Need advice on which camera to convert or ...

ilikespam · Aug 13, 2014

Hi, i have a nex6 with the 16-50. I just got a sweet deal on a virtually new A3000 with the 18-55 [thailand]. I want to convert one to 2 spectrum (normal and infrared). I'm wondering if I even need or want the A3000. I think it would be a good backup, as I have 3 major trips coming up.

Should I convert the nex to do normal and infrared- I would have to use filters on the lens to do infrared. ThEn I would have the A3000 as a full backup [for normal].

Or

if i convert the A3000, and then the nex6 dies, i would have to use the a3000 as the primary for a while.

Are there other ideas? Should I just convert the a3000 to infrared only and forget the backup idea? Then i wouldn't have to fool around with filters.

Or

should i convert the nex6 and sell the a3000?

I do like the idea of only carrying 1 camera when travelling and am out and about from a hotel.

I can afford it, but I'm cheap, and if i can save some money to spend on other stuff, i'm into that.

Thanks guys.

SQLGuy · Aug 13, 2014

Do you expect to shoot more IR or more visible light? Although the A3000 has a better sensor, the NEX-6 is going to be a nicer camera to shoot with for whichever you do more of.

Also, what lenses do you plan to use for IR? Are there a lot of different filter sizes on them? Do some of them not allow use of filters (legacy fisheye or UWA)? If either or both of these are a "yes", then you probably want to convert to IR and not full-spectrum.

I bought an A3000 specifically to convert it to 750nm IR. It does a pretty good job, but the bad screen, crippled ergonomics, and terrible EVF make shooting with it less pleasant than it could be.

--
A7 with kit lens and a number of legacy lenses (mostly Canon FD); A3000 converted to IR.

ilikespam · Aug 13, 2014

Right now, i have the 100mm Fuji M42 and Sony E 18-55, both take 49mm filters. I might add a 24 or 28mm Caon FD later. Prob that would be all. If I win the lotto, maybe the Sony E 10-18 or 16-70, but generally unlikely.

I am interested in maximizing the versatility of my gear after this is done

nex 6 would have to be dual, as I would want it for normal pics.

a3000 could be dual or IR only. Dual would let it used as a backup for travel.

a UV/IR 49mm filter is about $75 from B&H

Did you use kolari or lfepixel?

captura · Aug 13, 2014

Try to find a Fuji X10, should be about $200-$300 used. This camera is ready-to-go for IR right out of the box. All you need is an R70 40.5mm filter on the end of the lens.

123Mike · Aug 13, 2014

That IR shooting is really weird isn't it? You can't match it using post processing. It's not simply a matter of applying some color filters and trying to fake it. It's truly unique.

I have both the A6000 and A3000, but my wife would get very upset if her pictures are going to come out all weird, but it sure is tempting. What do people come out like in IR? And what happens in low light situations?

Viewr · Aug 13, 2014

Where in Bangkok did you find the deal? And for how much?

I usually shop around Fortune Town but most shops are Canon Nikon oriented. You know of any good Sony resellers in Bangkok?

ilikespam · Aug 14, 2014

Viewr said:
Where in Bangkok did you find the deal? And for how much?

I usually shop around Fortune Town but most shops are Canon Nikon oriented. You know of any good Sony resellers in Bangkok?

I'm in the US-

the deal is at Best Buy- $147 for open box A3000 with 18-55 lens. like new....

I ave 14 days to decide whether to keep it or not.

captura · Aug 14, 2014

ilikespam said:
captura said:

Try to find a Fuji X10, should be about $200-$300 used. This camera is ready-to-go for IR right out of the box. All you need is an R70 40.5mm filter on the end of the lens.

Click to expand...

thanks for the lead. I am going to have to research the fujis..

That is the only Fuji, or indeed the only camera anywhere that I know of anywhere that does not require any conversion to do IR. I already have done quite a lot of research on this, so send me a private message. Currently my X10 is out for repair but when it returns, I will get the filter.

