IR using unmod Sony A200 + R72

[teddyrised]

I've been reading the IR thread for quite some time and is truly humbled by all the good photos out there. I wouldn't say mind compares up to the standards of many other threads, but I'd love to share a few IR photos taken using my unmodified Sony A200 with Hoya R72 filter. The sublimal message is that: if you're using A200, IR photography is possible (although you're not going to get really good results)

Here are a few photos taken during a trip to Genting Highlands, Malaysia almost a year ago.

#1 - 'Directions, please?'

An overhead road sign above the old route that people use to travel down the highland. Since the new pass opened, this road is now used to service the apartments and the police station. It's now the road less travelled.

#2 - 'Flying Coaster, in infrared'

The Flying Coaster (what an unoriginal name IMHO) is the first of its kind in Asia, and the management boasts that more than a million people has rode on that thing. The amusement park wristband, while granting free entry to all rides in the amusement park, does not allow you to board the coaster for free - you will have to pay for the ticket, albeit at a discounted rate.

#3 - 'Genting Highands, in infrared (1)'

A breathtaking view of the hotel blocks of the highland resort, from a pedestrian bridge.

#4 - 'Genting Highands, in infrared (2)'

A gorgeous view of some of the hotels in the highland resort, from an outcrop near the lakeside. This photo is taken further up the pedestrian bridge.

[psccy]

good try at IR with A200.
I was also shooting with A200 for a short while before I took the plunge and converted my A100.
Maybe one day we can go try shoot together.

[teddyrised]

Originally Posted by psccy good try at IR with A200. I was also shooting with A200 for a short while before I took the plunge and converted my A100. Maybe one day we can go try shoot together.

Actually, that's what I had in mind too! I'm harbouring the intentions of purchasing a second-hand A100 and convert it to make it a dedicated IR camera. Where did you get your A100 IR converted? I'm quite curious because most of the time I hear people sending their dSLRs overseas (and accompanied lens for calibration) overseas, something that I'm not too secure about :P

Yea, one day we should have an IR outing. I don't mind! I pray for good weather - it's interesting that while there is a nasty monsoon season going on, we still have really warm and sunny days in Singapore

[geekbrains]

Dude, you can ping our fellow CS'er David aka Fatigue for conversion

[psccy]

Originally Posted by teddyrised Actually, that's what I had in mind too! I'm harbouring the intentions of purchasing a second-hand A100 and convert it to make it a dedicated IR camera. Where did you get your A100 IR converted? I'm quite curious because most of the time I hear people sending their dSLRs overseas (and accompanied lens for calibration) overseas, something that I'm not too secure about :P Yea, one day we should have an IR outing. I don't mind! I pray for good weather - it's interesting that while there is a nasty monsoon season going on, we still have really warm and sunny days in Singapore

I did mine at Camera Hospital... Sunshine Plaza...

Originally Posted by geekbrains Dude, you can ping our fellow CS'er David aka Fatigue for conversion

David have the skills but I remmeber he does not have the tools for lens calibration. He is cheaper of course...

[blueshift]

#2 is cool. the movement liven it up.

[geekbrains]

Originally Posted by psccy I did mine at Camera Hospital... Sunshine Plaza... David have the skills but I remmeber he does not have the tools for lens calibration. He is cheaper of course...

I did my first D100 IR conversion with Steven from Camera Hospital too.. But my current D200 conversion is being done by Fatigue and we're still fine tuning the focus.

[psccy]

Originally Posted by geekbrains I did my first D100 IR conversion with Steven from Camera Hospital too.. But my current D200 conversion is being done by Fatigue and we're still fine tuning the focus.

Steven is pretty good... He can help with the calibration, especially cos he has the software for A100 (IIRC)...
However, word of warning... When i sent in my A100, I brought along the Kit lens for calibration... That was a bad choice for me... I should have sent in my Sigma 12-24 instead...

