InfraRed modified DSLR

GoGo

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Is anyone out there using an IR modified DSLR?
 

ann

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i have a student who is using one with good results.

I thought about having mine modified but decided to use filters instead and have been very pleased with my results.
 

Pinholemaster

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I want to. A friend is using them pretty regularly with great results. Leica is now promoting the IR sensitivity of their M8 for IR photography (Why fit the camera, make people shoot IR. HA!)

I think the new Nikon D40x would be a great camera to modify 'cause it shoots 10mp, and is cheap.
 

thebanana

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What is involved in modifying a DSLR in this manner? Can any camera be modified?

John
 

Mike Richards

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Converted Nikon D100

I had a Nikon D100 converted at Dead Link Removed a few years ago. I like the results. You can check my Verdun Infrared or Battle of Actium galleries for typical images. The conversion cost was under $300, as I recall. It works best for me with my old AI manual, fixed focus lenses. Zoom lenses seem to have more focus problems, so need small apertures -- f11 or smaller. Hand held works fine in most situations. Using an IR filter on a non-converted camera often means using a tripod to get good results.
 

Manuel Focus

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I just had one of my back-up 20D's converted to IR by Lifepixel. It works great, and it's a lot of fun. I used to shoot a little Kodak HIE, but mainly used Konica 750nm which I rated at ISO 12 with a red #25 on a bright sunny day. I've been taking hand held, low light IR with the converted 20D. Even shooting it at ISO 1600 in a dark bar with a flash covered with a visible light blocking filter. At ISO 1600 it looks a lot cleaner than 35mm HIE.
 

donbga

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I've been very intriqued with the idea of having a digital camera converted to IR especially since Kodak is going to stop producing HIE (the only IR film worth shooting IMO), however your last line is one that sort of disturbs me. That is the digital IR images that I have looked at online made with converted cameras have a sterile look to me, just too smooth and clean.

I've used a Canon A75 PS with an R72 filter and made some IR exposures that had more of the look of HIE which I suppose is due to the high noise level that camera has when used at ISO 400.

I guess the sad truth is that there will never be a digital equivalent to HIE even after adding digital grain and guasian blur.

Glad to hear the camera is working for you though, I may yet go that route myself.

Don Bryant
 
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ann

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this summer i got a fuji s9100 from MaxMAx. It has been converted to enable one to use IR filters, and at the same time see what your looking at and hand hold.

You can also use another filter to take "normal" images if so desired.

It isn't a true DSLR, but it is much lighter than a d100, can be handheld for IR which comes in handy for some projects i would like to do.

On the other hand i have had good success with the D100 and a wratten 89 filter, but the exposures are long and can't see a thing once that filter goes on
 

Russ - SVP

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Kodak B/W HIE IR film. I just don't see these results with digital IR. Though it does seem to be getting better...







 

sanking

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I had a Canon G9 converted to IR (720 nm) and liked it so much I decided to have a Canon 50D converted, but went with the 830 nm conversion for sharpness. I like the results with the 50D but the results are not a great improvement over the G9, though I guess it would be useful at a much higher ASA.

Attached are a couple of shots taken with the 50D from a recent visit home to Louisiana. What I found interesting about these shots is that you are seeing down to the floor of the lake, which is about three feet deep at this point.

Sandy
 

Bob Carnie

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Here is a sample image of digital infared by one of my clients.
 

donbga

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sanking said:
but went with the 830 nm conversion for sharpness. I like the results with the 50D but the results are not a great improvement over the G9, though I guess it would be useful at a much higher ASA.

Sandy
Click to expand...

What type of post processing do you have to do for these images?

Don
 

pellicle

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Hi

taiwest said:
I converted a Panasonic DMC-L1 a few years ago. Instructions on conversion here:
Click to expand...

fantastic! Thanks for posting that. I've recently gone over to 4/3 myself and have been wondering what IR step I'll make when the last of my HIE runs out.

That looks quite tempting
 

taiwest

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Panasonic conversion

I would recommend that you also get a filter cut to install over the autofocus sensor. I do not recall off the top of my head, but it should be readily accessible when you remove the lens.

Without this, you can use live focus to get sharp photos via live view LCD, but autofocus would be nice.
 

sanking

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Don Bryant said:
What type of post processing do you have to do for these images?

Don
Click to expand...

Don,

Sorry for the dealy in answering your question but I have been in Mexico for a couple of weeks and did not have much time to read the forums.

Basially, there was very little post processing. Aftering inverting the image I ran a simple sharpening routine and then adjusted the contrast.

Sandy
 

donbga

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Okay, so these are RAW captures that are basically rendered as gray scale after conversion? No removal of color casts, etc.

Thanks,

Don
 
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