Old vehicles at Shuttleworth Collection

Skip py wrote:

Please don't apologise for "hijacking this thread"!
Your information about IR important to me.

Hi Barry

I bought a converted K01 second hand for its compatibility with my KA/F-mount lenses. Probably the better bet I made! Its bad reputation was exactly what I needed: a low cost brick with the look of a toy. Mine is just black, not yellow, but almost ... inconspicuous? Well, until I add a huge magnetic optical viewfinder on the rear screen : that reminds me of what I saw with my old Yashica Mat 124G's ground glass (that I still miss). DA 15mm is a gem for IR on APS-C: perfect in visible light, only a few drawbacks in IR when the sun is in the picture, but really good from my point of view.

MILC seems easier to use : simple conversion without the additional process of adjustments for just one lens and/or a specific wavelenght!!

I'm hoping not to have a camera converted. This means that I need a camera with enough IR sensitivity, suitable visible-light elimination-filters, plus a tripod!

I've been trying to discover whether the Canon Ra has more sensitivity across the IR spectrum than other cameras.
(I've asked in the Canon RF Talk forum, without answers that I'm confident with).

It has 4x the sensitivity at Hydrogen-Alpha, 656.28nm, which is at the red end of the visible spectrum.
But is this narrow-pass, with conventional IR filtration thereafter? 
Or does it also have extra broad-pass IR sensitivity compared with other cameras?

If the latter, it may be the "perfect" camera for IR landscape photography.
(At a massive price which I currently can't afford!)

In complement of Kolary or LifePixel websites and the likes, you will find on this site informations from a real user about the versatilty of such a game changer in landscape and IR photography (it would be the same with almost every MILC on the market) : "full spectrum".

http://infraedd.blogspot.com/2014/04/cameras-sony-a7-converted-to-full.html

Thank you!

That is a super resource that I was unaware of.
It'll keep me busy for weeks!

If you're building a system with Canon R/RP/RF* you should also have a look at full spectrum conversions (drawbacks and advantages) : the Canon drop-in filter adapter should be the ideal complement to select your normal/IR wavelengths in the field with the good filter! That's the kind of "K New" I was expecting/dreaming from Pentax a few years ago : filters behind the KAF mount in the body (just one step further than their IR cameras : 645Z, K-1 and KP for institutional buyers only ! What a shame). More cost effective, only replacing normal by full spectrum sensors in small batchs for professionals ... and amateurs.

I had my Pentax K-7 converted.
Not full-spectrum: instead visible-light elimination, maximum IR sensitivity.

Regarding the lenses specificities, you will find lots of lens databases on the net, mostly for IR photography (to take with a grain of salt because the results should be slightly different for example at 720nm / 850nm / etc.). Simplified : the older the better for an homogenous response in all wavelenghts. Lots of old Canon EF/TSE should be good. I think that most new lenses are too optimised for visual light and lack something/mood (can't find a word). UV photography is another world: I guess MightyMike will have better advices on compatible lenses and precautious processes needed (I just had a look at a few books and articles yet)

Yes, I'm getting messages that suitable lenses are more important than I had realised.

Feel free to ask by PM if you have more specific questions (if I can answer, but I may say incorrect things that I believe are true, as I'm more interested in the resulting pictures than in the technical details)

Thanks.

... and sorry for hijacking your thread with this long post.

As I said above, your information is important to me!

Regards, Fred

PS:

One more point. After a few search I realised that finally my A7iii is not the great candidate I imagined for a full spectrum conversion because of an internal IR device (used for AF if I'm correct) especially for low light photography (it's the same since the 2nd generation of the A7 and A7R). So, just do your work and find out about your next camera ... before bying in a new system !

A dilemma: new system suitable for IR, or one for action and sports?
(I've made my decision in favour of the latter).