Infrared conversion question: After buying my Canon 70D I have a Canon SXi I would like to convert to IR. I'm asking anyone that has a conversion to e-mail me and tell me if it's worth...

Menkaure Loc: Michigan

After buying my Canon 70D I have a Canon SXi I would like to convert to IR.
I'm asking anyone that has a conversion to e-mail me and tell me if it's worth it, which company is best, how your using it, etc. In short I would like to learn everything about it before I commit.
So if you have a website, a comment, a suggestion, etc. I'd like to hear from you.
Thank you.

Menkaure

joe west Loc: Taylor, Michigan

Menkaure wrote:

After buying my Canon 70D I have a Canon SXi I would like to convert to IR.
I'm asking anyone that has a conversion to e-mail me and tell me if it's worth it, which company is best, how your using it, etc. In short I would like to learn everything about it before I commit.
So if you have a website, a comment, a suggestion, etc. I'd like to hear from you.
Thank you.

Menkaure

kolarivision.com did 2 camera's for me
there honest and they back there work a 100%
usually a 5 day turn around

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Menkaure wrote:

After buying my Canon 70D I have a Canon SXi I would like to convert to IR.
I'm asking anyone that has a conversion to e-mail me and tell me if it's worth it, which company is best, how your using it, etc. In short I would like to learn everything about it before I commit.
So if you have a website, a comment, a suggestion, etc. I'd like to hear from you.
Thank you.

Menkaure

One decision to make is whether to go full spectrum and then buy several filters. Or to have them install a filter so you don't have to use external filters.

I have the full spectrum approach and a number of filters which gives me multiple options. I have 590nm, 630nm, 720nm and 850nm. Each one produces an entirely different effect from some color let in with the 590nm to absolutely no colors with the 850nm.

I have found my auto focus is off a bit with IR and I have gone to manual focusing. This does not pose much of a problem.

I also have a filter that cuts out IR and allows the camera to take normal pictures.

steveg48

JimH123 wrote:

I also have a filter that cuts out IR and allows the camera to take normal pictures.

I had my Nikon D7100 converted to color ir by www.lifepixel.com. They are excellent. They calibrate the camera for one particular lens - anyone you ask them to - and that will be the only lens autofocus will work well for,- same for manual focus using the viewfinder. However, they explain that if you manual focus in live view, you can do that with any lens.

Menkaure Loc: Michigan

Thank you. As far as what I'm gonna do with it, astro photography is first along with scenery second.

MW

Menkaure wrote:

After buying my Canon 70D I have a Canon SXi I would like to convert to IR.
I'm asking anyone that has a conversion to e-mail me and tell me if it's worth it, which company is best, how your using it, etc. In short I would like to learn everything about it before I commit.
So if you have a website, a comment, a suggestion, etc. I'd like to hear from you.
Thank you.

Menkaure

For me the biggest issue was focus. If you convert a DLSR try to use live view as much as possible as this eliminates the problem. Mirrorless should also eliminate any IR focus issues

robertperry Loc: Sacramento, Ca.

I have been looking at life pixel's website ( referred to by MT Shooter ). Now I'm looking at which mirrorless camera w/ live veiw to buy to have converted to IR. Life Pixel does mention which setup is best for astro photography.

robertperry Loc: Sacramento, Ca.

Computer locked up, double post, hate it when that happens.I have been looking at life pixel's website ( referred to by MT Shooter ). Now I'm looking at which mirrorless camera w/ live veiw to buy to have converted to IR. Life Pixel does mention which setup is best for astro photography.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

JimH123 wrote:

/ ... / I have the full spectrum approach and a number of filters which gives me multiple options. I have 590nm, 630nm, 720nm and 850nm. Each one produces an entirely different effect from some color let in with the 590nm to absolutely no colors with the 850nm. / ... /

I converted my Sony A-100 camera using Digital Silver Imaging in 2012; I requested the filter that has a cut-off of 650 nm for a "Color IR" effect. The camera has worked fine ever since. Here's their link:

http://digitalsilverimaging.com/digital-printing-blog/infrared-camera-conversions/

Cheers,
lev29

joe west Loc: Taylor, Michigan

Menkaure wrote:

Thank you. As far as what I'm gonna do with it, astro photography is first along with scenery second.

full spectrum is only good if you want to add external filters to the camera to do different things
i went with a 590nm installed was well pleased

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

joe west wrote:

full spectrum is only good if you want to add external filters to the camera to do different things
i went with a 590nm installed was well pleased

Here's a case of using the full spectrum ability. Hydrogen when excited by starlight gives off a red light at 656nm which is beyond the ability of a normal sensor to see it. In this image the camera is picking up visible light and the IR spectrum which includes this beyond red light.

The image is the North American Nebula. You can see it to the left of the bright star Deneb. This was taken with a Tamron 70-200mm zoom on a Sony A55 modified to full frame and was taken at 90mm F2.8 which for a crop sensor is equivalent to 135mm. This was a stack of eleven one minute images.

North American Nebula and Deneb

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