As it goes with most things, I recently read an article on IR photography and have now decided it's something that looks like it would be really enjoyable. I have an old Sony a6000 that hasn't seen much use in a while and have considered converting it into an IR camera. I looked up lifepixel and the price seems pretty reasonable.
I normally shoot with an a7ii and an a7riii so I've got plenty of lenses I can share with the camera (I sold, or gave away, all of my aps-c lenses a while back). I mostly do portrait photography, but landscape photography is something that I've always loved (although, I'll admit, I'm not very good at. At least in comparison to other photographers). Landscape photography has always been what I do when I need to get away from the world.
I know that IR photography won't be something that I'll do every day, which is why I'm leaning towards converting the a6000 instead of the a7ii, but I wonder if I'd be losing much by converting an aps-c camera over a ff camera. I also have some Fuji aps-c lenses. Not sure if I should look into a Fuji IR camera instead?
I also know that it's something that will take a while before I start getting results I'm happy with, but it just seems like something I would seriously enjoy. I'm hoping to get advice from some of you that may have more experience with IR photography. What would you do? Is it worth it? Or is it something that I'll lose interest in after a short period of time? Does anyone know a place where I can get RAW IR files I can play around with?
I have had several converted cameras, including a few Sony A7r converted to full spectrum---which is now my preference of a converted camera. I recently converted a Fuji GFX 50s and am slowly testing it.
A converted camera is great for landscape photography as it expands the typical sunset/sunrise shooting window. There are many resources available and it is not difficult to get started and make great images.
I would seriously consider looking at www.kolarivision.com If the anti-reflective (AR) option is available for your conversion---I strongly recommend getting it. Lenses that may exhibit some hot spots are made usable with the AR option. Kolari maintains a lens database and it is a good idea to see if your desired lenses are suitable for IR use.
kdphotography wrote:
I have had several converted cameras, including a few Sony A7r converted to full spectrum---which is now my preference of a converted camera. I recently converted a Fuji GFX 50s and am slowly testing it.
A converted camera is great for landscape photography as it expands the typical sunset/sunrise shooting window. There are many resources available and it is not difficult to get started and make great images.
I would seriously consider looking at www.kolarivision.com If the anti-reflective (AR) option is available for your conversion---I strongly recommend getting it. Lenses that may exhibit some hot spots are made usable with the AR option. Kolari maintains a lens database and it is a good idea to see if your desired lenses are suitable for IR use.
Thank you for the response! I have no problem paying a little bit more to get it right. My birthday is coming up so this can be my birthday present to myself.
There seems to be a lot I need to learn. I'm not sure if I read it incorrectly, but I thought I read that the camera can be calibrated to a lens. Does that mean that cameras need to be calibrated to specific lenses?
Just out of curiosity, why do you recommend Kolari over Lifepixel? Better quality or service?
I've had two cameras converted - first a 5D Mark ii, and more recently a Fuji X-T20. As I'm now moving myself over to the Nikon Z system, I'm starting to research a conversion there too. I shoot IR mostly for landscapes and occasional street/people, pretty much exclusively black and white (generally not into color IR - just personal preference). My conversions to date have been to 590NM, though I'll look at potentially moving further into IR (>590NM) in my next go around. IR photography has become sort of a favored format to me. I have yet to grow tired of it. So a couple thoughts:
Start with something you already have lenses for. Some lenses do not do well with IR, so it's good to have a bit of a selection to go to. There's a lot of information out there on the net about good and bad lenses (mostly determined by whether or not they cause hotspots in the image), including the Kolarivision site that kdphotography suggests (Lifepixel too, though not as comprehensive).
The X-T20 has been a wonderful camera for IR, so I expect other X-trans versions will do well too. If you go that route, I can vouch for the 23mm f1.4, the 14mm f1.4, the 50-140 f2.8, and, for the most part, the Zeiss 12mm f2.8 (Take a look at http://fujixsystem.blogspot.com/p/fuji-infrared-lens-tests.html). I'm sure you'd do fine with the Sony too, though I have no experience there.
I have used Lifepixel for both conversions to date. I hear good things about Kolarivision too, and kdphotography's comment about antireflective coatings offered there is something I'll definitely research.
Bear in mind that there is a fair amount of additional processing required to get from taking the picture to "making the print". White balance, channel swaps, etc. - monkeying around in typically two or three software platforms. Part of what I enjoy, so I'm fine with that. And, I'm sure others take far fewer steps than I in their post-processing, and get good results as well. As you're taking pictures of something your eye doesn't see, you don't have to worry so much about the photo "looking real", as nobody really even knows what that is with IR - so you can be perhaps a bit more "artsy" and different in your endeavor. I enjoy that.
If you like, I can send you a raw file or two to play with. No "award winners", of course, but just something to get your feet wet.
