Where to buy replacement glass blocks when removing the IR filter from camera?

[psccy]

I am risking sounding dumb...

I read that to get really good IR shots from most cameras, we have to remove the IR filter block (or glass) from the camera and replace it with a normal glass block.

The question I really want to know is, where do we get such a block. Or is it not really necessary?

 

[etegration]

that's modifying a cam permanently ?

 

[zyle]

any shops to recommend to modify a cam to a full IR camera?

 

[ark19]

I am risking sounding dumb...

I read that to get really good IR shots from most cameras, we have to remove the IR filter block (or glass) from the camera and replace it with a normal glass block.

The question I really want to know is, where do we get such a block. Or is it not really necessary?

For my S602Z, I only removed the hot mirror/AA filter.
Did not replaced with any clear glass. It seems ok to me.
From other websites, have noted that microscopic slides could be used. U'll have to stack a few to make up the thickness.
Another common method is to cut a R72 filter to replace the hot mirror/AA filter.

 

[psccy]

For my S602Z, I only removed the hot mirror/AA filter.
Did not replaced with any clear glass. It seems ok to me.
From other websites, have noted that microscopic slides could be used. U'll have to stack a few to make up the thickness.
Another common method is to cut a R72 filter to replace the hot mirror/AA filter.

For that, I will need to open up the camera and find out the thickness of the block?

Anyone has permanently modified a sony camera to shoot IR? Can give advice?

 

[ark19]

For that, I will need to open up the camera and find out the thickness of the block?

Anyone has permanently modified a sony camera to shoot IR? Can give advice?

IIRC Tomcat have a modded sony.

 

[zyle]

i like to mod my sony f828 too.. i kept my broken R72 filter, maybe useful for the mod.. please advice on how to mod or where to bring for modification..

thank you..

 

[howardfuhrman]

When I modified my Canon G2, I bought a replacement filter for the G2 from Lifepixel.com. It cost $95+S&H which I thought was expensive for a small piece of R72 equivalent glass. It fit and works very well. I do not believe they have replacement filters for Sony's. I would like to convert another camera, but would like an answer to the question about buying inexpensive R72 equivalent filters or clear glass.

 

[psccy]

When I modified my Canon G2, I bought a replacement filter for the G2 from Lifepixel.com. It cost $95+S&H which I thought was expensive for a small piece of R72 equivalent glass. It fit and works very well. I do not believe they have replacement filters for Sony's. I would like to convert another camera, but would like an answer to the question about buying inexpensive R72 equivalent filters or clear glass.

Hi Howard!
Ha Ha... Me and my questions all the time...
Anyway... Heard some camera can work without replacing the glass (very thin glass perhaps) then use the IR filters on the outside...

You are lucky... Lifepixel in US where you are... for the rest of us in Singapore... the shipping is a killer... and sending the camera in for them to modify is almost impossible!

 

[ark19]

When I modified my Canon G2, I bought a replacement filter for the G2 from Lifepixel.com. It cost $95+S&H which I thought was expensive for a small piece of R72 equivalent glass. It fit and works very well. I do not believe they have replacement filters for Sony's. I would like to convert another camera, but would like an answer to the question about buying inexpensive R72 equivalent filters or clear glass.

Hi Howard, actually u can buy a normal R72, remove it from the filter ring and use an oil glass cutter to cut it. That's how most mods are done. But I have not tried before:sweat:

 

[howardfuhrman]

psccy wrote: "Hi Howard, actually u can buy a normal R72, remove it from the filter ring and use an oil glass cutter to cut it. That's how most mods are done. But I have not tried before"

I was under the impression that in order to have the auto focus work properly after the conversion, it was necessary to get new filter replacement with a thickness approximately the same thickness of the hot filter removed. I am not sure, but I think a filter that one buys is not as thick as the filter it replaces.

Possibly somebody reading this forum with experience in conversions can advise us?

 

[Velectron]

For that, I will need to open up the camera and find out the thickness of the block?

Anyone has permanently modified a sony camera to shoot IR? Can give advice?

What model of Sony cameras are you using? For F707/F717, the thickness of the IR-blocking glass is about 1.0-1.1 mm. It is possible to put in glass filters of between 1.0 to 1.2 mm thick.

It is not possible to put in R72 filter glass for the above 2 cameras because it is too thick (mine is 2.5 mm thick).

If the IR-blocking filter is to be replaced, you should look for multi-coated glass. Cheap microscope slides tend to reflect light and cause a hotspot in the photo. But problem is that to get multi-coated glass, you need to search for a UV filter of the right thickness, and that can be a problem.

Anyone knows any good multi-coated UV filters that are 1 mm thick?

 

[night86mare]

huh?!

you need to modify the whole cam before can take IR?!

...i thought use filter can already.. so long as your camera can detect IR should work

 

[deadpixel]

huh?!

you need to modify the whole cam before can take IR?!

...i thought use filter can already.. so long as your camera can detect IR should work

You don't have to modify your camera to take IR photos, but modifying it makes it much, much easier to capture your IR shots as you get faster shutter speeds and will be able to compose and take your shots without having to remove and put on your filter.

_

 

[Fumiryu]

Am I right to say that if the camera was modified to capture IR shots, the camera will not be able to take normal shots?

 

[night86mare]

Am I right to say that if the camera was modified to capture IR shots, the camera will not be able to take normal shots?

depends on what sort of modification, but no matter what the ability to take normal shots will be affected
i've been reading a digital IR book, there are many ways of modification, shall just take the time to list down what the book has said;

1) removal of hot mirror filter from camera and replace with clear glass - severely alter camera's ability to take picture in colour mode
2) removal of filters moutned in front of sensor and replace with #87 filter - can only capture b&w infrared images. camera can be refitted to original use of capturing conventional images but cost is high as the removed filters are irreparably damaged and would have be purchase from manufacturer for reinstallation

further modifications:
1) adjustment of focus internally using a shim (because infrared focal point is farther from the camera lens)

 

[psccy]

Due to the complexity of the modification required, you will notice that the price to modified one at Lifepixel is very high. Even just getting a piece of replacement glass from them is expensive.

That is the reason why many people who want to try out IR like to use Sony F505 / F707 / F71 / F828... Cos the cameras have a night shot mode which will move the IR filter off the CCD and allow you to shoot with IR. The limitations of these cameras, however is that to protect you from getting CHEEKY, forces you to shoot only in full auto mode, so you cannot control exposure setting...

Apparently there are very old models of digital camera that can do IR very well as they either do not have a filter or the filter is very poor.

current cameras have very good filters inside, so even though they may pass the remote control test, they may not be good for IR still...

I am no expert (I started this thread and many newbie question threads on IR), the above are just what I gathered from the sites I have read and some advice given by more lao jiao IR photographers...

 

[deadpixel]

Am I right to say that if the camera was modified to capture IR shots, the camera will not be able to take normal shots?

No, it depends on the type of modification you choose to do.

Cheers,
Matt