Canon 300D Infrared Mod

[robert]

Well I finally bit the bullet and got sick of exposures of a few seconds with an R72 over my lenses. I just got a 300d (rebel) from Epay in the USA for just over $400. It came last Thursday and on Friday I was headed down to the snow for a quick trip doing some XC skiing. Apart from taking a few shots inside on the night before these are a few from a stop on the way down to the snow. Its overlooking Michelago on the road between Canberra and Cooma.

Overall I am happy with the camera but need to figure a few things esp the focus- I thought it had been recalibrated but it doesnt appear to be so. I pretty much spent the last few years of my film life using IR film- pretty much mostly Ilford SFX and sometimes Kodak HIE when I could be bothered to take all the light related precautions. I'm loving having IR as an option again! I'll need to play abit to get the exposure right out of the camera but I'm loving handholding again!


These images have had levels, sharpened, and resized. Probably could play with contrast etc but this gives you an idea. I only have PS Elements so no channel mixer and therefore false colour will be somewhere down the track.

Natures window

1/100, f8 ISO 100 @ 32mm

Storm on the plain

1/200, f6.3 ISO 100 @ 40mm

Tuscan hills

1/125, f8 ISO 100 @ 55mm

Dirt track

1/200, f8 ISO 100 @ 18mm

What do you think?
Robert

[robw25]

what do i think ? ...... love em !!!!

cheers rob

[Glen]

Robert, I am with Rob, love em!!

[Big V]

The last photo is my fav..

[brentsky]

Fantastic! The last one is my favourite. Can I ask, where in Tuscany did you shoot?

Cheers
BE

[sirhc55]

There is so much beauty in IR and you have captured these landscapes to perfection.

[DaveB]

Congratulations!

Overall I am happy with the camera but need to figure a few things esp the focus- I thought it had been recalibrated but it doesnt appear to be so.

You're using the 18-55mm? Its focus behaviour should be similar to the 50mm/1.8 (the standard tool lens most modifiers use for calibrations). The camera can be recalibrated again if necessary.

I'll need to play abit to get the exposure right out of the camera but I'm loving handholding again!

I usually shoot in Manual: use the in-camera meter as a guide (overexposing by a bit), check and tweak the result via the histogram, and then shoot.

It's interesting to see there's a noticeable "hotspot" in the centre of some of these shots (see the variation in colour).
Also your results here are slightly coloured, but only slightly. Do you get a larger variation in colour out of the camera (e.g. between trees and sky)? There are several types of filter that might have been installed: do you know which one it has?

Welcome to IR!

[aim54x]

I want an IR camera now!!! maybe fleabay (aka ebay) will have a cheap Nikon that i can buy and have converted - but then again i have all this want and no money to satisfy it!

Love the IR landscapes, something very magical about IR.

[robert]

Fantastic! The last one is my favourite. Can I ask, where in Tuscany did you shoot?

Cheers
BE

Just a title as the hills reminded me of a tuscan scene (imagine they are nice pines instead of gums!)

Dave-
yeah i've noticed the hotspot- i had hoped it would only be when using a filter on regular camera (see viewtopic.php?f=41&t=31618&p=347735&hilit=hotspot#p347735 )

no idea about filter- i did ask but i asked so many questions (you have to with Epay) it didnt get answered.


I have just returned from Bali so keen to see how the shots turn out. I only used my 10-22 and 75-300, avoiding the 18-55 and its hotspot. I wanted to take a few primes but the airlines have weight limits and we needed all the space for the masses of shopping my wife brought back!

Aim54x- For the price, an older DSLR modded is great value- for two or 3 times the price of an IR filter you get a complete camera that you can handhold!! regardless of price handholding gives so much more versatility. Go for it- you wont lose any in resale if its not your bag.

Robert

[aim54x]

Aim54x- For the price, an older DSLR modded is great value- for two or 3 times the price of an IR filter you get a complete camera that you can handhold!! regardless of price handholding gives so much more versatility. Go for it- you wont lose any in resale if its not your bag.

Know any good Nikon DSLR's to get modded? Who did you use to mod your 300D?

[robw25]

Know any good Nikon DSLR's to get modded?

the d70 is the easiest one to convert, do it yourself ... i did

cheers rob

[aim54x]

Know any good Nikon DSLR's to get modded?

the d70 is the easiest one to convert, do it yourself ... i did

cheers rob

hmmm D70 eh? I'll have to keep that in mind. Just ordered the pinhole pancake, the pinhole plate, 13 zone plate and the IR filter for the pinhole pancake from here http://stores.ebay.com.au/good2rely. Hope that this will all work and that i have not wasted my money.

Do you think it can be done with a D40/40x/60? How do you convert it (I have heard that you need to remove the IR filter and replace it with another filter) but am unsure the exact procedure and where to get the parts.

[robert]

I really tossed up doing it myself to a P&S, then when i looked at just buying a filter it isnt that cheap. Eg the filter from lifepixel is currently $180 usd plus postage.

just checked epay and the only nikon is on there for $650 us (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Nikon-D70IR-Enha ... dZViewItem) you could try your luck with a really low offer, I got mine with one of those best offer options.
Robert

[robw25]

i seem to remember paying something like $90 for my filter from lifepixel ? and i believe it's the AA filter that you replace with the ir filter
some ir shots here http://www.robw.smugmug.com/gallery/3794937_uHVpK#P-1-20

cheers rob

[brentsky]

Just a title as the hills reminded me of a tuscan scene (imagine they are nice pines instead of gums!
Robert

Fair enough - you almost had me convinced!

Love the ambience of the shots... im trying to sell my D40x but now you have put ideas in my head about converting it to IR!

[surenj]

What's wrong with the cheapo flea bay IR filters? I got one for $25 last year and it seems to work ok (bar the LONG exposures)..

[aim54x]

What's wrong with the cheapo flea bay IR filters? I got one for $25 last year and it seems to work ok (bar the LONG exposures)..

does that require u to remove the hot mirror filter on your sensor? I just ordered a IR filter for my pinhole kit but i dont want to remove the hot mirror filter on my D300

[robert]

I have been using IR filters on the lens for years- long before i went digital. It will give a result the same as a modified camera (barring any movement caused by a shutter speed of around 2-4 seconds).

However I like being able to see through the lens - you cant do that with the filter on the end, and i like the option to handhold rather than frame on a tripod and then screw on the filter. It also means i dont need two or 3 different filters for each lens size.

I picked up a cheap IR filter on ebay last year cos i needed a 77mm, it works fine but is definately not the 720nm advertised, i can almost see through it. Be careful of what you get. the only guarantee is a good brand and the Hoya R72 seems the most economical.