Infrared camera or software ?

Sami Palta , Sep 23, 2016; 09:28 a.m.

Don't know if it is correct section to ask this question but couldn't find out where to post this question...

Used to take IR pictures with color and B/W IR film + filter...Film days past now.Considering a IR converted camera... 750 or 820 NM different sort of IR converted cameras. I think one gives B/W and the other a bit blueish pictures.Found out out also possible to convert the taken color pictures to IR picture with software. But I have a problem, I can use some LR but not PS and I am not a software guy...Any recommendations please ?

All the best

Jochen Schrey , Sep 23, 2016; 10:01 a.m.

My understanding: You can wildly alter colors in software. - But if you are after a specific IR trait, you can only get it from an IR camera.AFAIK there are no color to B&W camera conversions happening anywhere. The Bayer- & X-Trans patterns allowing color results are too close to the sensors to get removed or replaced after production. - Whoever posts B&W from a converted camera desaturated the image for artistic reasons.I'll buy some visible light blocking filters for my M9 some day. - Shooting IR with a converted camera would give the benefit of an in that range working AF, while filters in front of normal cameras demand manual focus compensation.

Michael Chang , Sep 23, 2016; 10:42 a.m.

An IR converted camera means its sensor's IR-cut filter is removed which will make it a broadband sensor - visible light + IR.

An IR-pass filter of any desired wavelength can then be (optionally) added, usually externally.

An unmodified camera will only take color pictures which you can synthesize IR through B/W conversion, but it won't be real IR.

I have a Sony DSC-F828 camera which has a Nightshot (IR) mode, but it's crippled deliberately so you won't be able to "see through clothing" which was all the rage when the feature was first introduced in the late 90s. However, I'm able to trick the camera by lifting its IR-block filter's solenoid with an external neodymium magnet and make it work in all modes; I can then screw on an external IR pass filter and use it as an IR-only camera.

Cycling the power of the camera will bring it back to its normal factory operation.

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