IR with E500

[dorts]

Hello,

Anyone here doing IR Photography with the E500? Thinking of getting a R72 to play with. But before buying, I'll like to get some feedback. I have already read this but I would love more comments from you people.

[holidaydom]

I tried this some time ago and didn't really like it (on the E500).

1) You cannot compose with the IR Filter in place (this is normal)
2) Cannot perform a custom white balance so you'll have to shoot in raw and adjust the WB in post.
3) Very long exposures are required and so noise is a big factor
4) Metering is not as accurate so you usually have to shoot on manual

Please don't get me wrong - it's not impossible, just inconvenient and too troublesome in my view. (I'm plain lazy and want to shoot efficiently and conveniently) But that's IR for you. Compose, mount IR Filter, shoot, adjust exposure, shoot, post process....

IR is really fun however, and that's why I still shoot IR but with my compact prosumer.

I can easily do a custom white balance, frame using the LCD, good AF and metering - all with the IR Filter in place all the time...


Aside to MARKY,
I remember you were trying IR with your E330 - are you able to compose with the LCD when the IR Filter is on the lens???

[marky]

Originally Posted by holidaydom Aside to MARKY, I remember you were trying IR with your E330 - are you able to compose with the LCD when the IR Filter is on the lens???

Haiz.. i was thinking of starting a post on IR using Oly system but didn't, well since someone has started dun mind me hijacking it for sharing and knowledge purpose.

IR for E330
Yes, i can compose with the LV 'on' But need to boost the LV for it to really work and the day MUST be bright and sunny.

Exposure time for E330 is ard 2-3secs and the 14-54mm lens has hot spot in the middle of the lens, have to take note of it if you are using that lens to shoot IR. I didn't get the try our the other lens as the filter thread size is different.

Maybe i share my settings that i used but that is for my camera and i'm still figuring if its the right settings:
1. WB - Set custom WB to the bright green grass or blue sky
2. ISO 100 ( theres alot of noise if u set it too high)
3. Aperture - 3.5 and below
4. Shutter Speed - 2-3 secs ( i've searched the web and some settings there were 15 secs but for me 2-3 secs is the best in bright setting)

Hopefully the others who have tried out IR can share your settings as i'm also very new to this.

[Mikefellh]

Wrotniak is THE resource for all things Oly (if you look near the bottom of the following link, there are SEVERAL IR articles):
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/oly-e/index.html

[holidaydom]

Say... does anyone have any link on how to MOD any OLY DSLR (E500, E330, E300, E1) to a dedicated IR Camera?

[marky]

Originally Posted by holidaydom Say... does anyone have any link on how to MOD any OLY DSLR (E500, E330, E300, E1) to a dedicated IR Camera?

I've only found one at the fourthird fourm but only a conversion of the E1. Maybe can use this to try on the rest of the models.

http://fourthirdsphoto.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=14475

[marky]

BTW, anybody has a spoilt E300 or E330 or E500 which i can try DIY modding of the system?

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by marky BTW, anybody has a spoilt E300 or E330 or E500 which i can try DIY modding of the system?

If it's spoilt, how would you know if you are successful or not?
In any case, MaxMax (http://www.maxmax.com) had successfully modified an E-330 to IR-capable and sold it. They found that it was too difficult and did not carry out any conversion for E-330 commercially following that test conversion. And this is from a company that make its living from carrying out IR conversion, selling IR-modified cameras and other IR related products.

[marky]

Originally Posted by tomcat If it's spoilt, how would you know if you are successful or not? In any case, MaxMax (http://www.maxmax.com) had successfully modified an E-330 to IR-capable and sold it. They found that it was too difficult and did not carry out any conversion for E-330 commercially following that test conversion. And this is from a company that make its living from carrying out IR conversion, selling IR-modified cameras and other IR related products.

I was thinking of looking at the IR filter size and whats in the camera b4 really DIY modding on my own camera. Really dun want to waste money buying one,then mod then end up in the trash bin.

[microcosm]

I am thinking of sending in my E-1 in for IR mod when the new Pro camera is released. Thinking of either to the US or Sweden. Olyflyer knows someone there who does these mods.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by microcosm I am thinking of sending in my E-1 in for IR mod when the new Pro camera is released. Thinking of either to the US or Sweden. Olyflyer knows someone there who does these mods.

Well, that is not really true, I don't "know" him. More like I know who he is and have his mail adress and exchanged a few mails, but not really "know" him. I don't even know if he is interested in doing the mod for others, but I guess those who are interested can ask directly. He is active on several forums, fourthirdsphoto is one, CS is not one of them. His alias is jebir, I don't think minds if I tell you this much.

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by OlyFlyer Well, that is not really true, I don't "know" him. More like I know who he is and have his mail adress and exchanged a few mails, but not really "know" him. I don't even know if he is interested in doing the mod for others, but I guess those who are interested can ask directly. He is active on several forums, fourthirdsphoto is one, CS is not one of them. His alias is jebir, I don't think minds if I tell you this much.

Ah! The man with the goose for avatar! I remember him! But I thought he is currently into the tilt and shift lens project?? That is another interesting one.

I will email him and ask him if he can help mod the E-1, but I know there is another American guy who is doing that as well. Maybe I should just wait for Camera Workshop to provide the service. LOL.

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by microcosm Ah! The man with the goose for avatar! I remember him! But I thought he is currently into the tilt and shift lens project?? That is another interesting one. I will email him and ask him if he can help mod the E-1, but I know there is another American guy who is doing that as well. Maybe I should just wait for Camera Workshop to provide the service. LOL.

Camera Workshop got branch in Beijing?

[dorts]

Still wondering if I should invest in a IR filter. Hmm.

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by dorts Still wondering if I should invest in a IR filter. Hmm.

Come, come... a 58mm Hoya R72 IR filter is not really that expensive !
You can always sell it away if you find that IR is not really your cup of tea after trying it out.
Do be prepared for quite a bit of trial and error in getting the exposure right as well as quite substantial post-processing work if you want to get results that are like that of those 'gurus' in the IR forum here. But it definitely could be done since Wrotnaik had said so.