Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/10/03

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Infrared (WAS: 35mm vs. large format)
From: "Henning J. Wulff" <henningw@archiphoto.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 00:02:33 -0700
References: <01C02C7C.D7949660@user-2ive0bp.dialup.mindspring.com> <3.0.6.32.20001002162331.00912d80@pop.microtec.net>

At 7:36 AM +0200 10/3/00, Nathan Wajsman wrote:
>Dan,
>
>Post the images. If someone is offended by nudes, they can refrain from
>looking.
>And I would welcome any tips on using infrared film that you care to share. I
>have never used it but have been thinking of trying it for landscapes. Any
>tips
>of handling, filtration and processing would be most welcome.
>
>Nathan
>
>Dan Cardish wrote:
>
>> The latest issue of Hasselblad Forum magazine has what appears to be a
>> dissproportionate number of portraits taken with the 120/4.  It is the only
>> Hasselblad lens I have (other than the ubiquitious 80) and I agree it is a
>> great lens.
>>
>> To keep this on topic, I'm going to test my APO 90 with Infrared film and
>> my 89B filter to see just how apochromatic the thing really is.  I am
>> rediscovering the beauty of this film.  I use it mainly for nudes, so I'm
>> not certain if I should post the URLs here, but maybe I can find some
>> scenics or something to post at my site.
>
>--
>Nathan Wajsman
>Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland
>
>e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch
>
>General photo site: http://belgiangator.tripod.com/
>Belgium photo site: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman/
>Motorcycle site: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1704/

The 90 Apo etc is excellent with the Kodak HIE film, which is the most
demanding and interesting of the extended sensitivity films available at
present. An 89B is a good start, but an 87 truly brings out the advantages
of this film and lens. It's transmittance really takes off above 770nm,
which in combination with the distinctive halation effects of HIE produces
effects which are otherwise not achievable. The effects of an 89B, on the
other hand, can almost be achieved by a Nikon 990 digital camera with
apropriate filter.

My usual combination for this type of work is the 21/3.4, 35/2 (1980's),
50/2.8 (new styly) and 90 Apo on an M4. Filters are usually the Kodak gels,
as all nuances are readily available. I have filters cut to be placed
behind UV filters mounted on the lenses. The extra surfaces are not really
an issue with this film. Due to the way halation works, 35mm is often
preferable to 4x5 for this kind of work.

Leicas are of course the ideal cameras for this, as you are not looking
through the lens, and all the lenses are fairly good in the extended
wavelength range. The new 90 finally makes telephoto shots workable. My
previous IR lens, the 90 thin T-E, was a little soft, and definitely had to
be refocussed to work properly.

I'd love to see your images. Please give us a chance at them.

   *            Henning J. Wulff
  /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
 /###\   mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com
 |[ ]|     http://www.archiphoto.com

In reply to: Message from Austin Franklin <austin@darkroom.com> (RE: [Leica] Re: 35mm vs. large format)
Message from Dan Cardish <dcardish@microtec.net> (Re: [Leica] Re: 35mm vs. large format)