Arltunga IR snapshot

[DaveB]

I don't think this is a _great_ shot, but I thought it might get the attention of people interested in IR. How many people here use their digital cameras for infrared photography?



Arltunga is an old town from the gold rush days, east of Alice Springs.

This photo was taken with a Canon Powershot G3 which has had its internal IR-blocking filter replaced with an IR-pass filter.

[nat]

Hi DaveB,
I haven't done any work with IR, but I like the look of your image (although if it were mine I would possibly crop out some of the sky, leaving just a hint of the cloud rather than the whole thing).
What affect do you specifically get by using an IR filter? To my eye, it appears to emphasise the constrast and looks sharper. Am I on the right track?

[DaveB]

if it were mine I would possibly crop out some of the sky, leaving just a hint of the cloud rather than the whole thing

Interesting. This was part of a series (in colour & IR) I was doing with clouds specifically positioned above ruined chimneys. I can't make up my mind as to whether I like that crop or not.

What affect do you specifically get by using an IR filter? To my eye, it appears to emphasise the constrast and looks sharper. Am I on the right track?

Anything relating to contrast is something you can fix in post. The effect is that you get the scene as portrayed by wavelengths of light that are invisible to humans (there was no "visible" light involved in this image). Firstly it's dependent on how much NIR light is around (strictly-speaking this is "near"-IR photography, not "pure" IR: it's not quite at the wavelengths of body heat radiation). Empty sky doesn't reflect much NIR so skies generally go very dark. The amount of NIR reflected by various surfaces can vary a lot, even if to the naked eye they're the same colour. Consider the following image of my 20D on tripod in The Breakaways:

To the eye the colour of the black-anodised ballhead and QR clamp is the same as that of the tripod and the camera: black. The plastic lens hood is also black to the eye, not grey. For what it's worth, this was just after sunset and the NIR was dropping quick (the exposure was down to 1/8s, f/4 @ ISO 200) and this was taken handheld.

Choosing subjects that are going to be appealing in IR can be tricky, and having a compact NIR camera which shows a continuous preview on its LCD can help a lot.

[DionM]

Dave,

I have been thinking of getting into this field.

Do you know if its possible to do the same modification to a Powershot G2? I wouldn't mind giving my G2 a new lease of life ...

[Sheetshooter]

Lovely stuff DaveB,

Just as an indication of how tatses vary I feel the crop is a bit tight and would like more sky to fully resolve the perimeter of the cloud and to give a little more sense of isolation or context.

I.R. photography seems so much simpler now than it was with film which required very special handling and some cameras or magazines could not prevent fogging the film.

[DaveB]

Dion, yes the G2 can be converted quite easily: it's very similar to the G3 conversion. I bought this G3 specifically to convert for myself, and chose it over the G2 due to little things: auto-rotate on verticals, and the command dial near the shutter (similar to my EOS bodies). The internals of the G2 are laid out slightly differently to the G3, but not in any serious way. Basically the G2 is the same.

Actually I can convert CoolPix 950s (you'll see my old 950IR is in the For Sale forum), 990/995/4500s, and PowerShot G1/G2/G3/G5. I can do the DiMAGE 7, but I guess I don't really like the results with that much. Those CoolPix bodies require using the unofficial DIAG RAW mode, so the other cameras are a bit quicker and easier to use (e.g. Photoshop can read the CRWs) but that's just an issue of convenience.

But I'm currently chasing a supplier for some new #87 filters which might make calibrating the focus a bit easier, and I'm a bit hamstrung until I get those. Hopefully I'll be able to set the updated pricing soon, but I'm expecting the conversion for a G2 to remain below $250 (that includes 6 months warranty). How much below remains to be seen...

There are advantages to using compact digicams for IR (chiefly the live preview) but you can also dedicate DSLRs to IR and thus have access to all the usual SLR advantages. Once I get the new filters I'll again be able to convert EOS D30/D60/300D and Nikon D70 cameras, and am going to experiment with an EOS 10D (it's a bit trickier due to the way the AA filter is attached, but I have one here). Depending on demand I'll presumably add the 20D & 350D to the list at some point.

[DaveB]

Ok, I've sorted out the new pricing for the G2 conversion. I should have all the information together next week, but here's the bottom line:

Regular price is AU$198 (I have to charge GST) plus postage. But...
I'm prepared to give a special price for DSLRUsers members of AU$176.

That's for converting a Canon G2, G3, G5 (and probably G6) or a Nikon 950, 990, 995, or 4500. It covers parts and labour, and I provide 6 months warranty on my work. Details for other cameras (including some DSLRs) will come later.

Please excuse this unpaid advert!

[cyanide]

Old thread, I know, but it came up in a search....

DaveB - do you know if it is possible to convert the (older) Canon Powershot S40 in a similar way? I have just bought the IXUS750 as my new "handbag camera" so my old Powershot is languishing.... am wondering if this could be a way to keep it in use....

Cheers....

[DaveB]

Indeed the S40 can be converted. If you check out the current IR conversions page on my website you will see it listed as a supported model. I have posted some images from my S30/87C here in the past.
Incidentally, the site should be getting a revamp in the coming week with some updated information, and in a bit over a month's time I'm expecting to have some significant updates as to the supported models (from several manufacturers, not just Canon).

Right now if you want an 87-style filter I can do an S40 conversion later this month. That will give you nice monochrome IRs straight out of the camera.
If you instead want an R72-style filter to give you false colours to manipulate further in Photoshop you'd have to wait another couple of weeks.

[Matt. K]

DaveB
I believe there are a small number of aliens roaming the planet Earth as foreward scouts to a full on invasion. These aliens can only be seen through an IR filter. Eventually you are gonna capture one of those ugly little suckers and then we will be able to convince the government to take action. By the way... I have a hunch...next time you see Leigh could you please take an IR pic of him.....just to be sure.

[DaveB]

Have you been watching too much Threshold?

[cyanide]

Many thanks for your prompt reply, DaveB.

This is very tempting... I will consider the financial impact on my (other) Lens Lust treatment and get back to you!

Cheers!

[cyanide]

Actually, sorry - another question/clarification...

Right now if you want an 87-style filter I can do an S40 conversion later this month. That will give you nice monochrome IRs straight out of the camera.
If you instead want an R72-style filter to give you false colours to manipulate further in Photoshop you'd have to wait another couple of weeks.

So, with the R72-style filter, the images would come out reddish, yes?, which then could be converted to "B&W" in PS.... whereas the 87-style filter will only give you the B&W images, but straight up, no PP.... hmmmmm.....

I will have to do a web search to view the different results... I always think of IR photography as being in B&W, but I guess that's just because the majority on here are... (Looks sideways at Nnnnsic....)