Archive 2015 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

Mike Ganz
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

I just picked up an A7R2 from the B/S board, and giving thought to sending the A7R to LifePixel for an IR conversion. Has anyone converted either of these cameras yet? If so, what is your take on things? Any issues that have come up?

Dec 05, 2015 at 05:58 AM

jhenderson0107
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

I had Lifepixel convert both my A7r and A7s to full-spectrum last December. They have been used for Astrophotography since, giving great results. I use the A7s more often than the A7r, but both are very convenient for night sky photography due to the tilting monitor. I have equipped both with Meike grips which double the battery capacity and support long duration bulb exposures via supplied RF remote.

A Kolari hot-filter can be attached to any lens to allow the camera to capture standard images.

Dec 05, 2015 at 07:35 AM

timballic
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

I just received my A7 830nm conversion back from Protech Photographic (UK) a week ago. It hasn't stopped raining since, so no way of testing! :o(
In reply to my question, " is The Sony A7 a pain to convert cf. other makes? I believe its construction is far more modular than Canons or Nikons, which should make it easier?"

Kelvin at Protech replied:
"Having repaired cameras for well over 35 years I would say that Sony is not built like a "conventional" camera ie body casting with parts attached to it.
With the A7 you have to remove 80-90% of the cameras internals to get to the sensor - the LCD panel, rear cover, board, top cover, a couple of frames, few metal mounting brackets and more screws than I cares to count!
We have converted A7, A7II and A7R and they all employ the same method of mounting the sensor glass, the self cleaner (removed) is in a plastic frame with a metal retainer and the frame and the other filter are stuck to the surface of the sensor with tape.
The camera's although similar in construction do not come apart the same!
Still keeps things interesting....
Kelvin.

Interesting that the custom WB done by Kelvin is B&W with Live View setting effect ON, but goes magenta if I turn setting effect OFF. I'm wanting some sun lit grass to see if I can get a custom WB that turns it B&W in OFF too.

The real challenge is getting the lenses right, without any hot spots. I know that the FE 55/1.8 and FE 28/2 are supposed to be good in IR (not the FE 35/2.8 though), but mixed reports about the FE 24-70, that I'm hoping to use.

Dec 05, 2015 at 09:29 AM

Herbc
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

I have an A7R converted by Lifepixel for over a year, have no problems, get good files from it. I had a D800 they converted to IR, and it was no better than the A7R, and a lot heavier

Dec 05, 2015 at 10:33 AM

Mike Ganz
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

Herbc wrote:
I have an A7R converted by Lifepixel for over a year, have no problems, get good files from it. I had a D800 they converted to IR, and it was no better than the A7R, and a lot heavier

I have an old Canon 10D that was converted by LifePixel (standard IR)...it is fairly heavy but always gave really nice looking files. Good to hear about the A7R.

With all the dismantling that's needed as mentioned in timballic's comment above, have you had any problems in that regard post-conversion?

Dec 05, 2015 at 10:46 AM

retrofocus
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

jhenderson0107 wrote:
A Kolari hot-filter can be attached to any lens to allow the camera to capture standard images.

This filter only works if the camera is converted to full spectrum - which means that the AA and ICF filters are removed from the normal camera and replaced by a regular cover glass. Here the filter above makes sense because it blocks UV and IR light and let's only regular light (about 400-700 nm) pass through.

But if the camera is converted to IR only with a blocking filter either below 720 or 820/860 nm, this filter does not work. Regular light will continue to be blocked by the added filter in front of the sensor.

Dec 05, 2015 at 05:39 PM

retrofocus
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

timballic wrote:

The real challenge is getting the lenses right, without any hot spots. I know that the FE 55/1.8 and FE 28/2 are supposed to be good in IR (not the FE 35/2.8 though), but mixed reports about the FE 24-70, that I'm hoping to use.

I wish lens manufacturers would add the IR mark of IR-suitable lenses on the distance metering scale like it was done in the past or e.g. on all Canon L lenses. Even if new lenses like the ones you mention are suited for IR light without hot spot formation, it remains a gambling to guess if it is suited or not. This is one reason why I currently stick to my IR-converted Canon DSLR FF lens body because I can rely on L lenses which perform extremely well in IR (I could still use those lenses with adapter on an IR-converted A7 series camera, but would lose the advantage with carrying smaller lenses).

Dec 05, 2015 at 05:45 PM

Herbc
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · A7R/A7R2 Infrared Conversion?

Nope, no problems. I still use the IR A7R a lot, which for me is maybe a dozen shots a month.
I have an A7II which is my main color camera, but I do a lot of b/w with it as well.
I never saw the need for the A7rII as I had a nice handheld shot from the A7II get into a national juried show, a 17x22 print, sharp as you could ask for.

Dec 06, 2015 at 12:11 PM


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