IR Photography

Dervish99

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Russ
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Hi All, planning to try out some IR photography, was thinking about using the Lee 87 filter as i have the system already. I assume (wrongly?) that the filter needs to comleatly seal out all light from the lens ie be right up to the front of the lens to prevent light leakage around the back of the filter. Does the Lee filter do this? or would i be better with a screw in filter?

Anyone do any IR shooting with a 5D MK2? i have heared that the 24-105 does not have issues with hot spots, but how does the sensor cope with the IR?

cheers

Russ
 
I shoot lots of IR but not with any of the equipment you mention. Try a cheap ebay screw in filter, you may be suprised.
 
does no one shoot IR?

Not many folks ;)

It's hard with digital, even harder than film, because there is a strong IR filter over the sensor. The success you get is dependent on how how much IR headroom the manufacturers have left, if any, and the efficiency of the filter you fit.

If you're lucky, you can get quite a good semi-IR effects. You'll have to google which cameras/filters work best. But if you're unlucky, it's pretty much a waste of time.

On the other hand, if you remove the camera's IR filter, you get amazing results - easily. Which is why people get an old DSLR and send it to somwhere like Advanced Camera Services http://www.advancedcameraservices.co.uk/
 
IR is a great way to liven up your creative side when you are perhaps feeling a little bored with taking pictures. As Rich sad above though, the majority of folks who like IR are probably using a converted camera.

I have a converted 10D and while I don't get out with it often (not since last spring!!) when I do, I really enjoy it and love the IR picture effects. If you have a look on Flickr and do a search for Lee 87, you'd probably come up with loads of examples of what people are achieving and what camera they are using as well.
 
Hi All, planning to try out some IR photography, was thinking about using the Lee 87 filter as i have the system already. I assume (wrongly?) that the filter needs to comleatly seal out all light from the lens ie be right up to the front of the lens to prevent light leakage around the back of the filter. Does the Lee filter do this? or would i be better with a screw in filter?

Anyone do any IR shooting with a 5D MK2? i have heared that the 24-105 does not have issues with hot spots, but how does the sensor cope with the IR?

cheers

Russ

Most modern dslrs have a pretty strong hot mirror, making IR exposures very long. Look for an old model second hand if you want to shoot IR a lot, i can just about shoot hand held with a non converted d70.

To answer you original question, yes the filter needs to be light tight. I've achieved this with the cokin holder by slotting the filter up tight against the holder:
cokin1.jpg

cokin2.jpg


The different types of filters let through different amount of visible light. The cokin lets through most, then the hoya r72, then the 87. You'll only be able to shoot black and white IR with an 87. I prefer false colour ir images.

Heres an example with the cokin:

Aysgarth Falls by ST8_, on Flickr

and with the hoya r72:

Hardwick Heath by ST8_, on Flickr
 
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I shoot with a converted 300d, it's so much fun shooting IR. As for the filter question, I imagine you would want to block all natural light from getting to the sensor.
 
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