Ilford SFX 200 135/36

lford SFX 200 135-36 is a 36 image black and white panchromatic sensitized negative 35mm film for infrared photography whose sensitivity has been extended to the IR region. With a dark red or IR filter (Ilford SFX) interesting effects can be achieved. The film is fully panchromatically sensitized, which ensures its usability even without a red filter. It excels in exceptional resolution, rendering a range of halftones and fine detail.

Panchromatic films react to reality in a similar way to human vision, which perceives light rays with wavelengths from approximately 380 nm to 740 nm (visible light), but in some cases can also be sensitive to the UV and IR component of light. It is therefore advisable to have a UV filter on the lens to suppress the effect of radiation on the film material. In order to achieve the correct sensitivity to the entire spectrum of visible light, this film is sensitized, which guarantees the correct conversion of the colour reality to the grey scale. If the film were not sensitized, it would not be able to respond to light rays of a certain wavelength, and so the resulting photographs would lack some parts of the tonal range. For example, the film would not respond to green, yellow, orange and red, i.e. it would not detect them and on a black and white positive these shades would be black or otherwise dark. Such material finds application mostly only in the field of scientific and industrial photography, where these "deficiencies" are dealt with deliberately.

Practical application:

When combining a dark red or IR filter with Ilford SFX 200 infrared film, interesting effects can be achieved. For example: an infrared landscape photo taken with this combination looks literally apocalyptic - the water surface and sky are deep black and the foliage of leaves and grass literally glows white. However, this film is not only used for landscape photography but is equally well suited for architecture, the human figure and portraits. However, the best results can be achieved in bright sunlight or in a studio under tungsten lighting.

Film processing:

When developing, it is necessary to work in complete darkness. Ilford SFX 200 film can be processed in all common negative developers (but Ilford MICROPHEN or Kodak D76 are recommended). The developing bath should take fifteen and a half minutes for Ilford MICROPHEN and seventeen minutes for Kodak D76 at a dilution ratio of 1:1. After the development time has elapsed, it is recommended to rinse the film briefly with distilled water or to immerse it in a 2% acetic acid solution for 10 s, or to use an intermittent bath for approx. 1 min. Setting of the film is recommended at temperatures of 18-25°C, 2-5 min in Ilford Rapid Fixer diluted 1:4, or a minimum of 3 min in Fomafix Rapid Fixer diluted 1:5. After setting, the film must be washed in running water for 20-30 minutes at a wash water temperature below 15°C, or 15 minutes at a wash water temperature above 15°C. It is recommended to finish the film processing by rinsing the washed film with distilled water or by immersion in a wetting agent solution. When developing and settling in the developer bath, it is advisable to shake the developer during the first minute and every 10 seconds thereafter. For optimal results, it is advisable to maintain the manufacturer's recommended time and speed of shaking, but also the correct bath temperature (20°C), dilution ratio (1 part solution : n parts water) and their quality (freshness, cleanliness).The times given are only indicative, before using the film material, it is recommended to study the information provided by the manufacturer on the packaging or in the product data sheet.