Ilford SFX: Superpanchromatic Film for Infrared Photography with Red Filters

Ilford SFX is a panchromatic black-and-white film with an ISO rating of 200, known for its sensitivity to infrared light. Although it was phased out in the early 2000s, it has since been brought back and is now offered in both 35mm and 120 formats. Utilizing a Red 25 filter yields striking effects, necessitating 2.5 stops of exposure adjustment. For a richer red, a Red 29 filter requires an additional half-stop. For authentic infrared results, the R72 filter is advised, which calls for bracketing at +6 and +8 stops. This film features noticeable grain and high contrast, develops like regular black-and-white film, and is available from Blue Moon Camera and Machine in Portland, Oregon, with a 10% discount for PetaPixel members. Sample photographs are attributed to Zeb Andrews and Michael Ricketts.