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How #25 and #29 change the look
SFX 200 has extended red sensitivity, which can produce an infrared-style effect with red filtration; Ilford does not describe it as true infrared film. The manufacturer says, “The redder the filter, the more dramatic the effect.” A deep red filter can render skies nearly black and much green vegetation nearly white, but the result depends on the scene, lighting and filter transmission.
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Ilford’s figures below are guidance for SFX 200, not a guarantee that every brand’s filter transmits light identically or that every camera meters it the same way.
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| Filter | Ilford category | Filter factor | Exposure increase | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wratten #25 | Red | 2.8 | 1½ stops | Moderate red effect; less dramatic than deeper red filtration. |
| Wratten #29 | Deep red | 3 | 1⅔ stops | Stronger effect, with only a modestly greater exposure increase than #25 in Ilford’s table. |
| Wratten 89B | Very deep red | 16 | 4 stops | A much larger exposure increase; Ilford recommends a tripod for very dark filters because exposures can become very long. |
Which strength should you choose?
Choose #25 for a moderate effect
A red #25 camera lens filter is a sensible starting point if you want visible red-filter effects without going as deep as a #29. Match its diameter to your lens before buying.
#1 Best Overall
- DRAMATIC BLACK & WHITE CONTRAST: Deepens blue skies, brightens clouds, and creates striking tonal separation for bold landscape, architectural, and outdoor black-and-white photography.
- CLASSIC RED FILTER PERFORMANCE: The Red 25 filter significantly darkens blue tones while increasing contrast and enhancing texture detail for a more dramatic monochrome appearance.
- DESIGNED FOR LANDSCAPES & SKIES: Ideal for outdoor scenes, mountain vistas, clouds, and architecture where strong contrast and enhanced definition create more powerful photographs.
- TRUSTED TIFFEN QUALITY: Made in New York, Tiffen delivers dependable optical accessories trusted by generations of photographers seeking creative image control and consistent results.
- REDUCE HAZE & IMPROVE CLARITY: Helps minimize atmospheric haze in distant subjects while increasing visual separation between elements within the scene for greater image impact.
Choose #29 for a stronger effect
A deep-red #29 camera lens filter is the stronger alternative. Ilford lists its factor as 3 for SFX 200, compared with 2.8 for #25; use the film-specific figure as a starting point, not a promise of identical results across cameras and filter brands.
Reserve 89B for a much larger exposure increase
The very deep red Wratten 89B has an Ilford-listed factor of 16, or 4 stops. That is a substantially greater exposure commitment than #25 or #29, so plan for longer exposures and use a tripod when needed.
Rank #2
- Gel filter material: these gel filters are made of high light transmission plastic material, lightweight, steady color temperature and low loss, helpful to use
- Colored overlays size: each color film sheet measures approx. 11.7 x 8.3 inches in dimension, come in vivid color, and each is covered with a protective film to avoid being scratched, easy to peel off
- Wide Applications: colored overlays filters are suitable for film, video, photo, stage, theater, party, and DJ lighting, good for photo studio strobe flash light LED lights,create eerie red lighting effects for haunted houses, Halloween parties, horror photography, costume portraits and spooky stage scenes
- More using occasions: also suit for memory albums scrapbooks and various other art projects, can improve clarity, eye movement control and helps people with dyslexia reduce reading frustration
- Quantity: 9 pieces of gel light filters in total, enough for using; Note: please do not leave the product close to the light which is on, or it will be
Set exposure and check your meter
Ilford warns that some common cameras may underexpose by as much as 1½ stops with deep red or orange filters. This is a camera-dependent warning, not a correction that applies to every TTL meter. The manufacturer recommends experimenting and bracketing ±2 stops around the TTL reading with the filter fitted, or around a meter reading after applying the filter factor.
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- Start with Ilford’s factor for the filter: 2.8 for #25, 3 for #29, or 16 for 89B.
- Take a meter reading with the filter fitted, or apply the filter factor to the reading made without it.
- Bracket exposures by ±2 stops around that starting exposure, particularly when you do not yet know how your camera meters the filter.
Focus before fitting a deep red filter
Ilford notes that red light may focus at a slightly different point from other visible light, and that focusing through a deep red filter can be almost impossible. Focus first, then fit the filter. With short to moderate focal lengths, stopping down to the smallest working aperture can accommodate the focus difference; some apochromatic lenses may need no correction.
Rank #3
- Frame: CNC machining, screw thread installation, quick and convenient disassembly and assembly.
- Usage Scenes: For scenes such as maple leaves, sunset, evening clouds, burning clouds or desert dunes in the evening.
- Red Filter: Suitable for enhancing the red tones in the picture, making the scene more vivid and layered.
- Multilayer Coating Process: Lens has oilproof, properties to the lens from dust and scratches.
- Strong Compatibility: There are five kinds of interfaces: 67mm/2.6in, 62mm/2.4in, 58mm/2.3in, 55mm/2.2in, 52mm/2.0in suitable for 67mm, 62mm, 58mm, 55mm, 52mm interface lens.
Find the right filter diameter for your lens
The film’s recommendations identify optical strength, not screw-in diameter. Check the filter-thread marking on your lens or lens cap; it is commonly shown as a diameter in millimetres. Buy the filter in that diameter. A larger filter can sometimes be used on lenses with smaller threads through a step-up ring, but check the camera-and-lens combination for vignetting.
Historical examples listed in an April 2007 ILFORD fact sheet include Hoya 25A and B+W 090 among light-red designations, and Heliopan 29 and Rodenstock 29 among dark-red designations. These are historical examples only; they do not establish current availability, equal transmission or compatibility with a particular lens.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- DRAMATIC BLACK & WHITE CONTRAST: Deepens blue skies, brightens clouds, and creates striking tonal separation for bold landscape, architectural, and outdoor black-and-white photography.
- CLASSIC RED FILTER PERFORMANCE: The Red 25 filter significantly darkens blue tones while increasing contrast and enhancing texture detail for a more dramatic monochrome appearance.
- DESIGNED FOR LANDSCAPES & SKIES: Ideal for outdoor scenes, mountain vistas, clouds, and architecture where strong contrast and enhanced definition create more powerful photographs.
- TRUSTED TIFFEN QUALITY: Made in New York, Tiffen delivers dependable optical accessories trusted by generations of photographers seeking creative image control and consistent results.
- REDUCE HAZE & IMPROVE CLARITY: Helps minimize atmospheric haze in distant subjects while increasing visual separation between elements within the scene for greater image impact.
Rank #4
- DRAMATIC BLACK & WHITE CONTRAST: Deepens blue skies, brightens clouds, and creates striking tonal separation for bold landscape, architectural, and outdoor black-and-white photography.
- CLASSIC RED FILTER PERFORMANCE: The Red 25 filter significantly darkens blue tones while increasing contrast and enhancing texture detail for a more dramatic monochrome appearance.
- DESIGNED FOR LANDSCAPES & SKIES: Ideal for outdoor scenes, mountain vistas, clouds, and architecture where strong contrast and enhanced definition create more powerful photographs.
- TRUSTED TIFFEN QUALITY: Made in New York, Tiffen delivers dependable optical accessories trusted by generations of photographers seeking creative image control and consistent results.
- REDUCE HAZE & IMPROVE CLARITY: Helps minimize atmospheric haze in distant subjects while increasing visual separation between elements within the scene for greater image impact.
Sources
- HARMAN technology Limited / ILFORD Photo, SFX 200 Technical Information, November 2018
- ILFORD Photo, SFX 200 120 product page
- ILFORD SFX 200 legacy fact sheet, April 2007, archived by Fotoimpex
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