Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/28

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Subject: Re: [Leica] IR film and the M6?
From: John Collier <jbcollier@home.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 14:31:08 -0700

From the archives:
- --------------------
I shoot IR film quite often in my M4, and it is quite easy. I don't usually
shoot wide open, but if necessary, I'll still do it. With newer lenses I
set the focus point approximately at the closer f/2 depth of field mark,
with older (70's) lenses I set it at about the f/4 mark. This is all with
the Kodak HIE film, which has sensitivity further into the IR than other
readily available films. With others (Konica 750, the E-6 film and the
Ilford film) I don't do any adjustment at all. Especially the more recent
lenses are so well corrected, and the IR sensitivity is so limited, that
refocussing rarely brings any benefits.

The shutter has no light leak problems.

For the Kodak HIE film I have a Leica 39mm IR filter, which is equivalent
to an 89B, and otherwise I use gels cut to size behind a UV filter; mostly
89B or 87. The 25 filter doesn't do quite enough with the HIE.

The main problem with IR is that you have to bracket a lot, and the film is
expensive, but if you are going to use it, Leica-M's are ideal.

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


> From: ZaaX@aol.com
> 
> Can one use IR film in the M6?  Can I assume that the shutter will not absorb
> IR and retransmit it to the unexposed film?
> It would seem that the M is a near perfect camera for IR. Since it is a RF
> you don't have to look through the lens and through a #25 red filter giving
> you a nice bright view for composition.
>