Choose a filter for the look you want, then expose for that exact filter: ILFORD lists a 1½-stop increase for a Wratten 25 red filter, 1⅔ stops for a Wratten 29 deep-red filter, and 4 stops for a Wratten 89B very-deep-red filter. Because filter transmission and camera metering vary, bracket rather than relying on one exposure.
What a red filter does to SFX 200
Ilford SFX 200 is ISO 200 black-and-white film with extended red sensitivity, intended to produce infrared-style effects. ILFORD lists it in 35mm and 120 formats on its SFX 200 product page. With a redder filter, the tonal effect becomes more pronounced: the manufacturer describes blue skies rendering almost black and green vegetation almost white.
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The exact result depends on the filter’s transmission, not just its label. ILFORD says SFX 200 can be used with yellow, orange, or red filters, with redder filters producing a more dramatic effect. A conventional red, deep-red, and very-deep-red filter are therefore different creative choices as well as different exposure demands.
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Use the factor specified for the filter type actually fitted. The values below are from ILFORD’s SFX 200 Technical Information sheet dated November 2018; similarly named filters can have different transmission, so check the instructions for your specific filter.
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| Filter category | ILFORD-listed filter factor | Exposure increase | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wratten 25 red | 2.8 | 1½ stops | Red-filter effect; less exposure loss than the darker options. |
| Wratten 29 deep red | 3 | 1⅔ stops | More pronounced red-filter effect than a less-red filter. |
| Wratten 89B very deep red | 16 | 4 stops | Strongest of these listed options, with a substantial exposure penalty. |
These filter factors are manufacturer guidance, not universal settings for every filter sold under a similar name. Confirm both the transmission factor and physical fit: a screw-in filter must match the lens’s filter thread, or use a compatible holder.
Set exposure without double-counting the filter
- If metering through the mounted filter: take a TTL reading with the filter in place. Do not automatically add the full filter factor again; whether the meter compensates adequately depends on the camera and its metering method.
- If metering without the filter: apply the factor for the filter you will use. For example, the Wratten 29 factor of 3 corresponds to an increase of 1⅔ stops over the unfiltered reading.
- Bracket around your calculated or filtered-meter exposure: ILFORD advises bracketing by ±2 stops from either the TTL reading with the filter fitted or the reading with the filter factor applied. The sheet warns that some common cameras can underexpose by up to 1½ stops with deep-red or orange filters.
As a manufacturer example rather than a universal exposure recipe, ILFORD gives approximately 1/30 second at f/5.6 in bright sunshine with a deep-red filter. Your result will vary with the scene brightness, filter transmission, lens, and camera.
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Focus before mounting a very dark filter
A deep-red filter can make viewing and focusing difficult. ILFORD notes that some lenses focus red light at a slightly different point from other visible light, and that focusing with a deep-red filter in place is almost impossible. Focus first, then attach the filter. For short-to-moderate focal lengths, the manufacturer says stopping down to the smallest working aperture can accommodate the difference; some apochromatic lenses may need no correction. This is lens-dependent guidance, not a universal focus adjustment.
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The filter can darken the viewfinder substantially, especially when it is very deep red. Compose and focus while the view is clear, attach the filter, and verify that it has not shifted the framing. The altered rendering is tonal rather than a change to the scene’s geometry, but the filter itself may obscure the view.
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Use support when the shutter time gets long
A very dark filter can turn a normally handheld exposure into a long one. ILFORD recommends a tripod for long exposures. The technical sheet provides filter-factor guidance but no separate reciprocity-failure correction table, so it does not establish a specific additional correction for extended exposures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Load SFX 200 in subdued light
Unlike true infrared film, ILFORD says SFX 200 does not need to be loaded in total darkness. Load it in subdued light and follow normal film-handling precautions.
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