Need info on IR photography

[enyu]

Hi all;... keen to learn IR photography, i followed instruction to verify is my D70 capable of taking IR, shot at my TV remote transmitter, but i don't see any pink light at the transmitter bulb. however D70 is in the list of "camera capable of IR"

what does filter Hoya R72 do ? is it a MUST for IR photography ??

[Francis247]

Originally Posted by enyu Hi all;... keen to learn IR photography, i followed instruction to verify is my D70 capable of taking IR, shot at my TV remote transmitter, but i don't see any pink light at the transmitter bulb. however D70 is in the list of "camera capable of IR" what does filter Hoya R72 do ? is it a MUST for IR photography ??

The Nikon D70 is capable of doing IR Photography.

If you still want to verify this, all you need to do is to point the TV remote control directly to the camera and press any button for it to be active, then take a shot with your camera, then you should be able to see the pink light from the transmitter bulb in the shot taken.

From what I know, those prosumer cameras with LCD viewfinder or live-preview is able to observe the pink light directly but not for dSLR camera.

Another possible reason for not able to see the pink light may be because of the different wavelength transmitted by your remote control. But I don't think you need to test because quite a few of the IR photographers are using D70/D70s.

As for what the Hoya R72 does, it is a filter that blocks off all visible light spectrum wavelength and only permits wavelength of more than 720nm to pass through the filter, into the lens and into the camera.

As to if Hoya R72 filter is a must, all I can say is, an IR filter is a must but need not to be Hoya R72, there are other IR filter such as Cokin P007 and Wratten #87 or unless you want to mod your camera but then the filter is already in your camera already.

Hope that answers your questions.

[Francis247]

If you like to find out more about IR Photography, you can check out some of the links as posted in this thread.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by enyu ................. however D70 is in the list of "camera capable of IR"

Yes, Done that.

Originally Posted by enyu what does filter Hoya R72 do ? is it a MUST for IR photography ??

Filter out all visible light.
Yes. infrared filter is a MUST for DIGITAL Infrared Photography, but not necessary for Infrared film Photography. AFAIK, R72 is the cheapest infrared filter.

You also need a tripod, cos shooting Infrared photography with a unmodified D70 is all long exposure, and you can't view thru the viewfinder with the R72 filter mounted.

Hope this help.

[enyu]

thks francis247,catchlight... I don't get it when francis247 said "the filter is in the camera alrdy"

any setting/option needed on camera for IR shooting ? or just fit filter, mount on tripot, and shoot as per normal ?

[enyu]

Ignore my Q2, will read links supplies by francis247. cheers...

[TeddyLoves]

think of it this way: the camera sensor is sensitive to a range of wavelength all the way from UV light through Visible lights to Near Infrared lights. basically when you shoot "normal" photos, the Visible lights override the UV and the Infrared when recorded on the sensor. So, with the R72 attached, almost no Visible light will be recorded on the sensor, just infrared.

the R72 allows very little visible light to go through (it cuts wavelengths up to 780nm), hence, you have a little color information on the photos captured. this is why you have digital color infrared photos.
if you use a filter that completely cuts all visible light (i.e., cuts up to 900nm or 1000nm) you'll only be able to work on BW infrared.
by the way if you cut 1000nm and you shoot at daylight, you'll achieve X-ray effect (i.e., see through some materials)

[Francis247]

Originally Posted by enyu thks francis247,catchlight... I don't get it when francis247 said "the filter is in the camera alrdy" any setting/option needed on camera for IR shooting ? or just fit filter, mount on tripod, and shoot as per normal ?

Hi there,

If you modify your camera, you are replacing the low pass filter (hot mirror) by a very thin IR filter, so effectively the filter is in the camera already.

As for the setting, maybe you can read the following work flow that I use or refer to the sticky thread posted by Max2.8.

1. Set the White Balance using some green grasses or plants with the IR Filter ON
2. Ensure that Custom White Balance is set properly then remove the IR filter
3. Exposure Compensation set to +0.7 or +1.0 or more (depending on condition)
4. Set to Aperture Priority Mode using F8
5. Try shooting in the opposite direction of the sun
6. Compose the shot first, then switch Focusing to Manual (Camera on Tripod)
7. Put on IR Filter and lens hood to prevent flare
8. Cover viewfinder and trigger the shutter release
9. Do Pro-processing

For the focusing, I usually use the following procedure.

1. Remove the IR filter to focus and compose
2. Zoom to the desired focal length and try compose/frame the subject
2. Use AF for the main subject first by pressing the shutter-release button halfway and make sure that it is sharp
3. Compose your shot
4. Switch the AF to M so that the focusing will not change when you press the shutter-release button
5. Carefully screw back or handheld the IR filter; put on a lens hood if required
6. Cover viewfinder
7. Use cable release or press the shutter release button

This is usually the procedure that I used. Others have their recommended method of focusing too, which ever way that works for you is good as long as you get the results you wanted.

Actually, with the AF technology, you can try to autofocus on the main subject even with the IR filter on, but the problem is that we can't really see through the filter.

[deadpixel]

Originally Posted by Francis247 If you modify your camera, you are replacing the low pass filter (hot mirror) by an IR Gelatin filter, so effectively the filter is in the camera already.

You do not use a gelatin filter.



_

[Francis247]

Originally Posted by deadpixel You do not use a gelatin filter. _

Opps, sorry, not very familar with the process.
Will remove that from my post. Apologies.

[Dennis]

When mod you don't use gelatin in the camera however if you are using a normal camera and a FE or other lens that accept a gelatin filter behind the lens you will have no choice.

Originally Posted by Francis247 Opps, sorry, not very familar with the process. Will remove that from my post. Apologies.