The Truth About Infrared Photography

[@Mitcheb4]

"It's just light. Don't be scared of it. Experiment." Brilliant words! I really appreciate how you approached this video. There's a lot of truth in what you said. In particular, getting creative with infrared in conditions that aren't ideal can really bring out some dynamic shots. One of my favorite infrared shots that I ever took was on a hazy, cloudy fall day near sunset with my 830nm filter pointed off at the horizon with mountains in the distance. Sure enough, the infrared cut through the clouds and haze to bring out the mountains, and the resulting image was moody and beautiful. It's 100% worth experimenting! Thanks for making this video. Cheers!

[@shabbysnubtide3339]

10:32 In the Dune 2 movie the outdoor Giedi Prime scenes were shot in b\w infrared to give the characters a ghostly look.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

How cool is that?! Thanks for sharing

[@lawrencelunsford6028]

A few months back I found a video here on YT where a gentleman converted a Lumix ZS-3 point and shoot to infrared. I found a cheap ZS-3 on Ebay and following his instructions my son and I did the conversion. Bought a 720nm filter and I've been very pleased with the results. At the end of 2023 Life Pixel had an awesome sale on converted cameras so I ordered one in 720nm. Should be here in a few weeks. I'm really anxious to give it a try. :)

[@MrBillkaz]

just what i needed to hear...you silenced the negative discouraging inner voice ...thank u!

[@billkennon319]

Very nice video. Agree 100%. I did a lot of IR and other "exotic" films back in the 70's. Photomicroscopy, High Contrast Copy film, etc. IR was indeed 'awkward' with film but I learned a lot. A full-spectrum conversion camera allows IR and UV as well. UV produces some very dramatic results!

[@lowellherr6814]

Excellent presentation with some magnificent images to boot.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

Thank you! and I am really pleased you enjoyed the video!

[@key2adventure]

Great video, nothing new to me, but good to have those myths dispelled,in one video. By the way there are several small point and shoot cameras that you can easily full spectrum convert yourself, and then, depending on the filter you use, you can use it normally or for IR photography.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

Doing a diy conversion sounds interesting. Have you ever done one? Any recommendations?

[@key2adventure]

@@JasonFriendPhotography Yes it is interesting. I believe there are many point and shoots it can be done on, as they are quite similarly made inside in my experience repairing cameras. I'm going to do a video on a conversion soon with one I converted, sorry but I'm not lifting the veil more at this time.

[@philipdahl9001]

Great video, thanks! I've been shooting IR film for the last few years and I love the images that I have been getting, particularly with 4x5 film. I have been considering getting an IR converted camera so your video has provided me with some food for thought.

[@schweinhund227]

Thanks for sharing; Great pictures and info! just got an old DSLR converted to full spectrum and got hooked right away to IR photography.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

It’s great isn’t it! Hope you are enjoying your full spectrum camera (I’ve never had a full spectrum camera!)

[@hailhorkos2327]

I've been taking infrared pictures with a full spectrum conversion for about 18 months and it's fascinating. Totally agree with everything you say. I do also suggest testing any camera with an IR remote control pointed at the lens in live view if you want to know if it picks up infrared without converting. Some phones do quite well on that test as well.

[@fuhirees]

Thank you for the wonderful presentation of this topic.Great stuff😊

[@bountyjedi]

Complete noob here, but I've shot infrared on film handheld even. With enough light and a rangefinder it's not a problem, and I find even with an SLR I have a variable filter so I can just leave it on, set it to just be a deep red light to compose, then twist it until it's basically completely dark just before I shoot (less convenient than the rangefinder though) Getting an infrared digital camera is on the list of things I'd like to do at some point.

[@guinottewise]

GREAT advice and thank you for it. I'll be looking for a pretty good camera that's been converted--or will have one converted. Filters for now, though.

[@hiramabiff885]

I had a Nikon D200 sitting unused for years. I used my Leica M8 which worked well with 720NM filter as M8's had no infrared cutout filter. I sold my M8 and M9 to buy a n almost new M-P240. I began to regret selling the M8. Then I found out about Kolari Vision and for $275.00 the did a spectacular job converting my D200, which turns out produces far better IR images than my M8. Love your IR work.

