Reply From HARMAN technology Limited Re True IR Film.

[coat953]

Interesting and totally understandable.... I personally really like SFX. I'd like it even more if I could get it in 5x4! Any possibility of that one day?

[PKM-25]

Thanks Simon, Ilford is most certainly family to a lot of us and it is insight like this that shows why...

Even thought it is not as IR looking as say, Rollei IR400, I would also consider SFX 200 in 4x5 since the Rollei stuff is a real pain in the rear in that format due to it's paper thin base.

[Paul Cunningham]

Something for me to explore, at least.

[Soeren]

Sad news I'm sure i would have loved the Ilford HIE. Maybe kodak will sell the formulation etc cheap

Best regards

[madgardener]

Is Ilford SFX an infrared film? If I were to use SFX with infrared filters, will it give me infrared effects?

[steven_e007]

I'm simultaneously disappointed by the news and impressed by Harman's and Simon's commitment to looking into such possibilities and explaning their decisions to us....

I wonder - is it likely there could ever be a new emulsion from Harman?
if so, what would be viable?

[AgX]

Is Ilford SFX an infrared film? If I were to use SFX with infrared filters, will it give me infrared effects?

Infrared film means that it is usefully sensitive to infrared radiation. However this depends on the degree to which sensitivity stretches into the IR range, and to the magnitude of sensitivity in that range (absolute and in relation to the visible light sensitivity.)

The weakest infrared filter would be 89B (R72). Here you see a comparison of IR-effects on films with different IR sensitivity and different filters employed including ILford SFX with 89B filter:

http://www.digitaltruth.com/products...d_film_004.php

compare
Ilford SFX200 R72 filter, EI 12
Rollei IR400 R72 filter, EI 4

[Maris]

Is Ilford SFX an infrared film? If I were to use SFX with infrared filters, will it give me infrared effects?

Infrared? Yes! I shoot Ilford SFX at EI 6 behind IR680 and IR720 filters and it delivers a conspicuous infrared effect. The appearance doesn't SCREAM over-the-top infrared like Kodak HIE always did and Efke IR820 did sometimes but it's very distinctly different to panchromatic film behind a deep red filter.

My only grumble about Ilford SFX is its graininess and limited sharpness. I suspect (speculation!) that SFX is basically Ilford HP5+ with IR sensitisation dye added. Sheet film formats, 4x5 and 8x10, would be wonderful.

[juan]

Does anyone have any experience shooting SFX at night with infrared illumination?
juan

[Rudeofus]

Does anyone have any experience shooting SFX at night with infrared illumination?

Even powerful IR illuminators throw out embarassingly little light, and with EI 5 or less you will be out of luck except at very close range.