I would like to know whether it is possible to use infrared film with Pentax 67II. Some cameras cannot use infrared as they have an optical system to count the photograms which exposes the film. It seems to me that also the 67II has some optoelectronic device. Can anyone help me? Thank You very much. Merry Christmas and happy 2002 to everybody. Giovanni

-- Giovanni Russo (giovanni.russo@unimi.it), December 19, 2001

Answers

Pentax has a long standing consideration for using infrared film in their 67 line. The lenses all have infrared focus marks; even the 55- 100 zoom has them, even though there are no hyperfocal marks for DOF. Several of the old pamphlets have pictures taken with infrared film. Since the zoom has those marks and was designed around the time of the intro of the 67II, it makes sense that the 67II can shoot infrared.

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), December 19, 2001.

I am not aware of any optoelectronic device on the 67II. I use Konica infrared film in both of my 67II bodies and have never had any fogging issues. My only complaint is that nobody makes 220 infrared film!

-- Rolf Strasheim (rolfs@thelunatech.com), December 19, 2001.

Thank You, Steve and Rolf. I will immediately start shooting one or two infrared films. I was suggested to use Konika infrared with B&W filter 092. Of course, any other suggestion will be welcome. Giovanni

-- giovanni russo (giovanni.russo@unimi.it), December 21, 2001.

Try MACO 820 film in your Pentax. It is slow, but in my experience, gives better results than Konica. I use either an R72 or 87 filter with an EI of 4 and develop in Diafine, 3 minutes in both the A and B solutions. You will get suprisingly good 16 x20 prints from this film.

Also, there is a guy on the Web that sells Kodak HIE in 220 rolls for $25 each. He cuts down perforated 70mm HIE and puts it on 220 backing. Do a search for Rollin Elliot, Infrared Film. I don't have his URL handy.

-- Gene Crumpler (hassieguy@att.net), December 27, 2001.

This is a bit of the subject of this thread, but it still seemed like the place to put it. I too was looking to do infrared in the Pentax 67. I would probably use my favorite lenses, 45mm & 75mm. By chance, both use the same, BIG, 82mm filter. Infrared filters are notoriously expensive, and all but impossible to find use. It was a shock just seeing the prices for a 58mm or 62mm filter. When I looked into it, many filters seem to have 72mm as the largest size. I couldnt find, not in stores or on the web, a Hoya RM72 or RM90 in 82mm (in 72mm they are a whopping $260 + $395 respectively!). Am I missing something? In 82mm, only B+W lists infrared, but they are not their true infrared filters (the Tiffin 87 is, apparently, no longer available). My questions are: (1) Does anyone know of a good source for the filters, or any place that might have used ones? (2) I sometimes see cheap, or cheap compared to new, prices for old Kodak square Wratten, which are, I think, 3" or 4" square. If they are 4", then that would put them around 100mm. Does anyone know if there is a shop or craftsman who could cut the filter and get in in a 82mm ring? Just looking for a cheaper way to do this, if possible. I have standard b&w filters, but want to use something from the opaque end of the spectrum. Any information or feedback would be appreciated. I might be able to step from 82 to 72, but don't want to buy a really expensive filter if I lose image area doing so.

-- Carl Tower (cjtowerman@yahoo.com), January 03, 2002.

Thanks to all. The answer by Gene gives me the opportunity to put another question concerning the system to name filters. Is there any universal way to indicate the color of a filter and its intensity ? I cannot find which kind of red filter Gene suggests, as Heliopan, B+W, etc. use different way to name their filters. By the way, can anyone comment about the quality of heliopan filters comparad to Hoya and B+W? Thank to anybody wanting to answer Giovanni

-- giovanni russo (giovanni.russo@unimi.it), January 06, 2002.

Anyone interested in shooting the Konica infrared film might want to compare their filters against the data sheet for Konica's IF750 film - which is included in the film boxes, and might also be available online somewhere. This is high red film, not true infrared film. I have found the most appelaing results with deep orange and standard red filters. If you move too far up the infrared range (start using truly opaque filters, you quickly begin to block out the light which registers on the film! Since this film isn't true infrared, I have not found any damage to it by autofocus cameras (I have the old P6x7, so cant comment on the original question here). In fact, I have a friend process this konica stuff in a converted Noritsu machine which uses infrared sensors! No damage of any kind. This is tough film, and it is quite forgiving. It has become my favorite film to use. Purists might want something higher on the NM chart, but I am really impressed with this stuff. Konica's best product; better than Impressa 50.

-- Carl Tower (cjtowerman@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

I purchased a 3x3 Lee 87 filter for $12 and cut it to fit inside my 77mm skylight filter for use with my 55 f4 and 200 f4. The r72 filter is a 52mm Hoya ($32) that I use on my Hassie and Mamiya c33.

Maco 820 does not produce an ifrared effect with visible light filters such as 25A.

-- Gene Crumpler (hassieguy@att.net), April 08, 2002.