IR at night?

[yanyewkay]

seems like everyone's onto IR photography these days. I've noticed that most (if not all) IR are done in the day, probably that's where the IR are coming from (sun, then bounce off the objects).

Have anyone tried IR at night? Is there any IR flashes on sale in singapore for such a use? I've seen specialised people use IR FLOOD LIGHTS for night event but it wun be practical to bring around.

Don't ask me why I haven't tried IR at night.. cos I don't have any IR filters

anyone care to share any night IR photos?

[tomcat]

Here's one taken indoors at night with my own improvished portable infra-red flood light:

[yanyewkay]

thanks for sharing the fur colour and eyes looks very natural. How did you make your improvised IR flood light?

I ever did a stupid thing that din't quite work, I used many IR LEDs in a total dark room and it din't quite work. My camera (w/o IR filter) can register the individual LEDs shining in directly but it wasn't strong enough to light up the room.

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by yanyewkay thanks for sharing the fur colour and eyes looks very natural. How did you make your improvised IR flood light? I ever did a stupid thing that din't quite work, I used many IR LEDs in a total dark room and it din't quite work. My camera (w/o IR filter) can register the individual LEDs shining in directly but it wasn't strong enough to light up the room.

Just use one of those readily available infra red heat lamp as an IR source to illuminate your target.

[adamadam]

I saw some schematics to make infrared illuminators using IR LEDS, and some already made ones in the shops. I doubt they are bright enough though;
Do you think something like this would work?
http://www.tek-tite.com/src/product_info.php?id=2105
or something like this hehe
http://www.komoto.com.tw/2004-02/eng...mt_7780cni.pdf
but not practical right? :P

[yanyewkay]

Originally Posted by adamadam I saw some schematics to make infrared illuminators using IR LEDS, and some already made ones in the shops. I doubt they are bright enough though; Do you think something like this would work? http://www.tek-tite.com/src/product_info.php?id=2105 or something like this hehe http://www.komoto.com.tw/2004-02/eng...mt_7780cni.pdf but not practical right? :P

i think the first one maybe quite practical lei.. 2nd one.. mm...that is simliar to the ones the 'specialised people' were using that I mentioned in the first post.

on closer inspection, i think the first one is an IR Strobe, meaning it flashes, if we can sync the flash to the camera.. i think i might work.

Originally Posted by tomcat Just use one of those readily available infra red heat lamp as an IR source to illuminate your target.

I tot those were the far infrared that Adiemus was saying in his other post that heat that we feel is far IR and can't be captured? but if it works for you.. I think if should work for most cams too! Is yours a portable IR heater or must it be plugged into wall socket 220V kind?

[deadsailor]

The Nikon SB50DX flash comes with an IR filter, making it possible to shoot IR at night, although the flash distance is pretty short. These flashes are fairly inexpensive. I picked mine up at a pawnshop for less than $100, and they can be used with any camera that has a hot shoe.
I've also heard of people wrapping an IR gel filter around the flash head, but I've never done it so I don't know how well this would work.

[teerex]

Originally Posted by deadsailor I've also heard of people wrapping an IR gel filter around the flash head, but I've never done it so I don't know how well this would work.

I think this may not work as the longer exposure need for IR and the flash may not sync. But worth a try anyway.

[deadsailor]

SInce you are flashing using IR, the shutter speed doesn't need to be very long. The filter has no problem letting that specific wavelength in to the sensor/film.

[teerex]

Originally Posted by deadsailor SInce you are flashing using IR, the shutter speed doesn't need to be very long. The filter has no problem letting that specific wavelength in to the sensor/film.

Anyone with a SB50DX to try this out. How about you deadsailor can you try and update date us?

[ark19]

Actually Dennis bought a Sony IR lamp to try.
Its a "always on" IR lamp for Video Cams.
But he mentioned that it's not effective.
I'll send him a PM to this thread and let him comment

[PandaOng]

IR Lamp....Cool stuff..ehhh...what it does huh?? Heehee

[ark19]

Originally Posted by PandaOng IR Lamp....Cool stuff..ehhh...what it does huh?? Heehee

Oops, it should be called Sony Infrared Light.
See here
This should be the one as Dennis mentioned it can use AA batts.

It is used mainly for Videocams to shoot nocturnal stuffs..

[Dennis]

Ah, IR lamp. Yes I got one to try out and it does not work leh.
The one ark mentioned is the one I have. It uses either a Sony Lithium or AA size battery. I did a small test with IR filter on and it seems like the illumination is not bright enough. I think it is OK for Sony camera when switch to night mode as it indicate that it can be used with Sony camera with night mode. Anyone with any suggestion?.

[ark19]

Originally Posted by Dennis Ah, IR lamp. Yes I got one to try out and it does not work leh. The one ark mentioned is the one I have. It uses either a Sony Lithium or AA size battery. I did a small test with IR filter on and it seems like the illumination is not bright enough. I think it is OK for Sony camera when switch to night mode as it indicate that it can be used with Sony camera with night mode. Anyone with any suggestion?.

Dennis, ever tried to shoot at night without the filter on?
As the light only emits IR wavelength light perhaps the CCD can record the IR reflected by the light

[Dennis]

Yes tried in darkness without filter and with filter and WB set to IR and normal.
The camera does capture the IR beam but cannot do any post processing.
The beam also seems to be uneven and not wide enough even at about 100mm

Originally Posted by ark19 Dennis, ever tried to shoot at night without the filter on? As the light only emits IR wavelength light perhaps the CCD can record the IR reflected by the light

[ark19]

Originally Posted by Dennis Yes tried in darkness without filter and with filter and WB set to IR and normal. The camera does capture the IR beam but cannot do any post processing. The beam also seems to be uneven and not wide enough even at about 100mm

Dennis, can show samples?

[Dennis]

Ha samples deleted already, will try to get some more samples and post.
Most of them just red and green, not sure why.

Originally Posted by ark19 Dennis, can show samples?

[deadsailor]

I've used the sb50dx to shoot in complete darkness many times. The only problem is, like I said before the distance you can be from the subject is very limited. I'll try to put up some samples soon. You can shoot with any shutter speed you want, depending on your camera's sync speed.

[yanyewkay]

mm.. so what kind of limited range are you refering to? 10m?