Found out that I get IR light from my flash
Feb 10, 2023 17:19:59 #
I was watching a YouTube video on using an IR flash with an IR modified camera and it looked fun. But I didn't have an IR flash. Only a regular flash. And this one is not so new as I have had it for a number of years, the Sony HVL-F42AM. It was released around 2008. This got me wondering if I would get much IR out of this flash.
Using my Sony A6300 which has been converted to mono with the removal of the CFA and also the removal of the UV-IR filter so that it was now full spectrum IR, I gave it a try. Considering that today is Feb 10th, there is not a whole lot of IR targets to go after, but I do see my rose bushes waking up and some other plants too.
I placed an 850nm filter on the camera so that if I got anything, it had to be coming from IR light. And I made sure my target was in the shade so that the sun was not contributing. And set the ISO to 200, with the camera in manual mode and set to 1/160 sec and f5.6. Without the flash, I was getting black images telling me that if I am going to see anything, the light has to be coming from the flash.
Image 1, some rose leaves just waking up and extending themselves.
Image 2, some rose leaves that were farther along.
Image 3, some flowers that grow from bulbs that have leafed out, but no flowers yet present. Also some weeds I need to pull.
What I see is that it worked. There was sufficient IR light to go through the 850nm filter and record a result on the sensor. Also makes the image look like it was taken at night.
Next thing to try is to mount the 850nm filter over the flash and to try night time imaging. With a true IR flash, our eyes don't see the flash, but the camera would be able to image wild animals if they were present.
Using my Sony A6300 which has been converted to mono with the removal of the CFA and also the removal of the UV-IR filter so that it was now full spectrum IR, I gave it a try. Considering that today is Feb 10th, there is not a whole lot of IR targets to go after, but I do see my rose bushes waking up and some other plants too.
I placed an 850nm filter on the camera so that if I got anything, it had to be coming from IR light. And I made sure my target was in the shade so that the sun was not contributing. And set the ISO to 200, with the camera in manual mode and set to 1/160 sec and f5.6. Without the flash, I was getting black images telling me that if I am going to see anything, the light has to be coming from the flash.
Image 1, some rose leaves just waking up and extending themselves.
Image 2, some rose leaves that were farther along.
Image 3, some flowers that grow from bulbs that have leafed out, but no flowers yet present. Also some weeds I need to pull.
What I see is that it worked. There was sufficient IR light to go through the 850nm filter and record a result on the sensor. Also makes the image look like it was taken at night.
Next thing to try is to mount the 850nm filter over the flash and to try night time imaging. With a true IR flash, our eyes don't see the flash, but the camera would be able to image wild animals if they were present.
Feb 10, 2023 18:44:35 #
JimH123 wrote:
I was watching a YouTube video on using an IR flas... (show quote)
I often use flash with color IR, so I knew flash contains IR light. Since I am using a filter which allows some visible light, I don't want to filter the flash. If you are using a IR filter which allows very little visible light, you don't need to filter the flash unless you don't want the subject or others to see the flash, since the IR filter will filter out the visible light,.
Apr 5, 2023 15:27:21 #
petrochemist
Loc: UK
Flash usually gives loads of IR, and can give UV as well if the absorbent layer inside the flash is removed - not advisable if the capacitor has been charged!
In the past I've used a IR filter on the pop up flash of a converted camera at night to give an IR look close up, while keeping coloured lights in the background. I ought to give that another try :)
Filtered flash can help with candid shooting too, but a simple hot shoe mounted IR LED light is easier to use as you can see for composition.
In the past I've used a IR filter on the pop up flash of a converted camera at night to give an IR look close up, while keeping coloured lights in the background. I ought to give that another try :)
Filtered flash can help with candid shooting too, but a simple hot shoe mounted IR LED light is easier to use as you can see for composition.
Jan 12, 2024 09:25:32 #
JimH123 wrote:
I was watching a YouTube video on using an IR flas... (show quote)
Excellent discovery and results 😁😁😁😁😁
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