Steve

PS: also, there was a Minolta camera about 8-10 years ago that would also do IR.

captura · Aug 14, 2014

D Cox said:
captura said:

ilikespam said:

captura said:

Try to find a Fuji X10, should be about $200-$300 used. This camera is ready-to-go for IR right out of the box. All you need is an R70 40.5mm filter on the end of the lens.

Click to expand...

thanks for the lead. I am going to have to research the fujis..

Click to expand...

That is the only Fuji, or indeed the only camera anywhere that I know of anywhere that does not require any conversion to do IR. I already have done quite a lot of research on this, so send me a private message. Currently my X10 is out for repair but when it returns, I will get the filter.

Click to expand...

The Sigma DSLRs such as the SD15 also require no conversion. The IR blocking filter can be removed and replaced at any time.

Thanks, good to know!

captura · Aug 14, 2014

ilikespam said:
captura said:

ilikespam said:

captura said:

Try to find a Fuji X10, should be about $200-$300 used. This camera is ready-to-go for IR right out of the box. All you need is an R70 40.5mm filter on the end of the lens.

Click to expand...

thanks for the lead. I am going to have to research the fujis..

Click to expand...

That is the only Fuji, or indeed the only camera anywhere that I know of anywhere that does not require any conversion to do IR. I already have done quite a lot of research on this, so send me a private message. Currently my X10 is out for repair but when it returns, I will get the filter.

Steve

PS: also, there was a Minolta camera about 8-10 years ago that would also do IR.

Click to expand...

thanks, will send a PM. I have an old Nikon Coolpix 4500 with a 670nm filter, that does IR, but needs a tripod and the viewfinder/LCD is so small, I have trouble, with my eyeglasses.

OK, I'll get to my e-mail, later. Interesting about that Sigma DSLR too; didn't know about that.

captura · Aug 14, 2014

With the Sigma DSLR's apparently you still need to use this software:

"Sigma Photo Pro 5 then converts the red-tinted X3F RAW files to professional quality monochrome TIFFs."

http://blog.sigmaphoto.com/2012/sigma-sd1-and-sd15-for-digital-infrared-photography-by-jack-howard/

With the X10 you don't need any. But the Sigma SD1 or SD15 with IR blocking filter removed, will be faster.

123Mike · Aug 14, 2014

ilikespam said:
Viewr said:

Where in Bangkok did you find the deal? And for how much?

I usually shop around Fortune Town but most shops are Canon Nikon oriented. You know of any good Sony resellers in Bangkok?

Click to expand...

I'm in the US-

the deal is at Best Buy- $147 for open box A3000 with 18-55 lens. like new....

I ave 14 days to decide whether to keep it or not.

Good grief, THAT low? I'd almost get a backup backup for that low... The A3000 might not be liked by many, but the end results can be very good from it. The 18-55 lens is also not too shabby.

SQLGuy · Aug 14, 2014

ilikespam said:
Right now, i have the 100mm Fuji M42 and Sony E 18-55, both take 49mm filters. I might add a 24 or 28mm Caon FD later. Prob that would be all. If I win the lotto, maybe the Sony E 10-18 or 16-70, but generally unlikely.

I am interested in maximizing the versatility of my gear after this is done

nex 6 would have to be dual, as I would want it for normal pics.

a3000 could be dual or IR only. Dual would let it used as a backup for travel.

a UV/IR 49mm filter is about $75 from B&H

Did you use kolari or lfepixel?

Neither. Mine was done by a guy in Boston through eBay. http://www.ebay.com/usr/image-laboratory?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2754

If you do full-spectrum but still plan to use it for visible light photography, you may want to get a screw-on hot filter as well... probably another $75...

SQLGuy · Aug 14, 2014

123Mike said:
That IR shooting is really weird isn't it? You can't match it using post processing. It's not simply a matter of applying some color filters and trying to fake it. It's truly unique.

I have both the A6000 and A3000, but my wife would get very upset if her pictures are going to come out all weird, but it sure is tempting. What do people come out like in IR? And what happens in low light situations?

People look pretty normal, except for the eyes being a bit different.

