PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

I am interested in trying infrared photography. I see some very interesting photos on this site shot in IR. I notice that most are done using a camera converted to IR. Has any of the members here used IR filters, and what wavelength is a better choice. Thanks.

Low Budget Dave

I think you have to remove the existing IR filter.

https://digital-photography-school.com/convert-camera-infrared-black-white-landscape-photography/

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

I have used 720nm filter, but long exposures required 6 to 10 seconds, so a tripod is necessary. But have had a Nikon converted, so can do hand-held shots.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

Thanks Dave and Pablo. Your comments are very helpful.

CO

I used to shoot some Kodak HIE black & white infrared film. I used a Hoya R72 infrared filter. It was a great match for the Kodak film. I have not yet started to do infrared with digital. I'm not sure how the Hoya filter would work with digital.

(Download)

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I used to shoot a lot of IR film, in 35mm and 4x5. A tripod was a must with the long exposures, and you had to compose and focus without the filter, and then shoot with it. I had tried color IR film, but I didn't feel like I had much control with it. When I found out IR is possible with digital, I got an old Nikon D70 converted by Lifepixel. You can easily shoot handheld. I got the Enhanced Color filter installed, because I knew I wanted to experiment with faux color IR. I can also do B&W with some increase in contrast in PP. Here are a couple of my shots - the second one has flash fill:

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

I am interested in IR also, but really don't have a camera that I want to have converted. Also, I am not sure if the converted camera will mostly just sit on a shelf after I find that IR isn't that interesting to me. One option is to rent a converted camera from Borrowlenses or Lens Rental and see if that is what you want to try.

CO

I never liked the look of color infrared film. The colors are too bizarre. I think your renditions are excellent - like art work.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I have two of them converted to IR and both are what is considered full spectrum, meaning that I need to use a filter in front of the lens. But because it is full spectrum, I can use 590nm, or 630nm, or 720nm, or whatever I feel like. I don't like being constrained.

Personally, I like what IR does for Black and White images. The color is fun, but I get tired of it.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Buy low cost filters first and play. I converted a Canon G-2 [not G2x] and it was fun. 720 is a good choice of filters and will work with many cameras; as they are without modification. I had a Panasonic Superzoom that thought the IR filter was night time and so did multi images and auto-stacked... worked well. Before going off the deep end and converting a camera at significant investment give a read to:
https://www.diyphotography.net/shoot-infrared-without-converting-camera/

JimH123's advise is good... what ever approach you use have fun. You will not be using your IR all that much... or will you?

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I love infrared. Get a converted camera. Look at these two websites Kolarivision.com and Lifepixel.com for information. I have used both to convert cameras and can recommend them.
Also Thurs. from 1-3pm B & H is having a webinar on infrared. Go to their website and scroll down to the bottom and look for the event space and signup.

wildweasel

I had a Canon Rebel converted a few years ago and still enjoy taking it along and looking for something that will look interesting in infrared. I tried the 720 and 900 filters, but the long exposure times were limiting.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Beautiful. I also shot IR years ago. I used Kodak Infrared Aero film. Remember focusing with the red dot on the lens?

One nice thing about digital IR areis the almost unlimited processing options. Check with LifePixel because some cameras work better than others with IR. They can tell you right on their site how well a certain camera will work.

Look on ebay for used IR cameras - two Canons and a Nikon. The Nikon 70S is a bargain ($208) compared with converting one. I paid $270 to have my D70 converted in 2011.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've used a Hoya RM80 IR filter with an unmodified Nikon digital. It works, but processing is definitely required. I've also used the same filter with a Sony DSC-F-707 with a great deal of success.
--Bob

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Yes, you can do IR photography with an IR passing filter over a lens on a conventional digital camera. I've done it a few times myself with a Kodak P&S. I had a Pentax K-100D camera converted for full time IR use. That is a rather old 6.1MP CCD Sensor camera. Works great for IR. I chose a 667 nm filter that provides some visible and some IR recording. As noted by others you can place an opaque "black" R72, RM80, R(M)90 or other filter over the lens and make really long exposures. The filters are commonly 690 nm, 720 nm, 800 nm, 850 nm, 880 nm, and even 900 nm. I have various glass Kodak Wratten gel filters in the IR range. One thing to be aware of. If you can find one that can be used on your camera try to find a vintage lens with click-stops that also has a distance scale with an IR (red) mark for focusing IR light. Remember IR focuses on a different plane than visible light.

If you were to later have a camera converted for full time IR use or buy an already converted camera, have a lens calibrated to that camera for IR use, send the lens in with the camera. It is best not to use different interchangeable lenses. Stick with one lens, I'd say a 35mm prime would be a good choice. Accurately focusing a telephoto lens for any IR use is tricky. Remember digital camera systems were designed to focus and record visible light, not IR or UV. So these "experimental" regions of light get less predictable and can produce many surprises.

Wave lengths like 665 to 690 nm give you IR false colors, by 850 nm you are totally in B&W IR. 900 nm is nearly heat!

Many ages ago I shot some IR Ektachrome, really weird. And Kodak High Speed Infrared B&W Film. A pain in the ass to process. It was heat sensitive, so touching it fogged it where you made contact.