Liam, How long is the cable? The "original" Pentax cable release has only 45cms of cable. I had to invest in a 2.5mm to 2.5mm audio lead to get a decent length.

but the AF assist lamp does use IR! When I use my flash unit in dim light I can clearly see a red circle projected on my subject (or is that not infra-enough light?)

Hmmm, well there is one way to find out! (pardon me while I fiddle around in the background)

The camera does seem to "hunt" for the focus, and the tests shots were almost in focus (as they were of my very untidy office I'm not going to post them!)

Might be a different result outside on a bright sunny day.

um, well I'd suppose so, because IR is still a different wavelength to visible light and therefore should focus at a different point compared to visible light. The problem is, most modern lenses don't have an IR mark!

I can feel my filters twitching already - or that may just be the sap rising!

niblue, I have posted a couple of samples here http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ammonyte579. I kept the ISO to 400 as higher values made it granier than I like, which puts exposures into the 1/2 to 5 seconds range. I haven't had much chance to experiment yet, I can't wait for the spring and a lot of leaves on the trees to get the full effect. The great thing about digital IR is that after the investment in the filter the only cost are for your batteries and your own time! The main downside is that you may not notice the speck of dirt on the lens or filter until afterwards! I think I have overcome the problem of composing and focussing shots by using a cokin slide-in filter which means less chance of disturbing the camera or lens than screwing a filter on.

John, thanks. I have had some promising early results - I just wish I had started this earlier in the year when there were more leaves on trees for all of those white leaf effects!

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 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.

Tony,

Thanks, I'll give it a try. At least it sounds like it won't break my camera!