Does anyone here have a working knowledge about how to get a modern digital camera to "see" infrared? I'm given the understanding that most of these cameras today actually purposely filter out that part of the spectrum. Any info with expansive links would be greatly appreciated. -^_^
Not properly Digital, since still do occasionally old fashion photography, the following link http://digitalphotobuzz.com/how-to-do-infrared-photography list the effects of filters in light spectrum. You can try use "reverse eng", like using a filter to block glue and green. Although not familiar with digital cameras, as far as I know they use filter (in front of the lense) to block IF. I guess a camera technician can remove it and replace it with glass of similar thickness in order not affect focus.
Thanks for your reply and suggestions, JoeMickey. After posting this thread, I started digging around and have since discovered that there are actually on line services that can either modify your camera, or sell you a pre-modified camera that records infrared only, or both infrared AND visible light too, depending on a customers' need. The cost of a pre-modified (this is a permanent alteration) camera is several hundred over the usual price of that model. An example would be the Lumix LX5 that I had just bought for about $400; brand new and modified, it would come to about $800. There are actually plenty of websites too with DIY (do it yourself) instructions in which you literally take your camera apart <gasp> and perform the needed alterations, but frankly, that's a little scary for me. Anyone interested in something like this, I also found some wonderful examples that can provide inspiration on user site Flickr: Digital Infrared. Some of their stuff is simply breathtaking. Given the long standing interest in IR Photography overall, I wonder why camera companies don't endeavor to find a way to do this electronically at the flip of switch instead?
IR photo has great stunning effects. I guess manufecterer started the blocking because there are ?dirty? photos of peoples underwear...
LOL... No, that's not how infrared works, it's not an see through effect. Here's an explanation that I found on the web about why infrared is filtered out: They do this because otherwise the images begin to look unnatural as one's eyes normally do not see infrared or ultraviolet, and to mix that bandwidth of normally "invisible" light and make it visible renders images that would be different in appearance. So they filter out that energy from ever reaching the camera's sensor and being recorded. However, some people (like me) would actually like to record such images because it expands our artistic realm. Since the filter is a small piece of glass sitting in front of the sensor, I suspect that it is purely an exercise in engineering to be able to get it to move into or out of the way of the sensor, in effect being able to turn the effect on and off at will. Of course, the mainstream consumer may balk at paying extra for this, but I would certainly consider it.
