "IR-ness" of the look by the filter choice.

I know even less about IR films... There are several B&W films, and they tend to be grainy. But that will be suppressed in a 6x7 format, and you should get nice smooth results. There's also an IR slide film, a Kodak Infrared Ektachrome, or used to be.

I expect if you search B&H Photo Video's website you'll learn what they have in the way of IR related stuff. Well, looking there myself reveals only Konica, Macophot, and Ilford IR films in 120 size, black & white only. In 35mm you can add Kodak for both B&W and Ektachrome. Looking for IR filters gives scads of choices, and even limiting it to the high-quality B+W brand offers 10 pages to dig through.

Have fun!
 
instead of using a true ir film you might want to try ilford (i think its XF or something similar). it is an ordinary b&w film when used normally but when using a dark red filter it has the results of ir film. for best results, the brighter the day and the darker the filter, the better your results will be.
 
I don't have any direct experience myself, but as I recall reading, IR has a different focal point than visible light - so you have to focus differently. Perhaps there is more information online, but I haven't the time to Google for it right now. Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Tom , Bill is right, IR film is up in higher wavelengths than visible spectrum and focuses to a slightly different plane. None of my rangefinders has the mark but on my Pentax 50 f1.4 it is a small red line about an 1/8" away from the normal mark. I've never owned the Minolta but assuming that your 45mm lens isn't too different from my 50, if your normal focus is infinity set your distance to 15 meters for IR and if you are at 5 meters go to 4 for IR and 2 meters normal is approx 1.8 IR. With Kodak HIE and a 25 red filter, I get good results on a sunny day by ignoring my meter and bracketing around 1/125 at f11. Good luck.

Gerry
 
OK, another question

OK, another question

I tried a roll of Ilford SPX200 with a red filter, and it seems like I'm getting some vignetting. I assume it's because I bought a cheap read filter that was too thick. Can anyone recommend a good red filter for IR work that won't vignette? Thanks!
 
This is a timely thread for me. I just picked up two rolls of Kodak HIE this week to try out. I'll be using a red (#25) filter and developing the film in either HC-110 or Rodinal.

I was googling around the Net for info and came across the Infrared Photography FAQ: http://www.cocam.co.uk/CoCamWS/Infrared/INFRARED.HTM

It also lists some good books on IR, with links to Amazon.

Gene
 
IR film can give some interesting effects, and is fun to play around with, but probably won't become your film of choice. I have never used the "near" IR films like Konica has, and is has been years since I played with IR, either b/w or color. Actually, I think the last IR I did was around 80 to 81, using an opaque filter with night vision equipment for surveillance. I currently have some Kodak loaded in my Yashica FX3, but still haven't gotten out and used it (turns around to see if some friendly photographer is getting ready to deliver a kick in the butt to overcome the inertia).

Your skies will be darker, leaves lighter, and other things will change just depending on how much IR they reflect. You won't always know until you try. I don't remember if skies got darker with color or not, but vegatation takes on a strange color. That was one use, for scientists to check on the health of forests, by the color. Stressed vegatation had a different color. It was also used to differentiate real vegatation from camoflauge. You can cover printing with a black magic marker and see through that with b/w film.

Just get some and experiment. I don't know how much of the above would apply with the near IR films. It will be fun, even if you don't take it on as your primary film from now on. Good luck with it.
 
Re: Infrared film & filters

TomOScott said:
I have a 7ii, and I'd like to experiment a bit with infrared photography. I'd like to hear your opinions on which film to use, and if a filter is required, which one is the best.
Click to expand...

Better late than never... Tom, I love the Kodak B/W IR film. I meter and expose it @400, through a deep red (#29) filter. Do not re-adjust the focus, with the red filters. Only with the opaque IR filters.

Russ
 
Hi there is a IR group on Yahoo. Nice and not too busy, its called infraredvisionsanddreamscapes it might be helpful getting started up.

Jan
 
I agree that your best bets for the IR effect are Maco 820c and Kodak HIE. I've experimented with both.
Halation. Maco has an anti-halation backing, which subdues the "glow" or "diffusion" effect that is apparent in Russ' photo posted above. It is caused by IR reflecting inside the camera and hitting the film again. If you like the effect, HIE is for you. If you don't like it, the Maco is a better choice. With Maco, they recommend a 1 minute pre-wash to dissolve the backing. And it's almost impossible to load on a plastic reel because of the somewhat sticky backing -- stainless steel works ok. HIE is a bit thick and not a joy to load on a plastic reel either.
Filters. With Maco, the dark red B+W 092 (wratten 89B?) filter gives the best results; the opaque 093 (wratten 87?) cannot be used. For HIE, either filter can be used, but the 093 gives the best IR effect.
Grain. Either film is grainy no matter how you develop. HIE is a bit worse in this respect. If you don't like the grain, you might want to go digital:
http://www.irdigital.net/. That's a bit expensive, however. I've also tried IR with the Leica Digilux 1 and 092 and 093 filters. The filters cut out so much light that hand held shots are almost impossible.
Exposure. Meters provide only an approximate starting point, as they don't measure IR. And you can't see IR. Bracketing is called for until you get considerable experience or anytime you think you might have a "keeper". With Maco and 092 filter, I start with 1/60 and f 5.6. With HIE, about the same with 093 filter, but 1/125 and f11 for the 092 filter. There's more good advice at:
http://www.cocam.net/CoCamWS/Infrared/INFRARED.HTM
Will post some examples in the next frames.
 
Here's a Kodak HIE image with 092 filter. It's the memorial chapel in the village of Fleury, near Verdun, France. The entire village was destroyed in bombing/shelling in World War I:
 
Kodak HIE is the only IR film I really like. It's not avail in 120 from Kodak but David Romano www.DavidRomano.com cuts down Aerographic 2424 (70mm equivalent) and respools it as 120. It really is the same emulsion and base as HIE. And you can load/unload his respooled 120 HIE in the shade unlike 35mm HIE (no light trap to leak IR)

Shoot it with a 25A at f11 1/125th in full sun and make no focus adjustment. Just don't spend too much time with light foilage, dark skies and white puffy clouds.
 
Gene:

How is your IR experiment working? I just bought two rolls of Kodak HIE yesterday and am trying to figure out what else I need to get started. I wanted to see what you have experienced so far.

-Paul
 
pshinkaw said:
Gene:

How is your IR experiment working? I just bought two rolls of Kodak HIE yesterday and am trying to figure out what else I need to get started. I wanted to see what you have experienced so far.

-Paul
Click to expand...

Paul

I love shooting Kodak HEI through a deep red (#29) filter. I get very good and consistent results.

Russ
 
TomOScott said:
I have a 7ii, and I'd like to experiment a bit with infrared photography. I'd like to hear your opinions on which film to use, and if a filter is required, which one is the best.
Click to expand...

Tom-I shoot infrared on my M6 all the time- it is my film of choice. Since Kodak does not makd 120 Infrared film I use Konica 720 and have tried Maco which is not bad. Used a B+W dark red (092) filter or can use a 91 also. Just remember after focusing that you must adjust for infrared spectrum by turning the lens slightly off to get the effect- the M6 lenses are not marked for infrared.Good luck- you will like the results..Edie
 
120 HIE is once again available from David Romano www.DavidRomano.com He was out for a while and says this is a limited supply. Kodak may have quit making the 70mm Aerographic 2424 IR (same as HIE) film that he respools as 120. I have no connection to David other than a happy customer.

I've shot most of the IR films and found nothing comes close to HIE. It has some real limitations in 35mm but really comes alive in 6x7.
 
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