[@alanneilson6811]

I totally agree I shot all year with my converted cameras love going out with them all year long at all times of the day landscape cityscape. At different wavelengths 665nm 850nm and full spectrum, like you on Mu43 an old lumix G5 I got converted to 665 a couple of years ago then last year picked up an Olympus EM10 mk3 full spectrum and this year a lumix GX80 with the 850nm which I think is my favourite. I have also shot with film but as you say is a lot easier with digital. 👍

[@toomanyjstoomanyrs1705]

Yup, i found out the hard way that IR filters dont work. But i kind of like the look they produce.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

I agree… the results can be nice - just not infrared!

When I converted my Canon 5D MkII in 2017 to 665nm infrared (on the sensor directly, because I hate using filters), I wasn't sure it was a good idea... Now, 6-7 years later I am addicted. I do not shoot normal light anymore, lol. I get any look I want with 665nm btw. Classic IR look, colourful look, B&W if I want. Need to use photoshop anyway to process each file, so taking out colour or changing it, is really easy.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

Brilliant. I once had a camera accidentally converted to 665NM… (it should have been 830!)… was lovely for black and white photos

[@berthaduniverse]

I like your sharpness. A problem I'm dealing with is edge blurring. Tack sharp in the middle and (in FF) it gets blurry about 2/3 of the way to the edge. MFT might help this.

[@bittertruth6175]

Extremely valuable information. I learned more and answers to practical questions from your 12 min video than watching more than ten combined videos. I am struggling to convert my Canon 40D to IR 850nm (interested only in B&W) using my existing Canon zoom or keep using my existing canon camera with IR filters 720-850nm on lens? One question on IR, I couldn't find answer until now. I understand about Hotspot, but what about Infinity Focus? IR converted camera could have Focus Shift problem unless specific lens is caliberated for IR. This caliberation is pretty expensive. Due to these reasons, not only cost advantage of using IR filters of choice, but advantage of using any lense without focus shift problem, I am sticking to my existing standard gear using filters. But I would value your opinion and recommendation very much and open to take steps following your recommendation. Thanks.

[@telecomprofi]

Wow, at 4:43 - where is that face hill located?

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

Its a feature called Northumberlandia located in Southern Northumberland

[@michaelwalsh7846]

Brilliant, thanks for the info.w)Waiting for my converted camera to convert me! Sounds very exciting! Now how can I make this more difficult, how about a shoe box for pin hole camera IR with filter on to Velux paper, ha a challenge indeed!

[@jimkiefer1002]

Lovely images.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

Thank you!

[@BigBadLoneWolf]

My D3200 is still in customs in Greece on its way back to me with a full spectrum mod, hopefully I get it before the end of next week. I think I will have to revisit the stones with the modded camera, as I like the shot you showed. Kudos to the farmer, for allowing the public access to the stones

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

That sounds a bit of a ‘mare. Did you buy it from that guy on eBay (I think he’s in Greece - could be totally wrong however 😂)

[@BigBadLoneWolf]

@@JasonFriendPhotography I sent my camera to be converted, tracking shows it arrived in UK last night, conversion to full spec cost me 135 quid, maybe the same guy as he also sells pre modded camera's on his web site

[@Faust-g1q]

What will be the thermal resolution of the sensor and will the thermal resolution be sufficient for video examination trouble shooting of faulty components on cellphone printed circuit boards?

[@alanbooth8120]

Hi I did not catch what you said about which band of if you use ? Thanks

[@MTimWeaver]

I've been shooting digital infrared portrait since 2016, in studio. So the 'requirement' to shoot in summer, midday, is definitely not true. Most studio strobes and standard speedlights pump out plenty of light for IR converted cameras (I shoot 720nm). As for infrared film, one way around that I tried was using a rangefinder camera (again, in studio). It allowed me to see/compose the shot and take the shot handheld. Yeah, to focus was slightly off, but I shoot at a higher aperture for more DOF and it worked pretty well. I did have to use every single strobe and light I had to overcome the ISO6-ish I set for the filter factor, but it's doable.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

That’s interesting to learn that speed lights produce enough IR. Would love to see the results! Funnily enough I’ve now got a Fujifilm rangefinder MF film camera so have considered trying IR film through it (I’ve got a feeling the film transport system may fog IR however). Thanks for the comment!

