IR Conversion Camera: Good Choice?

[Ari]

To those who know more about such things, i.e., anyone but me:
I've been shooting various Rollei IR film emulsions with great pleasure and satisfaction, but I'd like to see what's out there in the digital world as well.
I've wanted to shoot digital IR for some time, but didn't know which camera to use. I don't currently own a digicam, and the array of choices is overwhelming, to say the least.

In a desperate bid to be done with "research", I bought a Sony Alpha a77 with the 16-50 f/2.8 lens. I've hated Sony menus on past cameras I've owned, but always liked the image quality.
I didn't want to get something too small/compact that wouldn't give me decent quality. I'm spoiled with my current IR film camera, a Contax G that uses some of the sharpest glass available.
So I wanted a camera and lens that would be capable of producing good quality images.
The other choice was a Sony NEX-7, but I felt that would be annoying to use all day, such a small body that often takes big lenses.
Anyway, it's done. Does that sound like a good camera for IR conversion?

Also, I want to get the B&W 830nm or 850nm conversion, not sure which company I'll use yet (the camera has yet to arrive).
I really miss the look of Kodak HIE and I figure the ~850nm B&W conversion would get me there, almost. Is this a realistic expectation?

Thanks in advance for your opinions and advice.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I shot with a 900nm filter over the lens on my DSLR. Exposures were really long, but results were close to HIE but with no halation effects.

 

[Ari]

Thanks, Andrew. I should add I don't want to use filters on the lens because of the long exposure times, which is why I want to have the IR conversion done on the camera.

 

[reddesert]

I have no specific knowledge of that camera and lens. The companies that do IR conversion usually have information on specific bodies and lenses and recommendations on their websites. I do recommend (a) reading these in detail, (b) reaching out to the company and asking them, and (c) buying a cheap IR lens filter (it will have to be shorter wavelength than 830nm) and trying your setup before getting the camera converted.

Some reasons for reading up in detail are:
- some cameras have compromises. For example, on the Lifepixel site, they say that some of the new Sony mirrorless A7 models use an IR LED that would contaminate exposures longer than 1 sec. They don't say that for the A77 / DSLRs, so you may be ok there.
- some lenses have compromises. Some have major central hotspots. This is why I'm suggesting testing before you send the camera in. Some lenses may have focus or optical performance issues way out in the infrared. The Lifepixel website doesn't list the Sony 16-50/2.8 in their hotspot testing yet. I'd be wary that the more complex zoom lenses may have more compromises in the IR.

Personally, I have not invested in a DSLR conversion yet. I use a really conservative (and affordable) setup. I have a Nikon D70, which is an old 6 mp camera whose sensor is known to have a weaker IR blocking filter than later DSLRs. I use manual focus lenses with an IR focusing mark and that don't have central hotspots. The Nikon 28/3.5 has given me good results, for example. I have a 720nm or 760nm filter and exposures in full daylight are about 1/2 sec, which obviously means I can't handhold, but I can set the camera on a rock or fencepost and trigger it with the self-timer or a remote. The results are somewhat like Kodak HIE in tonality, so I don't think you need to go all the way to an 850nm filter to get the B&W IR look. Here is an example photo with this setup:

Cloudbank, Arizona, August 2019 by reddesert64, on Flickr

 

[Ari]

Sweet, thanks RD!
I did research the a77 on the LifePixel website and read what you describe with the LED.
I'm ok with not getting a 900nm conversion as long as most of the fun happens in-camera and I don't have too much PS work to do.

 

[Paul Howell]

Sigma SD 14 and 15 have removable IR filters, I have a few shots banked, need to find the right memory card, but take a look at these and link to discussion below. Not sure if the new Sigma mirrorless bodies have removable filters, for that matter or the SD1 .

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4213182

 

[Ari]

Thanks, Paul.
I plan on having focus calibrated when the IR conversion is done (not by me!).
I really would like to have a good-quality point & shoot IR-dedicated camera. Ideally, I'd get images right out of the camera that require little to no processing and no futzing around in PS or other software.

 

[Paul Howell]

I found this on google, https://kolarivision.com/product-category/cameras/
Don't know anything about the company, but if still in business might be what you are looking for. The Sigma SD 14 and 15 the image has to be converted to a grayscale in PS or Correl. They seem to have a wide range of converted cameras. Dont know if they shoot grayscale or color.
Infrared Conversion Used Canon G15 Infrared Converted Point and Shoot Camera

 

[Ari]

Thanks, Paul.
I found three reputable companies that do the IR conversion and are also highly-rated: KolariVision (NJ), LifePixel (WA) and Spencer's Camera (UT). They all sell converted cameras as well.
I spoke to the Kolari guys this morning and they told me the Sony a77 is an excellent candidate for IR conversion.
They also pointed me to their lens hotspot database: https://kolarivision.com/articles/lens-hotspot-list/
The Sony lens I'll get is a good IR performer, hotspots start at f/8.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have a A77II, other than I am not found of EVFs, I quite like it, I use older Minolta and Konica Minolta A lens, between Sony and Minolta lens wide selection of lens that seem to work well in IR mode. Good luck.

 

[Ari]

Thanks, Paul. The guy I spoke with at Kolari seemed especially fond of these cameras as conversion candidates. So I think I got lucky.
I'm not fond of Sony menus, but I've always liked their image quality.