After mod, all Sony's DT lenses are sharp but I get soft pictures from other lenses and my favourite 12-24 is always soft, even at F22!

[geekbrains]

My calibration is right now adjusting the focus screws manually after testing using the focus chart. I know Steven uses a software to calibrate as you can see my Tokina 11-16mm shot wide open at F2.8 is relatively sharp though he calibrated it only for a 18-55mm kit lens. If my current D200 conversion gives me more trouble in focus calibration, I'll resort to Steven anyway..

[teddyrised]

Originally Posted by geekbrains Dude, you can ping our fellow CS'er David aka Fatigue for conversion

Oh, thanks for the advice. I'm saving up for a WA lens first before I get the secondhand A100 body that I'm always dreaming of though :P tight on money, haha!

Originally Posted by psccy I did mine at Camera Hospital... Sunshine Plaza... David have the skills but I remmeber he does not have the tools for lens calibration. He is cheaper of course...

Actually, I'm not sure how does the calibration thing works. Why is it necessary that a lens have to be sent for calibration? My best guess is because of the different wavelengths of the IR compared to visible light so the AF needed to be tweak. Is it? Oh, and I heard that Camera Hospital does provide conversion services - how's their pricing?

Originally Posted by blueshift #2 is cool. the movement liven it up.

That's actually something that I can't avoid since I'm using an unmod dSLR so I have to crank the exposure time up to 5~8 seconds to get a decent photo :P but I didn't expect the movement of the people to turn out so nice. Thanks!

[psccy]

[quote=teddyrised;5659182]Oh, thanks for the advice. I'm saving up for a WA lens first before I get the secondhand A100 body that I'm always dreaming of though :P tight on money, haha!



Actually, I'm not sure how does the calibration thing works. Why is it necessary that a lens have to be sent for calibration? My best guess is because of the different wavelengths of the IR compared to visible light so the AF needed to be tweak. Is it? Oh, and I heard that Camera Hospital does provide conversion services - how's their pricing?

Yes... it is definitely due to the refraction differences between visible light and IR, couple with the difference in the refractive index of the replacement glass compared with the original hot mirror...

Better warn you first....
Price of a full conversion with either ELP or R72 replacement will cost about the same as a good A100...

[psccy]

Originally Posted by geekbrains My calibration is right now adjusting the focus screws manually after testing using the focus chart. I know Steven uses a software to calibrate as you can see my Tokina 11-16mm shot wide open at F2.8 is relatively sharp though he calibrated it only for a 18-55mm kit lens. If my current D200 conversion gives me more trouble in focus calibration, I'll resort to Steven anyway..

I am thinking whether to ask steven to re-calibrate my camera for my Sigma 12-24 or save the money (and top up) for a nice walk around lens that the camera is already calibrated for. Perhaps Sony's 16-105mm (but only 2mm wider than my 18-250) or splash on a sony 11-18...

[SK1968]

Originally Posted by psccy I am thinking whether to ask steven to re-calibrate my camera for my Sigma 12-24 or save the money (and top up) for a nice walk around lens that the camera is already calibrated for. Perhaps Sony's 16-105mm (but only 2mm wider than my 18-250) or splash on a sony 11-18...

I have similar problem. Converted KM7D at TCH with Minolta 28mm lens. Results is that my Sigma 12-24 is totally oof. Lenses with longer focal length give clearer pictures than 12-24but nowhere near the 28mm lens that was used to calibrate Am also contemplating if I should re-calibrate for 12-24 of stick to 28mm as 12-24 is actually more usable due to KM7D's crop factor.

