Johannes
Hello everyone!
I’d be interested to know what to bear in mind when processing
infrared film, and whether anyone has
any experience in this area and might be able to give me
a tip or two!?
Best regards, Johannes
max
Hi Johannes,
If you’re referring to infrared-sensitised black-and-white film (such as Maco/Rollei 820, HIE or Konica IR), process it just like black-and-white film. It’s best to use a suitable filter to bring out the effect. Metering the exposure can be a bit tricky.
I’m not sure about infrared colour (false-colour) film. But it would also have to be either E6 or CN41.
Regards
Martin
Wolfgg
Hello,
Some tips from the past:
- Kodak IR black-and-white film had to be loaded into the camera in the dark, as light can enter through the film chamber
- Colour IR film is reversal film, i.e. E6, and used to be E4 as well
- Some plastic developing tanks are not IR-tight, so test them!
- You can also achieve the Wood effect with Technical Pan (if still available) and a very dark red or IR filter
- All IR films are also sensitive to blue light, so a filter is always required
Regards, Wolfgang
andreasbrigachtal
Hello Johannes
You’ll need to develop black-and-white IR film yourself, as most labs use IR light sources.
The Kodak HIE must be loaded in complete darkness – both into the camera and later from the camera into the developing tank! I speak from bitter experience. The Rollei IR can also be loaded in the shade of your body. However, full sunlight will result in fogging of the first 4–5 exposures; with the Kodak, this affects at least 24!
The Kodak DiaIr film is processed quite normally in the lab, but to my knowledge not all labs offer this service.
I’d be happy to provide you with the development times for the Kodak HIE in Rodinal and PMK Pyro.
With the Kodak, a Wratten 25 red filter is enough for a pronounced IR effect; the Rollei (Maco) needs an 89B to show even a hint of IR. I can also give you my development times for the Rollei.
Otherwise, I can highly recommend Wolfgang Mothes’ website; there’s a lovely article on IR photography there.
Good light
Andreas
P.S. On my website, which I no longer update, you can see some IR shots taken with Kodak and Maco www.andreasinbrigachtal.homepage.t-online.de
Urnes
Hello,
You also need to bear in mind which camera you’re using. Newer AF cameras, such as the Minolta Dyna 7, aren’t suitable for infrared photography. This is partly because they have a single-exposure function, and partly because they have an open film window on the back. Old mechanical cameras, on the other hand, are absolutely ideal. One reason for this is that the infrared index is usually marked on old manual focus lenses. That is, the focus difference. It’s usually a small red dot. It indicates how far you need to turn the lens to achieve sharpness in the IR range. Old rangefinder cameras aren’t bad either, as you can compose your shot through the rangefinder and don’t need to keep screwing the red filter on and off.
Regards, Sven.
Johannes
Thanks for your tips; I’ll give it a go soon with
a film roll using my old Exa 1c – I reckon that’ll work
better than with the ‘toy lenses’ on my Canon...
Best wishes, Johannes