[@mhouslay7281]

Thanks for such a really brilliant video. Totally inspiring. And wonderful pictures as well. I had my SONY NEX7 converted to full spectrum and have been using various filters for ‘colour’ but now inspired by your video to go and experiment with IR. Which wavelength filters did you use for your photographs? 850nM or ?? The Sony is a great camera for this and the kit zoom is pretty well hot spot free and can give very sharp photos.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

The majority of photos in that video were either 830 or 720 (I think there was a random 665 in there 🤷‍♂️)

[@waclavbelmonte1182]

Thank you! 😊

[@TheGanntak]

Where would you suggest is a good place in the UK to get your conversion done? Got a Panasonic GX85 im thinkin about having converted.

[@RedEyrisFilms]

I converted my camera and i have got great results at night as well.

[@downloadzy]

IR photography is amazing, for me and a few people, in social media groups who talking about images and photos, 99 of them expecting the infrared photography a simillar with black and white, they think it's old images mode, they suggest to me to shoot old movies 🤣

[@lloydstuartm.d.5625]

I heard that I should only convert a mirrorless camera to infrared, not a DSLR camera. Unfortunately, all of my "old" cameras sitting around are DSLR. I want to get serious about infrared so do you recommend I just go out and get a mirrorless body to convert or should I give it a go with a DSLR camera?

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

I’ve had a few IR converted DSLRs… they worked fine. Yes, mirrorless is more convenient (as you can preview the results through the EVF) and the auto focus is more reliable (the AF had to be recalibrated on a DSLR conversion). I think it all depends what you want to photograph.. if it’s landscapes either will be fine

[@worldadventuretravel]

I was hoping to find a video about what happens if you mount a IR light to a camera with a narrower lens aperture and if it helps you get better nighttime photography from that lens. Could someone answer that?

[@MTimWeaver]

If you mean to add an IR light to a regular digital camera as a way photograph things at night, no. Standard digital cameras wouldn't pick up the IR light unless the camera had been converted to capture IR imagery. Even an IR-converted camera doesn't become a super night-vision camera or anything, though it can pick up light from a flash or flashlight that has an IR filter over it (I use an infrared flashlight to help with low-light focus so I'm not shining a light in my model's eyes). Using an IR-filtered light on and IR converted camera would allow you to take images without disturbing wildlife with a standard flash.

[@hailhorkos2327]

I have an infra red camera and have used it with an infra red light attached and it works well over a short distance. I used it recently to take sneaky pictures in a museum. I actually have two cheapish similar infra red lights and the one with a usb charger is much better than the one with batteries. They also sell these as ghost hunting lights bit I haven't photographed any ghosts yet.

[@rayspencer5025]

I shoot handheld infrared with my Note 20 Ultra phone.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

How do you that? Hold a filter in place?

[@rayspencer5025]

@@JasonFriendPhotography I use a clamp on filter holder that I modified with black fom to control the light leaks.

[@MrBillkaz]

lol i duct taped part of a broken IR filter on to my iphopne used custom w2hite balance ...like magic@@rayspencer5025

[@markkitaoka8783]

Thank you.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

You're welcome!

[@kiwipics]

How much ? ... I picked up an Olympus EP2-L on Ebay that had been converted to full spectrum IR, and it cost £85. A set of 3 IR filters for £45 ... The best thing about using a converted body is that you don't end up taking shots on long exposures, and you can happily shoot hand held, unless you want to blur water or clouds.

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

I can’t remember how much now - I need to watch the video again 😂 Yeah… there were cheaper options but I needed 16mp at least and really don’t like not having an EVF (although the epl2 does accept the external finder which is brilliant). Funnily enough I’ve got an epl1 kicking around here which could be nice for a full spectrum conversion 🤔

[@georgemahlum6542]

Most people have sense enough to have a camera converted to full spectrum first...than purchase insertable filters. Cheers

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

I think it’s personal choice not sensible choice. Full spectrum means you always have to use filters… which means you have to make sure you have filters for all of your lenses. And remember to take them - every time. A fixed conversion is more convenient and if you only want to shoot black and white then you only really have two choices of conversion. A lot of photography choices are highly personal - just what one person thinks is sensible doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for another.

[@stephanebigoin2225]

Very interesting video ! Thanks !

[@TerryHughes-u4m]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@JasonFriendPhotography]

Thanks 🤩