IR shooting with Ilford SPX

[EcoLeica]

I know its not a true infared film but i was hoping to get a few rolls and have a go with my leica. Is there anything special needed before i start shooting?...I heard you might need a IR filter but seeing its not a true IR film.....

Can anyone help me

 

[Berliner]

An ir filter is not necessary, however you should use the deepest red filter you have.

 

[EcoLeica]

thanks for your help....does anyone have a spare red filter for a LTM that could buy off them? There are a little hard to get in New Zealand

 

[filmgoerjuan]

Here's a good comparison of IR films, including SFX that goes into detail about the types of filters you can use (and the effect you'll get with each):
http://www.pauck.de/marco/photo/infrared/comparison_of_films/comparison_of_films.html

From what I can tell, you'll get much more of the IR look if you use an R72 filter with SFX. The IR effect seems pretty mild with the lighter Wratten #25 filter.

 

[kaiyen]

First, there is no such thing as a "true" IR film. The most sensitive film of this type - Kodak HIE - only goes to 900nm, which is still near IR, not full IR.

SFX is a legitimate infrared film, in the sense that it has sensitivity beyond the 600nm or so of visible light at that end. But it's not much, no. But Konica 750 isn't much, either, and most people agree that that is an IR film.

You need a strong but not too strong filer with SFX to get the IR effect. The R72, or any filter that has a 50% transmission rate at about 700-750nm or so will give excellent results. Something too strong - like an 87C - will cut out so much light, even near IR, that the film will be blank.

allan