Digital Infra-Red

I have always enjoyed IR images, and use either Kodak High Speed Infra-Red film or digitally use Channel Mixer as a starting point for pseudo-IR.

I would like to explore IR photography using the R72 IR filter, but I wonder if anyone knows exactly how sensitive the *istDS is to IR light? Some manufacturers filter out IR quite severely and some don't. I know it will work with my Fuji S7000, but I would prefer to use the Pentax.

Any advice before I spend the money on the IR filter?

John,

I haven't done this but I'm sure I read somehwere that using live preview (on a compact digital) you can just point your telly remote at the camera and operate the remote. You will see the red light if it can "see" IR

Presumably you can do the same thing with a DSLR except that you'd have to actually take a picture - it's not as if you'd be wasting film.

Thanks, Terry, good idea. I've tried it and the *istDS looks promising. Now to get the filter!

John,
Here's one from Pete Bargh, taken with the *ist-D and an R72 filter:
http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=108185

Matt

I've now tried the *istDS with the Hoya R72 Infra-red filter, and the results are very good. The ISO needs raising - I used 3200 because grain/noise is not an issue if you want to mimic the effects of film.

The only problem is that with the filter fitted, the viewfinder is virtually black! In the very brightest light a very very faint image can almost be seen, but as a compositional aid its value is nil.

So, I used the widest angle setting, autofocus, a moderate aperture and aimed by guess. And it works.

A camera with EVF would be an advantage in these circumstances though!

Sounds interesting John!
How about framing without the R72 and then put it back for the shot?!
Matt

If I could be bothered to use a tripod, then Matt your suggestion would be perfect!

If it was a film camera, I'd have to......

I have done it using a tripod to frame and focus then add the filter and used exposure bracketing.

I did likewise, but found it easiest to use a Cokin P007 IR filter which slides in with less chance of accidentally altering the focus.

Anyone know of an esay way go get an IR flash? I have tried covering my flash gun with an IR filter sheet from http://www.alanaecology.com/acatalog/Infrared_Filter_Sheets.html but that just doesn't allow enough IR light through.

I tested my *st D in a dark room with a TV remote. It will see IR light. But to get real IR photos, you need a filter that blocks the visible part of the spctrum.

just 2 quick questions
1) How about using any cheap hotshoe mounted level, or pc adapter, drill a hole through it an bend yourself a peice of coathanger into a "wire frame finder" to mount on your camera?
2) I remember reading an article in a magazine on how to create infra red look from regular digital images. Is that worth trying?

scrap that second question, I see you already know how but forgot by the time I got to the last entry in the thread.
Kodak had a colr IR film a few years ago..have you used that? I remember playing with it, but it was so expensive, I gave it up.

Yes, the wire frame is a good idea. If I plan to take a few IR photos I'll try that.

As regards colour IR film, as far as I know it is still available. I've never tried it because I didn't like the pictorial effect. I do like BW IR images very much - they can be very spooky...But colour - I reckon it looks as good as messing around with the colours in Photoshop does - not very subtle and not really creative.

I realise that's just my opinion, and maybe someone else could take fantastic colour IR pictures, but it's not for me.

Most sources on Digital IR photography recomend digicams that let you use the LCD screen as a viewfinder. I have just seen in the Speedgraphic catalogue the Zigview digital anglefinder. Is this sufficiently senstive to IR so that it could be used when an IR filter is in place over the lens? At £115 it's an expensive soloution!

I've tried using the Fuji S7000 for this very reason, but the exposures are incredibly long, making a tripod essential, and the quality of results is nowhere near as good as the *istDS.

I wouldn't bother using the viewfinder device - might as well put up with the incovenience and use one of the techniques given in this thread. You'd be £115 better off!