IR with FinePix F30

[tomcat]

The FinePix F30 is the only digicam that can shoot at ISO 3200, albeit somewhat noisy. I am somewhat surprised nobody thought of using it for IR since it has such good high ISO performance and probably could be handheld when shooting IR.

Anyway, I found that the sensor of the F30 is really quite responsive to IR and the LCD will display an image when shooting through an IR filter like the R72. Today was a terrible day for IR testing as it was rainy and cloudy but I still managed a few useable IR images out of the F30.

#1

1/15s, f/2.8, ISO 400

#2

1/50s, f/2.8, ISO 1600

#3

1/52s, f/2.9, ISO 1600

#4

1/40s, f/2.8, ISO 1600

Just think how good it would perform on a bright and sunny day.

[Qazwer]

This is convincing enough. Did you really get grainy shots when you zoom into the pictures? How's the noise control for this system?

By the way, this is not a mod camera hor?

[tomcat]

It is not a modded camera of course. Don't think any one here can mod this camera yet.

In normal photography, up to ISO 800, there are very little noise. At ISO 1600, more noise could be seen but it is still much better than any other digicams available. Probably cannot be seen when printed. At ISO 3200, noise is much more visible and images are probably useable for printing up to 4R or 5R only.

For IR photography, noise is not so much of a problem since IR photos are inherently more noisy than normal photos and are generally acceptable to IR shooters anyway. The F30 is probably the best of all the high ISO digicams currently available for IR photography brcause of its better performance at high ISO. The other high ISO digicam that I have tried for IR is the Sony T30. The T30 is also good but not as good as the F30 for IR photography in my opinion.

[jc1]

This pic was shot sometimes ago. Hope you allow me to post in this thread.

F30 (ISO800, f/6.4, 1/6", R72)


Cheers

[tomcat]

Feel free to post. After all, this thread is about IR with FinePix F30, any F30 that is.

These 2 are reshoots taken today when the lighting condition was better.


1/26s, f/2.8, ISO 400


1/60s, f/2.8, ISO 800

[quekky]

the F30 looks promising. the last 2 pics look a bit more noisy compared to the rest

[tomcat]

Maybe dull weather and high ISO setting (1600) works best with F30 .... the exact opposite from most other digicams
I'll try another day when it's bright and sunny again.

[ark19]

Thanks for the review Tomcat
Btw, can the F30 be fitted with a barrel such that an IR filter can be fitted on?

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by ark19 Thanks for the review Tomcat Btw, can the F30 be fitted with a barrel such that an IR filter can be fitted on?

Unfortunately, no. The filter had to be held against the lens manually. Hopefully, Fuji will release a filter adapter for the F30 something like the ones Sony did for the P-series.

[ark19]

Thanks Tomcat...
Haiz... y don't they do it like the Canon A series?

[Pablo]

Hi tomcat,

Thanks again for sharing your experience with yet another camera in IR.

You certainly have access to many cameras to try

This one certainly does look promising !

Cheers

[tomcat]

Hi Pablo,

You're welcome. No problem having access for a crazy camera collector like me.

Here's another shot taken today under a clear blue sky and a late afernoon sun...


1/9s, f/2.8, ISO 400

[Michael68]

Hi Steve,
Great pics you have there. I saw that www.maxmax.com has the F30 for sale and they actually placed something on the lens in front for filter to be mounted. Just wondering how this is possible?
For your pics taken on the F30, did you hold the IR filter with your hands and use natural light to shoot? I am thinking of using either a Sony or OEM Lens barrel that will be able to take a 30mm IR filter for this purpose. Of course, the barrel will be permanently mounted on the body itself. At least it offers some protection for the lens....

[Michael68]

http://www.cokin.com/ico12-index.html

Hi all,
I have found the answer to attaching a IR filter to F30. I recall in the 80s, I used Cokin for my point and shoot Nikon camera with creative filters from Cokin. Have expected to come up with some intelligent device such as this magnetic attachment. Will try to buy it this evening and see how it works. Hope it is available at Cathay who is the authorised distributor.

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by Michael68 Hi Steve, Great pics you have there. I saw that www.maxmax.com has the F30 for sale and they actually placed something on the lens in front for filter to be mounted. Just wondering how this is possible? For your pics taken on the F30, did you hold the IR filter with your hands and use natural light to shoot? I am thinking of using either a Sony or OEM Lens barrel that will be able to take a 30mm IR filter for this purpose. Of course, the barrel will be permanently mounted on the body itself. At least it offers some protection for the lens....

I bought the modified Sony P200 from them. Like in the Sony P200, they had glued a 30mm filter ring on the front of the lens and this allows a 30mm IR filter to be screwed onto the ring. The modified F30 will have even better IR performance than the modified Sony P200 which they also sell and at a much higher price too. The CWB of the Fuji F30 is however not so good as that of the P200 for IR photography.

[wong_se]

Originally Posted by tomcat Anyway, I found that the sensor of the F30 is really quite responsive to IR and the LCD will display an image when shooting through an IR filter like the R72. Today was a terrible day for IR testing as it was rainy and cloudy but I still managed a few useable IR images out of the F30.

hi tom, i am newbie to IR. having a F30 , and really impressed with your IR pic (shot with F30).

appreciate if u could clear my doubts...

1) Set the CWB with the R72 (handheld) ?
2) there is no manual focus wih F30, do we AF the object then only to place the R72 in front of the lens ?
3) read that u comment F30 can do pic at ISO1600, but most of your pic shown is ISO400. Does that mean that if the shutter is fast enough for handheld, we should even go lower ISO if possible..?

many thanks

[li0nheart07]

tomcat bro...
if your F30 is IR capable... does that mean that my F11 is capable too if i purchase the filter?