[g8ina]

Some nice work there Mark, and another home modder too well done

Really surprised you got that much colour from 720nm !

I just got another c3040z which I am hoping to get converted to 630nm, unless I sell it first ....

[markoneswift]

Here is a shot, straight from my self-modded Sony DSC-H1. Cheers !

[markoneswift]

Thanks for the comments - I'm looking for a new candidate to convert, I'm getting hooked now. I'm looking at maybe the Canon G series or possible another Sony ( DSC-S70/75/85 )

In terms of colour, what nm range filter would give me more ? I'm assuming lower such as 690 or less ??

Thanks ~!

[g8ina]

yeah, the lower the number the higher the bandwidth, therefore more colour.

When you convert these to full spectrum, do you put a piece of glass in place of the hot mirror blocking filter ? If not, you should as the focus will be shifted.

As for candidates, the Sony DSC-P series are a doddle to convert, it's literally a ten minute job. The 4 and 5 MP are the best IMO. Also the early Olympus Camedia like the c3***, c4*** and c5*** series.

Not done a Canon yet, but I killed a Fuji s**** series when I tried, they are very tricky.

[shotokan101]

Any links to home modding info. guys ?

JIm

[markoneswift]

Hi all - home modding info ? Yeah, me !! I trawled the net for info before beginning my home modding efforts and here's what I've learned so far.

1) If you manage to strip the camera, protect your CCD ! I got a speck of dust on my Sony CCD and it bugs me every time I take a shot ! Also keep all the little gaskets etc that hold the filter in place - very thin and easy to loose.
2) Always either replace the filter or grind off the hot coating. The coating can be removed using T-cut on a piece of acrylic. CAUTION with this though as it seems some cameras have 'soft' filters ( mineral glass ?? ) and they can become scratched or cloudy. I did my Vivitar using T-cut and it was fine, I'm assuming the cheap camera may use silica ( normal ) glass ???
3) Try to remeber where your screws go ! Any remaining screws are known as 'transit screws' and are no longer required lol.
4) Buy a cheap old nail to try this with before unleashing your new found awesomeness on your £500+ baby.........

[markoneswift]

Oh and I've decided to make all my cams dual purpose so none of that internal IR filter stuff for me ! NO ! I got an adapter tube for my DSC-H1 and then a 58mm Hoya R72 and a 58mm Marumi UV/IR cut. I can now take noraml or IR shots as I please ( and full spectrum too for a laugh ).

The little Vivitar doesn't have an adapter tube, so I just hand hold the filter in front of the lens.

[g8ina]

There are several home mod pages for IR, my fave is this one :

jr-worldwi.de: Photography: Technic

also the following may be useful :

wrotniak.net: Digital SLRs for Infrared Photography

Life Pixel – Nikon D70 & D70s DIY Digital Infrared Conversion Tutorial | LifePixel Digital Infrared Photography IR Conversion, Modification & Scratched Sensor Repair

and my own tutorial is in other forums. If you like I'll post it in here, lemme know.

[shotokan101]

Thanks for the info and links guys - much appreciated

I doubt that I'll be brave enough to try it out but I'm sure it may well be useful to some of the braver members

JIm

[g8ina]

I'm always happy to do home mods if anyone wants them

I have an Olympus here right now I'm now modding to full spectrum so I can use 720nm OR 630nm

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

i've got an old Sony DSC-P51 sitting on my desk...is this a good candidate then....fun fun fun

[g8ina]

My advice for home modders is to try and find a place that does samples of Schott glass or perspex. You will need to be able to cut glass to very small sizes, 10mm x 8mm for example, or with perspex, you need to find some proper optically clear infrared pass material.

All of my home mods are done with perspex and I challenge anyone to spot the difference bewteen that and glass

Oh and the last thing you need to know is about white balance. If your home modded camera has the ability to use custom white balance, you need to set this up using a shot of green grass as your WB sample. It has something to do with the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll

[markoneswift]

+1 to the custom white balance, seems to make a massive difference. Saying that, my little Vivitar doesn't have it and takes ok shots. My 'better' Sony H1 has custom WB but it will not set with the IR filter on, no matter what I try ! Weird.....

[shotokan101]

Originally Posted by g8ina

I'm always happy to do home mods if anyone wants them

I have an Olympus here right now I'm now modding to full spectrum so I can use 720nm OR 630nm

Thanks David - good to know - knowing this lot I forsee your Postie not being very happy with you pretty soon....

JIm

[markoneswift]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

i've got an old Sony DSC-P51 sitting on my desk...is this a good candidate then....fun fun fun

Yes !! Get it done lol good luck !!

[markoneswift]

Here's a few more from the El-Cheapo Vivitar !

[Simon3119]

Two of a local Schloss. Nikon D300, Sigma 10-20, Cokin Infrared filter, CS4.

I did take some more but it's very hard to judge the exposure time, more practice needed.

[IMG]

Tatenhausen Infrared 1 by simon.stanley@rocketmail.com, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]

Tatenhausen Infrared 2 by simon.stanley@rocketmail.com, on Flickr[/IMG]

[g8ina]

Simon, welcome to the thread.

That first one is stunning. Looks like a long exposure, as the weeds in foreground are beautifully blurry

You may want to adjust your Flickr privacy settings though, I can still DL the original size image !

[markoneswift]

Agreed - really like the first image, really nice contrast and dramatic. Well done !

[Darthchaffinch]

Originally Posted by markoneswift

Agreed - really like the first image, really nice contrast and dramatic. Well done !

+1

Need to get me one of those filters!

[g8ina]

What size do you need Darth ?

[Darthchaffinch]

Originally Posted by g8ina

What size do you need Darth ?

52 of the finest mm!

[g8ina]

OK, l've done the Olympus mod. It's now a full spectrum camera with options for either 630nm or 720nm fitted on it, I can offer you that camera, or when I sell it, I can offer you the "other" filter - whatever's left. Put a wanted ad in classifieds so we do it right

[Simon3119]

I'm really having trouble getting my exposure times right for shooting with my Cokin infrared, here's my latest effort.

[IMG]

Church Infrared by simon.stanley@rocketmail.com, on Flickr[/IMG]

[g8ina]

Simon - looks good from a distance but up close at full res you can certainly see the difference. The only way to do it really well is to use a converted camera, unless you have an early Olympus - they love infrared

[Simon3119]

Totally agree, most of my shots look better from a distance. I may scour the second hand market for a D70 and get it converted.

[g8ina]

Some test shots from my modded Olympus c3040z. I took the internal hotmirror filter out and replaced it with clear. Now I can add a 630nm or a 720nm external filter and it looks pretty good. These are just resized, no retouching.

edit, deleted shots as I needed the space.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Simon, really like the first at top of page...nice stuff 47

[g8ina]

Todays image is another church, but this one just won me first prize in my first ever real serious photo competition.

Northampton Natural History Society held their Monopod Comp last night, and, after only being a member for ONE week, I got first flippin prize

Oh well, I must be doing *something* right then :

[shotokan101]

Congrats David - well done - nice shot

Jim