[teddyrised]

Originally Posted by psccy Originally Posted by teddyrised Oh, thanks for the advice. I'm saving up for a WA lens first before I get the secondhand A100 body that I'm always dreaming of though :P tight on money, haha! Actually, I'm not sure how does the calibration thing works. Why is it necessary that a lens have to be sent for calibration? My best guess is because of the different wavelengths of the IR compared to visible light so the AF needed to be tweak. Is it? Oh, and I heard that Camera Hospital does provide conversion services - how's their pricing? Yes... it is definitely due to the refraction differences between visible light and IR, couple with the difference in the refractive index of the replacement glass compared with the original hot mirror... Better warn you first.... Price of a full conversion with either ELP or R72 replacement will cost about the same as a good A100...

Thanks for the warning! Yea, I'm aware that the IR conversion will not be cheap, and will punch a big hole in my wallet - well, if one wants to go for quality there must be some preparedness for monetary loss, haha

For the moment being I'm busy finding a Tamron 11-18mm which I heard performs quite well for IR photography (for unmod and mod dSLRs). I guess I'll have to lay off the idea of getting an A100 and converting it for the moment being, heh. Nonetheless, thanks for the advice!

[teddyrised]

Oh, and here are a few more photos from my Genting Highland trip. Shooting IR in a cold climate isn't a fun experience since my hands were freezing mad and that the batteries die very quickly.

Comments and constructive criticism are welcome waiting for the pros to weigh in.

#5 - Corkscrew + Sunset = Awesomeness

This is, without any doubt, my favourite infrared photo I've produced so far. There is little photoshopping done to this photo, except for artificially increasing the dynamic range and then color burning the sky a little for the dramatic effect. Everything else, including the lens flare, is real.

The sun was setting rather quickly behind the roller coaster and I was on a final walk on the Dinasour Land hill before I retire to other parts of the amusement park. Grabbed my tripod and took around 10+ test shots, and this one turned out to be the best.

Infrared photo is taken using a HoyaR72 filter with custom white balance and further processed in Photoshop CS4 for colours.

#6 - Go karts, in infrared

The Go Kart's tack shot in infrared.

#7 - Cable car

This photo was taken from the Japanese-themed garden near my hotel lobby. The cable car has been replaced by a faster and a higher capacity cable car system, and so it's starting to fall into disuse.

I remember the anecdotal accounts my parents, aunts and uncles gave me, about how scary is it to travel on it because it shakes in high wind and there were accidents in the past when the cable car fell off. Eeeks.

[psccy]

Originally Posted by SK1968 I have similar problem. Converted KM7D at TCH with Minolta 28mm lens. Results is that my Sigma 12-24 is totally oof. Lenses with longer focal length give clearer pictures than 12-24but nowhere near the 28mm lens that was used to calibrate Am also contemplating if I should re-calibrate for 12-24 of stick to 28mm as 12-24 is actually more usable due to KM7D's crop factor.

The good thing that came out of me sending the kit lens for calibration is that all sony's DT lenses work well...

Did i quick check of my inventory... surprisely, the worset lenses are Sigma 12-24 and Sony 70-200 G!

My Min 24mm, Sony 50mm 1.4 and Min 85mm were even sharper than DTs...

Perhaps I should consider shooting only with my Min 24mm... Widest and sharpest...

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by SK1968 I have similar problem. Converted KM7D at TCH with Minolta 28mm lens. Results is that my Sigma 12-24 is totally oof. Lenses with longer focal length give clearer pictures than 12-24but nowhere near the 28mm lens that was used to calibrate Am also contemplating if I should re-calibrate for 12-24 of stick to 28mm as 12-24 is actually more usable due to KM7D's crop factor.

The 12-24 is a great IR lens, no hotspots. It's my IR lens of choice.

[psccy]

Originally Posted by Rashkae The 12-24 is a great IR lens, no hotspots. It's my IR lens of choice.

Done tempt me... later I really go and recalibrate...

[yyc83]

may i ask, where to buy the filter and how much does it cost?

[teddyrised]

Originally Posted by yyc83 may i ask, where to buy the filter and how much does it cost?

Do check the sticky threads (http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223587). I think there's one on the price list for infrared filters. The price of the filters increases as the filter diameter increases too.