Medium Format (120) InfraRed films, experiences on the MC tr

[Margus]

Has anyone have experience how to store temerature-sensitive infrared films on the bike in summertime? To pack them into heat reflecting folium paper is enough?

Want to use some IR films in my medium format camera on the next trip to Africa.

With the sun, Margus

[Grant Johnson]

I suspect the IR film will be impossible to deal with on a bike in Africa.

No matter what you do it will get at least warm, and that's the end of it.

For normal film, I use an insulated soft cooler, and put it at the bottom of a WHITE saddlebag, which helps a lot. But after a hot day it's definitely warm. Remember if the ambient temp is 50C, EVERYTHING will eventually be at that temp.

My film survived three months in North Africa just fine like that, but I would definitely expect infrared to be useless in those conditions. Normal recommendations for infrared as I recall is to keep refrigerated until shortly before use, then process immediately.

Nice idea - might want to TRY it, but with lots of normal film as backup.

Good luck, let us know what happens!


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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[A.B.]

I failed miserably with infrared film in the Sahara (Egypt) and I was in a Jeep. But then that was my first try with infrared and didn’t try it again in these conditions.

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A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.
Coordinates Converter – Lat/Long <-> UTM Conversion Tool.

[Margus]

Will try out different IR films in next weeks as "homework/training" in different conditions.

Kodak HIE, Konica IR 750, MACO and Ilford's IRs. Maybe some of them will survive better than others. Let's see...

But making a extra-small 12V refridgeraor that fits some films and a cool drink on a bike would be a future-business idea for electrical systems engineers.
I have one Russian made in my car, but that one is sure too big for the bike.

With the Sun, Margus

Originally posted by Grant Johnson:
My film survived three months in North Africa just fine like that, but I would definitely expect infrared to be useless in those conditions. Normal recommendations for infrared as I recall is to keep refrigerated until shortly before use, then process immediately.

Nice idea - might want to TRY it, but with lots of normal film as backup.

Good luck, let us know what happens!

[This message has been edited by Margus (edited 13 June 2004).]

[A.B.]

Originally posted by Margus:
But making a extra-small 12V refridgeraor that fits some films and a cool drink on a bike would be a future-business idea.
I have one Russian made in my car, but that one is sure too big for the bike.

I may be wrong, but I thing only an electro hermal type cooler would fit on a bike, and those are pretty much useless, not to mention the strain they would put on the bikes's electrical system. I've had a Colman and Campingaz thermo electric coolers and they were both barely cooled anything.

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A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.
Coordinates Converter – Lat/Long <-> UTM Conversion Tool.

[Margus]

If you travel with a car, then there are really good refrigerators for 12V. I have Russian one myself, about the size of a smaller sportsbag, quite old one indeed, but works very well. And looking at this refrigerator, i really think technically there can be a done same one with 3 times smaller that would be nice idea to put into panniers for example.
But yes, cooling things electrically it quite sucks the battery if engine doesn't work indeed.

I may be wrong, but I thing only an electro hermal type cooler would fit on a bike, and those are pretty much useless, not to mention the strain they would put on the bikes's electrical system. I've had a Colman and Campingaz thermo electric coolers and they were both barely cooled anything.
[/B]

[Margus]

Good luck, let us know what happens!
[/B]

Just got back from the 12 000 kilometre trip - altough we failed to get Maroccoan visa, we travelled in South Europe, with teperatures between 20 to 35 degrees. Used MACO films - IR820c, IR820 "Aura" and semi-IR film (panchromatic) Cube 400c. Packed them in a thick folium paper and they all worked out very fine, no IR sensitivity loss even after developing them about month later. At least for me - the results were breathtaking!

Got to develop my Fuji slidefilms (Velvia, Astia and Provia) too and see what their results are after baking them with some heat.

Margus

[This message has been edited by Margus (edited 03 September 2004).]

[ojaichris]

I've had great experiences with Ilford's SFX 200 and a heavy red filter while working in American deserts. The results aren't quite the same, but I can almost promise it'll look better than what you bring back if you do try to shoot IR.

[Margus]

Originally posted by ojaichris:
I've had great experiences with Ilford's SFX 200 and a heavy red filter while working in American deserts. The results aren't quite the same, but I can almost promise it'll look better than what you bring back if you do try to shoot IR.

Hmm... I doubt the SFX has better results than real IR film such as MACO IRs.

I use mostly R25 filter because dedicated IR filter such as Heliopan cuts out too much visible, at least for me. Heliopans and 87 or 89 filters are more for effect-artistic oriented photos.

Here's the sensitivity of Ilford SFX:

Sure i think you can get excellent results with dedicated SFX filter that is sold too. Will try this combination soon too, sounds promising.

But to talk about IR side, then MACO sure has better results starting with sensitivity that goes till 820 nanometres while SFX starts to drop from the beginning of 700nm.

One good example with IR820c with cutting out IR filter i got in South-Spain:



And meanwhile you can get much visible light mixed inside adding detail sharpness with R25:



Can you get halatation effect out from SFX as seen on the first picture? I doubt it, its not fully dedicated IR film afterall...

Hope i did make some sense comparing those two films that acctually aren't comparable, tose are just different types of films principally.

Margus

[This message has been edited by Margus (edited 10 September 2004).]

[ojaichris]

Consider SFX a compromise. It can almost look like ir. and you can throw a roll into the camera without a changing bag. It can achieve a halo effect if you give it 1/3 to 2/3rds over exposure from your highlights, but at the risk of loosing detail across the image. I keep a few rolls in the fridge for when I up and decide to go into the mountains on a Sunday when the stores are closed, and it's the only near IR or IR I'd trust enough to take with me on a long trip when I dont have access to a fridge. Give 'er a whirl, esp with a big nasty red filter.