This is near-IR, not far-IR, so it's not night vision heat signature imaging. Low light with IR is similar to low light in visible light. A regular flash puts out a lot of IR, but you can also get IR illuminators and IR-only flashes, so that the illumination is not visible to the naked eye.

ilikespam · Aug 14, 2014

Unless I change my mind..lol

gonna send in the Nex6 with 18-55 lens for full spectrum conversion. Use the hot mirror filter for normal photog amd a R72 for IR. lifepixel convinced me to use them. Prob run about $500 all in.

keep the A3000 for a backup travel camera. Or maybe pair with a 100mm lens, for travel.

SQLGuy · Aug 14, 2014

ilikespam said:
Unless I change my mind..lol

gonna send in the Nex6 with 18-55 lens for full spectrum conversion. Use the hot mirror filter for normal photog amd a R72 for IR. lifepixel convinced me to use them. Prob run about $500 all in.

keep the A3000 for a backup travel camera. Or maybe pair with a 100mm lens, for travel.

Cool! When you get it back, can you check whether your camera is as susceptible to sensor reflections as mine seems to be: http://3.static.img-dpreview.com/files/p/TS560x560~forums/54010438/a19ec428f2da4f1795b1f581feafa7f7

Thanks,

Paul

captura · Aug 14, 2014

ilikespam said:
Unless I change my mind..lol

gonna send in the Nex6 with 18-55 lens for full spectrum conversion. Use the hot mirror filter for normal photog amd a R72 for IR. lifepixel convinced me to use them. Prob run about $500 all in.

keep the A3000 for a backup travel camera. Or maybe pair with a 100mm lens, for travel.

Please remember that there are some models of cameras that can NEVER be converted successfully. Those are the ones that show a large 'spot' and that cannot be changed or removed.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=ir+c...source=hp&gfe_rd=cr&ei=0pntU5vHEoeN8QemwYGADg

"I'm considering a 720 IR conversion on a Nex-5N. I haven't seen much discussion about IR-converted NEX cameras, but the little that I have found suggests that at least some E-mount lenses have hot spots, and some don't give sharp images in the IR wavelengths. Has anyone found a hot spot free E-mount lens (not a manual focus lens used with an adapter) that gives nice, well focused IR images?"

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3539086

"Sep 26, 2012 - Nex Infrared Converted Cameras + Join Group ... I'm wanting something sharper than the 18-55, and a lens that doesn't hotspot so much."

https://www.flickr.com/groups/2133648@N22/discuss/

The X10 is sooo much easier!

captura · Aug 15, 2014

ilikespam said:
I have another old camera a Canon A610 that's been sitting in a drawer for the past 5 or 6 years. Great little camera for what it was. It turns out, it's IR sensitive.

This is a test file. I installed CHDK and made a .DNG, but still not quite sure how to process etc. I may open it up and remove the IR blocking filter. It's just a $10 camera... Save myself some $ from having the NEX converted.

I was also thinking about my travels to odd places and I don't want trouble with them, using the aqua UVIR cut filter.

This is handheld with a 670nm filter held over the lens.

Normally not something I would attempt but if you don't need the camera, why not? Hope it works out for you.

john-photoguy · Aug 16, 2014

I have a Life Pixel converted NEX3 with the clear cover glass. I find that I enjoy the 720 filter the best. The IR Cut filter I have is a much different profile than the filter that was originally on the camera, and I don't like using it outdoors for full spectrum work. I still have not tried a UV filter.

But I am happy with the choice, and the work by Life Pixel.

ilikespam · Aug 16, 2014

john-photoguy said:
I have a Life Pixel converted NEX3 with the clear cover glass. I find that I enjoy the 720 filter the best. The IR Cut filter I have is a much different profile than the filter that was originally on the camera, and I don't like using it outdoors for full spectrum work. I still have not tried a UV filter.

But I am happy with the choice, and the work by Life Pixel.

--
Let just all take more photographs!

which IR cit filter do you have- lifepixel told me to get the Xnite CCP1

Need advice on which camera to convert or ...

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