Ilford SFX 200: A Film with Many Uses

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I picked up a small lot of expired film off eBay one of the films included was a roll of Ilford SFX 200, I had never really heard of the film, but I have used many other Ilford films and love them.

I found out that it has heightened red sensitivity so when used with an r72 filter infrared results can be achieved. I bought a cheaper r72 off eBay, put it on my Minolta X-700 and headed out on a walk with my girlfriend. Unlike other infrared films. it doesn’t need to be loaded and unloaded in darkness. As the film was nearly 3 years expired, I had to overexpose it slightly. Although black and white film ages much better than color combined with the near opaque r72 filter, I was unable to hand hold the camera still and this gave a unique way of shooting as I don’t have a tripod. I had to use natural tripods, which in my opinion gives interesting angles.

When using this film I’d recommend you use it on a bright sunny day, somewhere where there are lots of trees or plants.

The film its self is very forgiving. I wasn’t paying that much attention to my exposure times as I was shooting in bulb so I just left the shutter open for at least two seconds. Here are the results:

In my opinion, the film produces fine results, though there is some visible grain. This may be due to the fact that my roll was expired, I developed it in Rodinal.

All in all a great film. I recommend you pick a roll up, whether it be expired or not. Just remember if you want infrared results you will need an r72 filter and probably a tripod. Here is my favorite shot of the roll. I really like the almost fairytale feel to it and especially like the lighting. I feel it is due to the brilliant film that this image came out so good.

Thie review was written by btandkow93. Stock up on your films by purchasing through our Online Shop and Gallery Stores worldwide.

written by brandkow93 on 2012-04-03 #gear #black-and-white #expired #ilford #review #infared #many-uses

10 Comments

  1. kneehigh85
    kneehigh85 ·

    Thanks for sharing with us! I used some of this once but didn't really know what I was doing or the results it could achieve and i kind of wasted. MIght get some more now and have another try x

  2. chilledvondub
    chilledvondub ·

    you got some fantastic results there :)
    ive been very keen to give this film a whirl unfortunately i lack in IR filters for any of my camera's except my OM10 but i have misplaced the mount! but i would also recommend Efke IR 120 especially in the holga the film is so sensative ive used it on 2 occasions and i got lovely results just with a basic red filter. Even managed to pick up some backing paper on some of the shots which i thought was pretty cool :)

  3. brandkow93
    brandkow93 ·

    thanks alot :)
    It is a great film, I got my ir filter off ebay for around £6. yeah i have heard alot about that film, want to try it out, and ive also got a roll of kodak HIE waiting to be shot.

  4. rbruce63
    rbruce63 ·

    Outstanding film, outstanding landscapes, sexy lover shots, cant wait for my EIR to arrive from the UK, however, there is a new hurdle, no E-6 process in Costa Rica. I have to import the chemistry or cross process!

  5. brandkow93
    brandkow93 ·

    @rbruce63 thanks alot for your kind words, ohh cool, ive never had the pricelage to shoot with some. and if i were you i wouldnt even think to cross process it, if im honest i really hate cross processing, you want to see the true results of a film and camera/lens combo so why cross process and see the results of cross processing not the results of the fil and camera/lens combo.

  6. peropero
    peropero ·

    good article!
    i got a bunch of those in ebay too and everytime i use it i get a new surprise. it's kind of a mistery film! hehehe it's interesting to do portraits, people look like ghosts!

  7. brandkow93
    brandkow93 ·

    @peropero yeah im gonna purchase some more rolls of it. thanks for the tip will definetily try thqt :)

  8. rbruce63
    rbruce63 ·

    Will do!

  9. chindijap
    chindijap ·

    did you have to adjust the f stops or did you just set the camera as you normally would?

  10. alejandravaca
    alejandravaca ·

    Hi, I just finished shooting a roll of this SFX with the R72 as well, and wanted your advice on how you developed it. I usually use Rodinal for my other films (Rollei 400, Tmax, etc), but I'm not sure if I should agitate for longer to compensate for the filter? Thanks!

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