So I converted my NX500 to full-spectrum operation...
Dec 23, 2018
12
this morning and it was surprisingly easy to to do. I had no guidance whatsoever about how to disassemble the camera, so I had to figure out everything myself and even though I took my time and worked slowly and carefully, the project took me only just shy of an hour from start to finish.
Here's a photo of the disassembled camera with the sensor ready to have its cover glass / hot filter / dust-shaker assembly removed:

The cover glass, etc. is held in place by two clamps and a rubber gasket, so I can reverse this modification quite easily should I ever wish to do so. Alternatively, I can also install an internal bandpass filter if I would prefer not to used filters on the lens(es).
Although most conversions install replacement cover glass ahead of the sensor, I chose to skip this step, as 1) I didn't have an appropriate piece of glass handy; 2) I intend to use only manual-focus lenses with the converted camera, so I have a bit more leeway about focusing the lens at infinity than a camera using autofocus lenses has.
And with that, here is the first photo I took after I reassembled the camera and confirmed it still worked:

I used a Hoya R72 (720 nm) filter on the lens and did the usual red-blue channel swap as part of my black-and-white conversion process from the raw file. The exposure settings were ISO 100, f5.6, and 1/400, and it was taken handheld. (And with the lens I used -- a Contax 25/f2.8 MMJ -- there is no noticeable hot-spotting through at least f8, making it a great choice for IR photography and especially on a camera with an APS-C sensor.)
Once I settle on the IR bandpass filter I wish to use, I'll probably install an internal filter ahead of the sensor, but for now, leaving the camera full-spectrum provides me with the greatest amount of flexibility while I'm still experimenting with the IR look I wish to create.
I'll report back periodically as I have more results to share, but so far, so good, especially as I haven't spent a penny on this modification and can easily reverse it at any time.