Infrared Help !!!!

[Alfred Forns]

Have been thinking in converting a spare digital camera to infrared Noticed there are several options for different effects Just learned of one more form Mark See link below

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=700

Any feedback would be appreciated

Alfred

[Marc Oliver]

Hi Alfred,

Purchase Lloyd Chambers' guide to digital IR - it's the resource for digital IR. At $50 for a download-only file it's not cheap but I think it's worth every penny. It covers everything from equipment choices to post-processing.

http://diglloyd.com/ (The rest of his site/blog is also very interesting.)

I purchased a converted XTi from http://maxmax.com last summer and have been very happy with it so far. The only downsides are the horrible viewfinder and the conversion disabled the sensor cleaning mechanism. I decided to get the XTi rather than converting an older body because of its tiny size and light weight. It's always with me when I hike because I don't notice the extra weight whereas I'd have to leave other gear behind with a bigger body.

Edit: I should add that I went for the standard IR-only conversion and usually use the 17-40L. The image below is a false-color shot with the red & blue channels swapped via the Channel Mixer in Photoshop.

http://users.eastlink.ca/~marcoliver/images/BPN/IR_Pine.jpg

cheers,
Oliver

marcoliver_AT_eastlink.ca

[Mark Hilliard]

Well, there is a lot of places that you can go for help. Whatever camera you have extra can be converted but the same rules apply to IR as color; REMEMBER THIS: The Better the Camera the better the Image! There is a reason that you upgraded from your old camera. If it is going to just sit around then convert it but do so with the realization that you will become additced to IR and you will quickly start thinking about buying a top of the line digital body to convert!! I converted a Canon 5D to IR only. There are several conversion options out there and are as follows.

IR ONLY, remove the IR blocking filter and ADD a VISIBLE LIGHT blocking filter. This camera will ONLY shoot infrared but can still do the Faux Color Infrared. This camera can auto focus with your lenses

VISIBLE IR, remove the IR blocking filter. This camera can shoot visible light images and infrared images. This camera will NOT auto focus properly.

Normal Camera, add a INFRARED pass filter in front of the lens. This is difficult, tough to focus and gives LONG exposures. It works to be sure but you will get impatient with the process and give it up.

Another consideration is your choice of a lens. I have a LOT of Canon L glass and I find that I almost ALWAYS use my Canon 17-40L with a polarizer on it. Once in a while I will put on the 70-200L or 100-400L and for birds the 400DO. But 95% of my images are with the 17-40!

There are several companies that do the conversion. Life Pixel and LDP (Maxmax).
I personally like LDP, they were QUICK (3 days including shipping), less expensive and they do more camera bodies. (I am thinking about adding a Canon 40D to my infrared camera list to complement my MK3 color body).

LIfe Pixel has some GREAT FREE video tutorials, go check them out.

BOOKS:

David Busch's "Digital Infrared Pro Secrets" is a overall intro and good reading.

Joe Farace's "Digital Infrared Photography" is a fabulous book and talks about technique and really opened my eyes as to what is really possible with IR conversions!

JOIN the "Infrared Photography Community" at:

http://lulalake.conforums.com/index.cgi

They are a GREAT resource and you will learn a great deal there. This is perhaps the best tip I can give you...... JOIN THEM!!!! GO LOOK AT THE IMAGES!!! READ THE RAVINGS OF THE INFRARED ADDICTION!!!!!! You will be a changed person after you do this!

You can also to take a look at the Infrared Galleries at my stock site. Click on the little images to see a larger image with full EXIF data. I have only been shooting IR for about 4 months now but have been a photographer for 40 years and a full time professional photographer for the last 12 of those after retiring from Eastman Kodak. I continue to learn new things each and every day from all of those around me and hopefully I teach others as well.

I am always attempting to do IR capatures of birds (my main source of income) but because it is now winter and there are few leaves (they turn white in IR) most of the images dont yet appeal to me, BUT THAT WILL CHANGE with the season.

If you go to look at the avain and hand of man gallery here youw WILL see a Faux Color Infrared image that I posted of a Brown Pelican on a piling against a blue sky for some idea of the Faux process and birds.

Below is a STANDARD black and white infrared image of a reflection scene with a pond, sky and Live Oaks. It shows what you can do with a quality IR camera. I will post a Faux Color version of this same imaage tomorrow when this system will let me.

[Alfred Forns]

Sensory overload guys !!!! Big Thanks

The camera I was going to convert is a D200 Still have one left Was using it as a spare waiting for the D3

From the examples above I am torn between b&w and color Will start doing my homework !!!

[Mark Hilliard]

Remember BOTH picture examples were done on FULL IR CONVERTED camera bodies.

[Mark Hilliard]

BTW, nice photo Oliver!

[Mike Gallo]

Hi Alfred,

I converted a Canon 30D to IR only. I talked or e-mailed several companies before I decided on LDP which is maxmax.com.
They did excellent work and I highly recommend them. It works with a variety of lenses, there is a list on their site of what works best.

[Jason Vaclavek]

I had my D100 converted to IR only by http://lifepixel.com
IR conversion gave new life to a camera I had not used in a long time.