Ilford SFX 200 - 120 Film

Give infrared a go!

Infrared photography is so much fun as you really can't see what the film can see until you've developed, the glowing trees and black skies make landscapes so interesting. Plus if you don't use the filter this is just a nice B&W film.

Good, but pricey experiment with caffenol

I went to Scotland armed with SFX and an IR filter, in search of dramatic skies. 2 weeks of 100% cloud cover later I gave up and shot it on a drizzly afternoon. Pleasing grain (to my eyes) and a nice range of tones. I develop in caffenol, and it works OK but this one seems to have a darker base than usual. The scanner dealt with that OK though.

Great for bold effects

Before using this film I checked the advice from the Ilford website. You absolutely need a tripod and a IR filter - I used a Hoya R72. Choice of camera helps. With an SLR you won't be able to see anything with the filter in place - A TLR or Rangefinder will be easier to use. I used my Mamiya C220 TLR. Pick a bright sunny day to get the best results. Overcast conditions will give dull, grey results. For exposure your exposure meter will not be accurate, and it is best to use a modified version of the "Sunny 16" rule. For sunny conditions it's best to start with 1 second at F8 (using the R72 filter) and bracket 1-2 stops either side. Follow that and you'll get great results. Skies are dark, foliage is almost luminescent, and stone buildings shine !