Ilford SFX 200

SFX 200 is not a true infrared film. Its spectral sensitivity extends to roughly 740 nanometers, well past standard panchromatic films that cut off around 650nm, but it stops short of the deep infrared response that Kodak HIE had before it was discontinued. With a standard red filter (25A) the effect is modest. With a Hoya R72, which cuts visible light below 720nm, SFX produces the pale foliage glow and darkened skies associated with infrared photography, but without HIE's notorious halation bloom around bright edges.

That absence of halation is significant. Kodak HIE's anti-halation backing was unusual, and the glow around light sources was part of its character but also a technical limitation. SFX 200 keeps the sky drama and foliage effect while producing sharper edges. For photographers who want a controlled infrared look rather than a halation-heavy one, SFX behaves more predictably.

Exposure through a Hoya R72 requires substantial correction because the filter blocks most visible light. Starting at box speed in bright sun with an R72, a starting point of around EV 10 to 11 is typical, but you need to test for your specific metering setup because TTL meters respond differently to the deep red transmission. Some photographers rate SFX at 25 to 50 when using the R72 and expose by feel.

Available in 35mm and 120 only. The 120 negative with an R72 and good developing in ID-11 produces landscapes that look genuinely strange: white grass, black lakes in shade, clouds with charcoal halos.

Reciprocity exponent is 1.31. Infrared work often involves long exposures in filtered conditions. Zone Light Meter applies the correction past one second, which matters when you are working stopped down with a dense red or infrared filter and the meter reading is already in multi-second territory.