Digital Infra Red

[glenafton]

What is a good,inexpensive camera to convert into a dedicated infra red camera. At present I am using my Panasonic Lumix DMC - FZ50 with a Hoya R72 filter. The results I get regardless of the camera settings all have a red caste to them and this effects the changes that I make in Photoshop CS3

Glenafton

[mwfanelli2]

What is a good,inexpensive camera to convert into a dedicated infra red camera. At present I am using my Panasonic Lumix DMC - FZ50 with a Hoya R72 filter. The results I get regardless of the camera settings all have a red caste to them and this effects the changes that I make in Photoshop CS3

Glenafton

I am pretty sure you will need to buy a DSLR to get true IR. The camera has to be opened for access to the sensor. That might be harder on a P&S, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

Nornally, you buy the DSLR, send it out for conversion (they remove the IR filter on the sensor) and shoot away. A friend of mine did this with one of the Rebels and was very happy.

Note, if you want to shoot "normal" images you'll have to use an external IR filter (like the digital Leica M8 is forced to).

[Greg McCary]

Sigma made a DSLR at one time with a removable IR blocking filter just for that purpose. I might check the used market for one.

[drg]

There is a quick way to find out if the camera is even IR sensitive. Use a Regular Television remote control and see if its output shows through the EVF or on the 'screen/display'. If you can 'see' a spot of light from the remote like a small flashlight, the camera is IR sensitive. If it is, you can use it for both IR and regular photography without modification.

A used older model camera might be a good choice. Many Sony cameras were IR sensitive as were several Canon P/S or Advanced Compacts including models from both Powershot G & A series.

One of the favorite cameras to get permanently modified is the Canon 20d DSLR. I had one of the 'astro' versions that was pretty neat to use. These are a little hard to find as most people hang on to them.

There are cameras from Fuji that are setup to do IR work full time and you will pay for the option.

Sigma DSLR's have the removable IR filter but they are a pain in the older model (SD10 v SD14) to change the filter in and out.

If you have a sensitive camera (via the test) try using the IR Filter with and without an additional filter or light block like a lens cap or even just a black piece of paper. Something that lets the IR pass but not visible light. Even very dense ND filters stacked. Longer exposure times required. Else you may be stuck with converting to B/W. Color IR is really a 'trick' in post processing to assign different colors to temperature 'ranges'. Originally for analytic work it turned quickly to a neat artistic tool.

Do you have any samples of what you've tried already??

[drg]

Sigma made a DSLR at one time with a removable IR blocking filter just for that purpose. I might check the used market for one.

I mentioned this as you were posting apparently!!

Due to the Nature of the Foveon sensor it has made sense to keep the IR sensor separated from the actually sensor surface.

I've used all the SIGMA DSLR's and the SD14 is the easiest to get the sensor out. It is technically a 'no-tool' operation but don't lose it!!

Used Sigma don't seemingly come very cheap these days for some reason... They were selling at a reasonable rate until this summer and now they have become popular again. The new DSLR is due anytime (could be another year!) so the prices should drop again.

You'll find very different curves with the two or three major IR filter variants and the photos look real strange until you figure out how to post-process them.

[mjs1973]

A coworker has a camera that is capable of taking regular photos, as well as IR photos but I don't remember what it is.

Life Pixel seems to be the go to company for converting cameras to shoot IR. What is your budget? You can probably pick up a used DSLR like a Canon 300D for around $300 and then spend another $325 to have it converted. That's not very inexpensive though.

Do you plan on doing the conversion yourself or have it professionally done?

[glenafton]

mjs,
I will have to get any conversion done professionally as the fingers are too stiff with arthritis for me to do fine work now. But that is not a problem as I am sure that someone here in Australia can convert for me. Perhaps it were better that I check first before I buy anything.
How am I ever going to thank you all for the help and guidance that you have given me.
Thank you seems quite inadequate.
Glenafton