Nikon Coolpix P5000 & IR

[deadpixel]

Nikon's recent batches of compact digital aren't the best around, with slow AF, noise and limited features, it's no wonder most people would give Nikon compacts a pass. What on earth am I doing with a Nikon compact then?

Well, for one thing, it's cheap. For another, it's packed with quite a bit of features. The P5000 has shooting modes that match those found on DSLRs - Full Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Full Manual (complete control over shutter and aperture), a HI ISO mode that allows you to shoot at ISO 3200 and a black and white mode that gives you quite a bit of control over your images - contrast, sharpening and digital B&W filters; just to name a few.

How about it's performance in IR? Hmmm...not the best in the world - you'll get hotspots in some situations and if you shoot in small apertures, but it still gives pretty decent results. Depending on light conditions, aperture speeds at ISO 400 range from 2 secs to 1/4 secs, but the IR image is viewable on the LCD (when the filter is in place) and custom white balances are really easy to set.

As I said, it isn't the best IR camera in the world, not by a longshot, but it does let me do Color Overlay IR, which is something I enjoy doing but haven't been able to since I converted my D70.

Images? Ok, here we go:

Out of camera, with a small hotspot:

But when combined with a color image:

Next out of camera image, hot spot almost not visible:

When combined with a color image for the Color Overlay IR:

More...

 

[deadpixel]

...Continued

Out of camera no hotspot:

Color Overlay:

Out of camera no hotspot:

Orton Imagery applied:

The P5000 also comes with adaptors that allow you to widen the lens to 25mm. The adaptor connector is pretty good for attaching IR filters.

Cheers,
Matt

 

[Dennis]

Hi Matt, Seems like the recent compact allows IR well unlike the older ones like the 8400 that I have. I have also tried the Olympus 550 and it seems like it may be capable of IR but setting the WB seems to be a little more complicated. I have yet to do a proper test but it also allows the images to be viewed on the LCD with a IR filter on.

 

[deadpixel]

Hi Matt, Seems like the recent compact allows IR well unlike the older ones like the 8400 that I have. I have also tried the Olympus 550 and it seems like it may be capable of IR but setting the WB seems to be a little more complicated. I have yet to do a proper test but it also allows the images to be viewed on the LCD with a IR filter on.

Hi Dennis,

Yeah, the change in the "sensitivity" of the compacts to IR is good news for IR shooters, we might see more people coming over since they would no longer need expensive DSLRs. It would also mean that my bag will be lighter when I'm outstationed :bsmilie:

The Oly550 is an interesting cam, if it can be used properly for IR, it would give users an 18x zoom :sweat: IR candids with a compact camera :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Matt

 

[Dennis]

Mmm I am having difficulty setting the WB for the Oly. It sems like the WB cannot be set properly but again I did not try various other methods. Give me some time to test it out with bright sunny day.