Hi,

I am thinking of getting my old D60 modded to IR only. I have not been using the camera, since I have my 1dMII and my 40D. I know that there are at least 3 main places to get it modded, Lifepixel, LDP LLC, and Khromagery in AU.

I am not sure if I want the R72 type filter or the darker 87c type filter. Any recommendations? What about exposure differences in metering.

Is any of the above places mentioned better than any others? Had anyone had their D60 modded? Any results anywhere? I have seen some 10D and 300D images so I as curious as to the response of the D60.

Thanks for any help and information.

Alan

This IR dedicated forum may give you some help.

http://irphotocom.proboards49.com/index.cgi

TG

I've recently been playing around with some DSLR's and a Wratten 87 filter. I was quite surprised to find that my 1DII is very sensitive to IR light; the 20D is a bit sensitive, and the 5D less sensitive. The 1DII with 87 filter has probably about the same sensitivity as Kodak HIE film with the same filter, from what I recall (it's been a long time).

The first attached photo is a 1DII test shot from yesterday with Wratten 87 on 50/1.4 at f/2.8 and 1/2 sec, ISO 800; taken handheld from my bedroom window, on a windy day. Not a "keeper", but it suggests that the unmodified 1DII has real possibilities.

As for which filter to use, the second attached image is a screen shot of a spreadsheet I recently put together. It shows IR filter transmission properties for Wratten 29, 89B and 87 filters, with a colour bar along the bottom to show the visible spectrum. The slender, vertical blue lines show wavelength at 50% transmission for each filter. The 50% wavelength for the Wratten 87 is about 790 nm, and that for the 87C you mentioned is further to the right, at about 850 nm.

I have a 89B filter on order to see what I get with a bit more red in the picture (if you'll pardon the pun), but I'd hesitate to go lower wavelengths for "IR" photography. The 87C is more completely in the IR range, with no visible light passed at all.

Thanks for the replies, very useful.

Alan

http://www.jimchenphoto.com/index.html
This guy converted my old Rebel 300D. He did a nice job, and was quite a bit cheaper than the others. The better the sensor, the better the image. I have 3 IR conversions: G5, Pro 1, and 300D. The rebel produces the best IQ, but there adjustments to do with the camera like 1-2 stops of exposure comp, lots of lenses dont shoot IR well (17-40 L, and 70-200 F4L do). There are some focus issues with a DSLR and large aperatures. None of these things with a converted point and shoot, but less image quality.