elia_freddi

<p>Finally I have been able to make some shot with the Rollei Retro 400S and the Heliopan RG715. The exposure I used was the same given by my M6 with the filter mounted, the camera was hand held. Actually the photo is a poor film scan, but at least it gives evidence of a certain IR sensibility.<br>

Now I have to wait the spring for further trials.</p>

<p><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WQzXPtdSGC0/SwkXvDW437I/AAAAAAAAAIE/V8gAyrYPP0k/trees_RolleiRetro400S.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="399" /></p>

<p>I have some roll of Rollei Retro 400s and I will run some trial to understand it.</p>

<p>In the meanwhile I had the opportunity to try the <strong>Rollei Retro 80S</strong> , which has a clear extended red sensitivity. The filter is a Heliopan RG715.<br /> As a result I found that it's sensible to infrared, but the "Wood" effect is not that visible. Here below an example. What is remarkable is the very fine grain, finer than a TMax100 even if the sensibility is similar.</p>

<p><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WQzXPtdSGC0/SttmyfonKxI/AAAAAAAAAG4/N71LdTYohBY/s800/ponte.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>I agree with Mike's statement: I made some trial with the Heliopan RG715 and TMax 400 getting it working like a very dark filter, but no IR effect. By the way, similar exposure time too.<br /> For IR effect you need both filer and film.</p>

<p>Elia</p>

<p>Hello,<br /> I just ordered few rolls of Rollei Retro 80S hoping to enjoy the extended sensibility to IR (up to 750 nm, as given in the datasheet). I will use it with a filter Heliopan RG 715.<br /> Is there any specific suggestion about exposure? How many stops should I step down from the exposure reading without filter?<br /> Thanks and best regards</p>

<p>Elia Freddi</p>

<p>Thank you all for your answer!<br>

I have seen those red dots, it's a kind of pre-setting to use to have focus from ~7m to infinite. It's a simple help. I think I will prepare a scale to attach near the focus ring using the data from the <em>calculators</em> you kindly provided.<br>

Now I'm very impatient to see how are the results...</p>

<p>Elia Freddi</p>

<p>Hello,<br>

this weekend a bought an Ikonta 521/2 with Novar 105/3.5. The camera looks not that bad, the shutter works somehow and the lens is in good shape. I'm starting making some photo and I would like to have some idea about how much is the depth of field of this lens at the various stops. Is there anybody that could address me to the link of the manual of this camera or that can provide me such table?<br>

Thanks a lot!</p>

<p>Elia Freddi</p>

<p>Thank you for your answer, Alexander.<br>

My observation was coming from the comparison of the spectral response between those two films.<br>

Please, let us know how this superpan 200 works.<br>

Best regards</p>

<p>Elia Freddi</p>

Hi All,

I have seen that Maco has in the list a Rollei film called Retro 400S. The datasheet of this film shows the same

spectral response of the Rollei IR 400. Is this a typo or the response is really the same? I can conclude that

both films seem to be the Agfa Aviphot 400S, but the price is much different... Anybody tried this Rollei Retro

400S for IR photos?

Thanks!

Elia Freddi

Sharpness and grain are not really the same thing... Anyway, the smallest grain in 400 Iso film IMHO is in Kodax TMax400.

<br />

A word of wisdom - never, never and again never use a unknown film in an important photosession. Then, have a nice time!

Thank Steve for the nice comparison.

<br />

It's clear that a simple 25 Filter is not enough to get any strong IR effect on the Efke, as expected. I guess a darker filter like Hoya R72 is needed to get any.

Robert, thank you for this news! It will be interesting to see the properties of thsi new film.

<br>

<br>

Actually I would give a suggestion for all the people involved in the BW businnes: <b>keep it simple!</b> The BW lovers want to have GOOD and STABLE products, not continous changes. Just an example: the Tri-X is on the market since more than 50 years.

<br>

Regards

<br>

<br>

Elia Freddi

Some observations partially concerning this topic.

<br>

I live in Germany and, even if my german is not that good, I've the opportunity to find some local news regarding the evolution of B&W material in Europe. The overall impression is that there is a group of gentlemen that is setting up a kind of future, the main recurring names are: MACO, Rollei, FilmoTec, Agfa Gevaert, Fotoimpex, etc...

<br>

To these people I give my best wishes of success and a suggestion too: please, keep it simple - <b>the left B&W people want quality</b>, not continous changes and products that go in and out of the market not giving the time to make experience on them.

<br>

<br>

Elia Freddi

Thanks a lot for all your answers.

So, as I suspected, there are only those two IR film, nothing else is currently available on the market. That's a pity. Moreover, knowing how big interest has Kodak in film production I would not be surprised if soon o later only one will be left...<br>

Best regards

<br>

<br>

Elia

I'm considering to make some IR photos and I discarded the Kodak HIE because of

the grainy look - I tried it few years ago and the results were not so bad, but

the grain was by far too evident to my eyes.

Looking around I found that the only available alternative to HIE is the Rollei

IR820/400 (I found a roll of Maco IR820/400 that most likely is the same).

Searching in the webpage of Maco there is a film for traffic surveillance called

TS EAGLE that has the same spectral response curve, so I guess that it's the

same. This film should be produced at Agfa Gevaert, but there is no mention of

something similar in their webpage.

Anyway, now my point is: what are the IR film available?

So far:

- Kodak HIE

- Rollei IR820/400

and then?

Elia

Hi Vic,

the Kodak HIE in 120 format could be very interesting, the grain would not be anymore a problem. In your place I would not be so worried about the missing experience: after all it's in any case a film that needs trials and you can make some experiment on a roll of 35mm, by far less expensive.

About the possibility that these are the last rolls, I have no idea what's boiling in the heads at Kodak, but I'm happy to see that Maco is taking up seriously the black&white market (it's the only company that with the Rollei R3 made a real new bw film in the last few years).

Regards

Elia

Hi Vic,

I spent certain time looking for something different than Kodak HIE and at the end I found a roll of MACO IR 820/400, that isn't the IR820c but most likely the Rollei IR 820/400.

The IR820c is no more in the listing of MACO, so I suppose it's really gone.

Best regards

Elia

Wandering in internet I found this page that may give you some usefull hint:

http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~epederso/Photo/IR/Test.html

Actually the speed is much lower than the Kodak HIE, so no surprise if you didn't get anything.

I'm willing to make some IR photos, but I have'nt yet decided if to go for the Kodak HIE (a bit too grainy and I'm not a fan of the "aura" effect) or to try this Maco IR820c.

Regards

Elia

Same issue on my Minota 7Hi, bought on 2002.

Any idea how to proceed? Have any of you repaired it?

Thanks

Elia Freddi