dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

About 14 years ago with the help of stepwise directions on the net, I converted with great difficulty a Canon G2. Getting glass to match the thick Hot Filter IR, Infrared rejection filter was difficult and thinks to photo glass and microscope slides and covers bonded with Locktite glass glue success was found on the 3rd try: "Look ma no bubbles." [at least for a couple of years].. Getting all the wires well connected took many frustrating tries. About two years ago after perhaps 5 dormant years, with new batteries, the IR quest as reborn. The left side of the image was blurred so back in the box. Trashed a week ago.

Two attempts with cameras that I was retiring met with file 13 [trash can] disaster. Aaaaha Graham Houghton has a video on "Panasonic Lumix travel zoom camera" the TZ6 - TZ10 [TZ is Euro] or ZS3 - ZS7 or any camera with at least a 35mm lens flange diameter) to shoot infrared only. eBay offered me a ZS3 at for $85 did not research that model, just ordered it. The camera offer said rarely used !! the shutter count was actually zero and no fingerprints on the camera ? NEVER USED ? The ZS-3 to my surprise has few adjustments, no S, A, M although in the menu one can work around this. Example Sports give fast shutter, Night large lens, f-stop, best for eliminating hot spots in lenses a common IR problem.

Panasonic ZS-3 Conversion was simple, six screws and two simple cable clamps removed the back. Three screws opened the sensor for hot mirror removal; then reassemble and wow, it worked the first time. The Hot Mirror was so very thin that I decided it was not necessary to replace it initially figuring it can be retrofitted if necessary. Start to finish less than an hour. Glass to replace the hot mirror was not necessary, the focus was fine. Houghton's video part 1, 2. Part 2 tells how to attach a 37mm filter to the fill spectra camera: Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frtQxryDTo8
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13hNNn_OMKU

With no glass replacing the hot mirror the result was more than I had bargained. The ZS-3 was now a Full Spectra Camera; the doors that being "Full Spectra" opened were not fully realized at first; I wanted only an IR camera then realized it will do UV also. The Canon would only sense at most the restrictions of 720 and 850 nm; the 950 nm was too dark for practical handheld photography not so with this ZS-3 converted camera, the 950 nm image was bright easily viewed in the sun shielded viewfinder. [Amazon: Universal LCD Pop-Up Screen Shade $13]

With reading and looking at galleries, it is obvious that the old fashion 720nm filter is indeed old fashion. 520, for example, gives very interestingly false color by mixing visible and near Infrared. Kolarivision is a conversion company and provides many tutorials. https://kolarivision.com/post-infrared-photo-editing/processing-550nm-ir-filter/
Many thanks to Kolarivision for their tutorials.

One of the tricks to give blue sky is to use a red-blue swap. Make life easy and use the automated plugin red/blue swap included in the free old freeware from Flaming Pear at the bottom of the products page; http://www.flamingpear.com/products.html

Custom White Balance using white paper is needed to eliminate the extreme red of the IR filter effect. LifePixel Camera Converter company is helpful to the DIY person, due a thank you.
https://www.lifepixel.com/photo-tutorials/master-white-balance
https://www.lifepixel.com/photo-tutorials/infrared-photoshop-basics

FULL SPECTRA CAMERA: Yes, but is the lens glass OK with UV? Tested with a UV fluorescent Halloween lamp and as shown by the photo below, yes, very OK with UV.

I have ordered a full range of IR filters and am researching the UV notch filter that only allows limited UV. Allowing you to see what the Bee sees. Filters in the 400nm region are needed. Start reading here: https://kolarivision.com/category/uv-photography/
http://photographyoftheinvisibleworld.blogspot.com/

I will keep you posted

CAMERA IS SENSITIVE TO UV BLACK LIGHT


CONVERTED ZS-3 680 nm IR FLAMING PEAR BLUE/RED SWAP

(Download)

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Wouldn't it be a savings in your time to go to Spencerscamera.com and just have them do the conversion?

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

True, it would have saved a lot of time in the case of the Canon G2 [not modern Gx series] 14 years ago, but with the Panasonic ZS-3, it was a piece of cake, taking little time. The real challenging and time-consuming effort came in the learning of the spectra and the world beyond the visible. My success in life was based on my changing/improving industrial processes, long retired and 82 years old, there is still a need for a continued learning/creativity outlet. Once retired saving time is not an issue, too much time is. Challange physical and mental is important to keep the body and brain from going to mush.

The biggest challenge thus far was finding a UV pass filter at a reasonable price. The same filter can cost 10x as much in USA as it does ordering direct form China. I did find the UV pass filter at a reasonable price from B&H and ordered it last night.

Thank you for mentioning Spencerscamera, I will see what tutorials and galleries they have. Lifespixel and Kolarivision both provide a lot of information and tutorials for the DIY.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Quite a project. I don't know much about IR, so I'm not much help. I do like the results of the second photo posted. Would love to see more.
Erich

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Thank you edrunner, The first photo was a prof of UV sensitivity. Many lenses are UV blocking, the light was one of the Holloween black light that are only seen as a dull purple glow**. Read about the IR Revolution:
http://www.spencerscamera.com/infrared-conversions.cfm
Converting the camera was not difficult, important is to have a good screwdriver set. 45 in 1 mutil function precision screwdriver set Amazon for $12

I have done a lot of research and reading. Today I ordered solar film for adding to an old UV filter ... this metalized black film allows photographing the sun. Did forget to get the funny glasses, needed when you aim the camera... will order those for eye safety. This one "full spectra conversion" is a real door opener.

** Don't confuse actual photographing UV photography with the photographing of the bright Fluorescent Holloween inks and paint. UV photography is photographing showing the absorbed and reflected light. Such shows freckles, sun damage on arms etc.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

ADDITIONAL INFO AT AN IR THREAD
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-562774-2.html