I had lifepixel.com do the IR conversion on a full frame Nikon D610 camera that I bought used. For landscapes there are many more wide angle as well as tilt shift lens options for full frame cameras.
Lifepixel website is excellent in providing information on various conversion options as well as how best to process the image files in Photoshop.
JRomie wrote:
I've had two cameras converted - first a 5D Mark ii, and more recently a Fuji X-T20. As I'm now moving myself over to the Nikon Z system, I'm starting to research a conversion there too. I shoot IR mostly for landscapes and occasional street/people, pretty much exclusively black and white (generally not into color IR - just personal preference). My conversions to date have been to 590NM, though I'll look at potentially moving further into IR (>590NM) in my next go around. IR photography has become sort of a favored format to me. I have yet to grow tired of it. So a couple thoughts:
Start with something you already have lenses for. Some lenses do not do well with IR, so it's good to have a bit of a selection to go to. There's a lot of information out there on the net about good and bad lenses (mostly determined by whether or not they cause hotspots in the image), including the Kolarivision site that kdphotography suggests (Lifepixel too, though not as comprehensive).
The X-T20 has been a wonderful camera for IR, so I expect other X-trans versions will do well too. If you go that route, I can vouch for the 23mm f1.4, the 14mm f1.4, the 50-140 f2.8, and, for the most part, the Zeiss 12mm f2.8 (Take a look at http://fujixsystem.blogspot.com/p/fuji-infrared-lens-tests.html). I'm sure you'd do fine with the Sony too, though I have no experience there.
I have used Lifepixel for both conversions to date. I hear good things about Kolarivision too, and kdphotography's comment about antireflective coatings offered there is something I'll definitely research.
Bear in mind that there is a fair amount of additional processing required to get from taking the picture to "making the print". White balance, channel swaps, etc. - monkeying around in typically two or three software platforms. Part of what I enjoy, so I'm fine with that. And, I'm sure others take far fewer steps than I in their post-processing, and get good results as well. As you're taking pictures of something your eye doesn't see, you don't have to worry so much about the photo "looking real", as nobody really even knows what that is with IR - so you can be perhaps a bit more "artsy" and different in your endeavor. I enjoy that.
If you like, I can send you a raw file or two to play with. No "award winners", of course, but just something to get your feet wet....Show more →
The lifepixel Super Color is the filter that seems to do most of what I'd like. Do you find the additional external filters to be necessary? And yes, I'd love to be able to play around with some RAW files. That would be greatly appreciated. I've never done IR, but it's always seemed really interesting to me. Any help would be great!
A lens can be calibrated to a camera for focus though I believe this is most applicable to a DSLR conversion moreso than a mirrorless camera. Regardless, some lenses simply are not suitable for IR because of their design or internal coatings may lend to hot spots or flare, which can be exhibited to varying degrees at different apertures and/or focal lengths if using a zoom.
I had two Sony A7r bodies converted to full spectrum by Life Pixel---and both operated well. But I feel Life Pixel is simply "harder" on the camera bodies when they get them on the bench. Both cameras were scratched in exactly the same spot on the LCD when I received the cameras back. The damage looked like a rub mark about the size of a dime. I had protective covers so damage was avoided but I had to foot the bill to replace the covers.
I subsequently thought I would upgrade my Sony Zeiss 24-70 to the (new at the time) Sony G 24-70, a much more expensive lens. Severe hot spot in the middle was noted at some settings. Very disappointed in the lens after spending $$$, but that's the risk in IR/FS if a new lens is not in the lens-use IR database----you get to be the guinea pig.
I then sent in the Sony A7r FS and had it re-converted again by Kolari Vision to full spectrum with their AR coating option. I was surprised that the hot spots on the Sony G 24-70 were greatly diminished, though not entirely---it was a noticeable improvement. I'm sold on the AR option----it is mandatory for me (if offered). I like Kolari's new pro line of thin filters as well for IR and hot mirror filters.
I have converted a Nikon D70, D80 and D7100 (above) and have sourced Kolari for my 720nm filters.
They provided me with great advice and great filters.
I find that a DX sensor is good enough for my purposes but will most likely convert my Nikon FX when I make the shift to mirrorless.
An IR focus shift can be implemented in-camera for DSLRs. Basically this means mounting the sensor pcb further from the lens by means of 3 appropriately sized washers. It works remarkably well.
I tend to find that published lens / hotspot / tables do not always reflect my own Nikon experiences. Sensor and filter material/quality are variables that are not always captured. I do not like modern Nikon lenses for IR so gravitate towards vintage manual focus glass. 16/3.5 24/2.8 NC, 28/2.8, 50/2 H, 85/1.8 H are all fantastic on my camera/sensor/filter combo.
I will say that I have always been really, really impressed by IR results from Fuji cameras and their modern lenses. Some great photos out there.
As others have said IR opens up opportunities during the mid-day sun.
I am very much in envy of a GFX50 IR conversion. Nice
