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Digital Infra-Red
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I have Nikon 5400 and it has a hot mirror blocking IR and need to modify it. I have a couple of questions:
1. Has anyone ever tried this themselves?
2. I have read ‘ Digital Infrared Photography by Patrick Rice’ (Amherst Media) that the following cameras are recommended due the poor or no hot mirror:Nikon coolpix 950
Olympus C2020 Z
Canon D60
Fuji S2 proOur these cameras still available and what in peoples experience is the best option.
Pol
Point 1: No experience of the 5400 but i did convert a Nikon D70 myself. Purchased the normal light blocking filter from http://www.lifepixel.com. Was a bit scarey to do myself some cameras are harder than others to convert so look at the tutorials on http://www.lifepixel.com to get an idea of what is involved. Click link below for whats involded for the 5400 http://www.lifepixel.com/ir-tutorials/nikon-coolpix-5400-digital-infrared-conversion-instructions.htm
Point 2: The older digital cameras did not have very strong IR blocking filters which is why they are recommended. These work fine you just need to purchase an IR filter like the R72 and put it on the lens of the camera. You should be able to pick up these older cameras 2nd hand on ebay or in the 2nd hand section of you local camera shop
If you serious about IR having an SLR modified by your self are LifePixel is the way to go. By modifying the cameras (point 1) you will have normal enough shutter speeds and you will be able to take shots hand held. By just using an old digital camera and a R72 you will have to shoot at higher ISOs and apertures of around F4 so the quality is not as good and you almost always need a tripod
One other option is to shoot IR Film. Kodak HIE is really nice, Gunns i think still stock it or they did two years ago
Below is a link to a picture of one taken on my modified D70 a few weeks ago. Handheld at ISO 400 , F22 and 90th of a second
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s121/mhughes1973/DSC_5406_morecontrast_web.jpg
Have fun
MartinMartin
I have been shooting IR since 88′ using either 35 mm or 120. I like the tidyness of digital. What I probably do is convert the 5400, keep the bronica outfit and purchase another camera for handiness.
Cheers
Pol
martin’s work convinced me to get a second dslr and have it converted.. i had lifepixel do the work for me. wonderful (and quick) results from them, 3 day shipping both ways, they had it for a day, the camera was back in my hands in a little over a week..
bethIf I was to buy a DSLR and have it converted, what would be recommended?
beth, that was a quick turnaround. I have come across someone on ebay.ie based in Cork who can do convertions, but so far only on Fuji’s.
Is it not safer (and more cost effective) to use curves and layers to convert from visible as shot to ‘IR as converted’.
Why would anyone want to dismantle a perfectly good DSLR to capture data from a tiny part of the non visible spectrum?
Puckpics wrote:
Why would anyone want to dismantle a perfectly good DSLR to capture data from a tiny part of the non visible spectrum?
have you ever tried turning on your television with a flashlight instead of the remote? doesn’t work too well.
bethPolMac wrote:
If I was to buy a DSLR and have it converted, what would be recommended?
I have a converted Nikon D70 and i would seriously recommend this camera. Im sure than Canons are just as good so its a personal preference which brand you would go for.
There are only two companies that i am aware of that are converting cameras. The only one i have heard feedback from is LifePixel.com
You could email Life Pixel and ask them how much they would sell you a converted camera for? The route i took was to convert it myself. This is a scary process but it cost me just less than 500 euro for the second hand camera and the IR filter from life pixels. The other option is to buy a Nikon D70 for 450 euro. Ship it to Life Pixel in the states where they will charge you 200 euro. With the postage of say 80 euro it will cost you in the ball park of about 750 euro.
Puckpics: Is it not safer (and more cost effective) to use curves and layers to convert from visible as shot to ‘IR as converted’.
PS cannot mimic IR just like it cannot mimic the effect of a polarizer filter 100% correctly (PS will get you 70% of the way but the magic is in that last 30%). If you want the real thing you have to pay for it. If your serious about your photography and are long enough at it you will save and pay for it.
Martin
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