Shooting Infra-Red w/ Digital: Years ago, I ventured into the Infra-Red spectrum of light using film. Interested in revisiting the spectrum, tho using today's digital tech. The way I...

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Years ago, I ventured into the Infra-Red spectrum of light using film. Interested in revisiting the spectrum, tho using today's digital tech. The way I understand it, today's dslr(s) block much of the IR light. Will accessory IR filters then be pointless, leaving as the only viable option to remove the inner band-pass filter? Have searched the archives here, and might have just missed the discussion.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

C_Rex wrote:

Years ago, I ventured into the Infra-Red spectrum of light using film. Interested in revisiting the spectrum, tho using today's digital tech. The way I understand it, today's dslr(s) block much of the IR light. Will accessory IR filters then be pointless, leaving as the only viable option to remove the inner band-pass filter? Have searched the archives here, and might have just missed the discussion.

You can convert an old DSLR with a sensor replacement for about $500, or buy a camera designed for InfraRed.
Otherwise, you can kinda "fake" the infrared look in PhotoShop, but it's not the same as the real thing.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

The best thing to do is convert a camera to infrared. It cost about $250. Look at
lifepixel.com and kolarivision.com. Both have excellent information. With a converted camera no tripod is needed.I love infrared. good luck.

profpb Loc: Venice, Florida

Check my articles on IR here.

http://www.ultimatephotoguide.com/articles/tips-techniques/an-introduction-to-infrared-photography-part-1

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

I also shot IR in the film days and I am sure you will agree it was a hit or miss. I had a P&S panasonic TZ-2 converted to infrared, it workes great. Here is a sample.

IR.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

blacks2 wrote:

I also shot IR in the film days and I am sure you will agree it was a hit or miss. I had a P&S panasonic TZ-2 converted to infrared, it workes great. Here is a sample.

Is this right out of the camera, or did you have to do some postprocessing to get this image? I bought a used Powershot S20 that had been converted to IR and have never really been happy with the results.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Many of todays digital cameras are already IR compatable - my FZ18 is - all you need then is a good IR filter - hoya R72 is one of the most popular. Do a Google search on the subject of testing your camera -
Harvey

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

PrairieSeasons wrote:

blacks2 wrote:

I also shot IR in the film days and I am sure you will agree it was a hit or miss. I had a P&S panasonic TZ-2 converted to infrared, it workes great. Here is a sample.

Is this right out of the camera, or did you have to do some postprocessing to get this image? I bought a used Powershot S20 that had been converted to IR and have never really been happy with the results.

I do some dodging and burning plus add contrast.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

blacks2 wrote:

PrairieSeasons wrote:

blacks2 wrote:

I also shot IR in the film days and I am sure you will agree it was a hit or miss. I had a P&S panasonic TZ-2 converted to infrared, it workes great. Here is a sample.

Is this right out of the camera, or did you have to do some postprocessing to get this image? I bought a used Powershot S20 that had been converted to IR and have never really been happy with the results.

I do some dodging and burning plus add contrast.

Thanks, Your image is the kind of thing I was hoping to accomplish - I guess more learning and practice are in order.

gdwsr Loc: Northern California

Two easy ways to check if your camera is capable of IR:

1) in a dark room, take a picture of the emitter on the front of your TV remote while pushing the button. If you have live view us it. If you see the (ir) light from the emitter you can use a filter.

2) put a unexposed developed b&W negative (the part on the end of a roll for example) in front of your lens (on a tripod) with camera on auto exposure and shoot some plants and sky. Insure not light leakage around the (film) filter.

Taken through negative film

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

The TV remote is the one I remember - worked for me & others in a digital IR group I participate in.

gdwsr wrote:

Two easy ways to check if your camera is capable o... (show quote)

Rich Maher Loc: Sonoma County, CA

I have Canon G2 converted to IR and I am thrilled with the results. When I need a little boost I bring out the Canon and take some shots. Works wonders to get my juices flowing again

gsrunyan Loc: Aurora, CO

Some of the older point and shoots from Sony had infrared capabilities. The image came out in green and white and then you adjusted it in PP.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I love the above photo.I just took an online class with Deborah Sandidge which she teaches at BetterPhoto. The class was very good.She responded immediately to questions etc. She also wrote a good book-Infrared Photography Workshop-pub. by Wiley. One of the students got a camera converted in the middle of the class, previously he used a filter. He felt it made a tremendous difference having a converted camera. Hoya IR filters are not cheap.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Do a search on UHH. Blacks2, did you take photos as you did the conversion on you P TZ1. I have a TZ3 and will eventually replace it with a tz20.... If you have photos taken during the conversion, I would love to see them... they would be valuable to me for my conversion. I have a Canon G-2 that I converted, but a bit bulkier.

Generally speaking, I know that god recommends only high priced IR Filters, but the low cost ones work beautifully for us heathens. Yes, I know Philippine made filters that are labeled Hoya etc are vastly superior to "China Direct" filters... No, I really do not believe that.. We had a discussion in UHH about that and the argument was multi coated IR filters better, in that forum, I refereed them to an article on optics that stated flatly that IR filters should not have non reflective coatings.