Modification Instructions for Nikon D40x

[mousedeers]

Modification Instructions for Nikon D40x
I had modified D70 and D70s in the past now I would like to modify the D40x.
Tools need to modify the Nikon D40x:
*A small Phillips screwdriver
* a pair of plastic tweezer
*An infrared filter cut to size 29.59mm x 25.27mm (do not need 100% accurate)
* A small plastic box to hold the screws
* A paper and pen to draw the position of the screws, take note that some screw is longer than the other
* A small soldering iron
* An air blower
Filter use: Edmund Long Pass filter.
Preparing for the modification:

* cut the filter to the correct size
* Clean your filter with alcohol, it must be completely clean of dust and there must be no scratches
* Clean your work table do not on the fan
* Clean your hands
* Remove the lens and replace it with the body cap, take out the SD card and battery

The modification
Step 1 At the bottom of the camera remove nine screws from the base, see the picture below. Draw the position of the screws on the paper and mark the longer screws position. There is a screw hidden under a rubber just beside the battery cover.
#1

Step 2 Carefully remove the base cover and place it on a safe place. Do not mix the bottom screws with the right and left side screws.
Step 3 Unscrew the two screws from right side of the camera as well as left side. Two more screws near the view finder need to dismantle. These screws had some glue on the thread therefore it is very hard to turn. A strong force is needed.
#2

Step 4 Remove the back cover with the LCD, there is a flexible PCB link to the body. Slowly flip up the black holding clip to release the flexible PCB.
#3

Step 5 At the back of the PCB, five flexible PCB need to remove and one wire need to de-solder (mark 1).
#4

Step 6 Dismantle the five screws holding the back PCB and place them on a box.
#5

Step 7 Before dismantling the three screws holding the sensor board, use a marker to mark a line beside the screws. This is to ensure that the sensor will sit at the right position when the board is fixing back.

 

[mousedeers]

#6

Step 8 Flip over the sensor board will review the CCD. There are four screws need to remove. After removing the screws, there are two holding metal need to remove before removing the CCD.
#7

Use a screwdriver carefully to lift the hot mirror as it stick to the seal rubber and use the plastic pliers to remove the hot mirror and with one hand holding the IR filter quickly place on the CCD. The hot mirror needs to keep in a box in case you want to fix it back.
Step 9 Place back the two metal frames and tighten the screws. Don’t apply over excess force on it. Fix back the CCD, the Back PCD, insert all the flexible PCB in proper position, solder back the wire, place back the side cover and the back cover.
Insert the battery and SD card and fix a lens into the body. Turn on the camera and if you see the information on the LCD then you are safe. Point to the fluorescent light to take a photo, if you see a red color photo then everything is in good condition.
Next thing is to go out under hot sun to set the WB. You can point to the grass, leaf, sky or building to set the WB. Setting WB not necessary always point to the green patch of grass or leaf. After pressing the shutter a “GD” appeared on the top LCD then the WB is set successfully. WB setting plays very important part in IR photography. Setting WB in the morning, noon and evening will give you difference color.

I did not to any adjustment of the AF screw. Don’t need to do so I still get sharp images if you are using 18-135mm, 18-200mm, 18-55mm, 18-70mm and Tokina fisheye. Nikon 12-24mm f4 will give an excellent sharpness in the centre but the right and left side of the image is soft. f1.4, f1.8 and f2.8 lenses need to AF adjustment in order to get sharp images but again after adjusting the AF screw, the other lens may not get a sharp focus.

I notice that D40x has two layer of hot mirrors stack together else D70, D70s has only one layer. That is the main reason why D40, D40x, D60, D300, D700 and newer model are very hard to take IR photo if without modification.

Photography is a form of arts, you can learn all the skills and techniques but one thing you cannot learn – it is the creativity. If you look at the award winning photo the one with the most creativity always win. Creativity makes a photo outstanding and difference.

 

[teerex]

Thanks mousedeeers for the instructions.

I have sticked and closed this thread for reference. This is to prevent too many posts and making a mess of the thread.

Members having any queries on the modification please start a new thread.