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Any Nikon Z infrared users?

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dreyko

dreyko

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Just ordered a used z6 to send out for conversion, couple questions.

Anyone running a full spectrum? I can't seem to find many shots with the external hot mirror filter, makes me think this works less well than they say.

Leaning towards a 720nm, my d700 is a 720nm, pretty happy with it but could be convinced to try a 665nm. 90% of the shots will be b+w, but my color shots currently take a lot of work to get vibrant enough.

Any issues with the z6 in infrared? Ive seen banding issues, looks overblown to me but I could be wrong.

Thanks!
 
dreyko said:
Just ordered a used z6 to send out for conversion, couple questions.

Anyone running a full spectrum? I can't seem to find many shots with the external hot mirror filter, makes me think this works less well than they say.

Leaning towards a 720nm, my d700 is a 720nm, pretty happy with it but could be convinced to try a 665nm. 90% of the shots will be b+w, but my color shots currently take a lot of work to get vibrant enough.

Any issues with the z6 in infrared? Ive seen banding issues, looks overblown to me but I could be wrong.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Jason Odell and Rick Walker had a discussion of IR cameras and lenses for the Nikon Z system last year on their Image Doctors podcast. They have had several follow ups on lenses.

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luminescentphoto.com

The short answer is they really like shooting IR with the Z6, but lenses have been a challenge. You'll want to take a good look at Z lenses for potential hotspots. I've never heard any concerns about banding from Jason.

I don't recall why he did not choose full spectrum, but I recall there were some issues with trying to use a full spectrum conversion for conventional photography.

I've got a D600 converted to IR with a 665nm conversion by Lifepixel. I also have a D200 with an 830nm conversion. Overall I like having color detail associates with 665nm conversions, but post processing is much more complicated. An 830nm conversion lacks color detail for local edits, but can be white balanced in the camera. The 665nm conversion required me to create my own IR Profile to get a good WB in Lightroom. The 665nm conversion has more color detail so it's much easier to produce nice and vibrant color work.
 
Slightly off topic, but I converted my D5000 to IR last year. I still struggle with post-processing. I wish DPR would have a separate forum for IR since they have forums for other limited interests like underwater, DYI experiments, and 3D.
 
A friend of mine has a full spectrum Z6. Here is a link to a sample gallery at a single location with several different filters.

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www.images-captured.com

He likes it!
 
dreyko said:
ericbowles said:
A friend of mine has a full spectrum Z6. Here is a link to a sample gallery at a single location with several different filters.

https://www.images-captured.com/f98616453

He likes it!
Click to expand...
So his visual spectrum shots are with an external hot filter? Could I contact him? I would love to pick his brain about it.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Bill is active on Nikonians and posted the link there in the Z forum. His contact info is on his website. He's also made several posts there in the Infrared forum.
 
_zedagive said:
Slightly off topic, but I converted my D5000 to IR last year. I still struggle with post-processing. I wish DPR would have a separate forum for IR since they have forums for other limited interests like underwater, DYI experiments, and 3D.
Click to expand...
Can help out a little bit. You need to set the custom white balance out in the field,
  • Been using the Expo Disc 2.0
  • But a white balance card will probably also do the trick.
Since I been getting the white balance correct in the field, have very little to do in post.

Agreed that we need an IR forum. (BTW, came across this thread because about every 5 days, do a DPReview-wide forum search for 'infrared'. Though I toyed w. the idea of going Z-mount for infrared, ended up going Sony FF instead because of the lens selection.)

Niels
 
Speak to Neil Burnell on twitter or instagram, he's converted his z7 & might be able to provide more info.
 
I'm happy to see this thread and YES an infrared forum would be great.

I'm about to get a z5 converted, probably to 720nm. I've been using an XT1 590nm conversion for years and want to take the next step. I am pretty much only doing B&W; I always have a 720 or 760 or 850nm filter on.

I am also thinking about full spectrum...I would not really care about the visual spectrum but it might be cool to have both UV and IR as possibilities. Seems that lenses that are good with UV are few and far between though.

I've used Fujifilm lenses, but am having a lot of fun with Nikon AI and AIS lenses (28mm 3.5, 55mm 3.5 macro, 105mm 2.5); I will probably start there with the z5 but it is great to know that some of the Z lenses are workable, especially the 24-70! That's great news.

A couple of questions:

1. Is there any reason to think that the banding issue would be worse with IR than normally? Seems that it is basically a non-issue in normal photography (let's start calling non-IR photographers "normies") unless one REALLY brightens the shadows; in my IR, I am typically doing the opposite and really never trying to brighten the blacks or shadows so it seems like it might be even less of a problem with IR, unless there is something I am missing.

2. I had my xt1 done at Lifepixel and was happy with it. But, I see that Kolari vision has an AR coating (for an extra $100)--anybody have experience with it? Does it really help?

How do we lobby for an IR forum? Maybe a weekly post in the Open Forum for sharing Infrared shots?



8897aa4291dc40e7a984f56f06435be7.jpg



--
My Photos
 
I have been graciously given access to some raw files from a full spectrum z6 and have subsequently sent mine off.

It will get a full spectrum conversion from lifepixel with bandpass, 590nm, and 720nm filters.

looks like my d700 is actually a 665nm or thereabouts, color falls in between both, but it has a fair bit of reddish orange tone in the yellows. I always assumed it was 720nm...

Now to find some other filters to aspire to!

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/132181665@N03/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8PA2IzZUsjQ6Zfoswu0VFw
Www.watermarkimaging.com
 
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dreyko said:
Just ordered a used z6 to send out for conversion, couple questions.

Anyone running a full spectrum? I can't seem to find many shots with the external hot mirror filter, makes me think this works less well than they say.

Leaning towards a 720nm, my d700 is a 720nm, pretty happy with it but could be convinced to try a 665nm. 90% of the shots will be b+w, but my color shots currently take a lot of work to get vibrant enough.

Any issues with the z6 in infrared? Ive seen banding issues, looks overblown to me but I could be wrong.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Personally, I have a full spectrum converted camera. This gives me a choice of what visible cut/IR pass to use by adding a filter (or none at all). Gives more flexibility. It works very well.
 
Richard B99 said:
dreyko said:
Just ordered a used z6 to send out for conversion, couple questions.

Anyone running a full spectrum? I can't seem to find many shots with the external hot mirror filter, makes me think this works less well than they say.

Leaning towards a 720nm, my d700 is a 720nm, pretty happy with it but could be convinced to try a 665nm. 90% of the shots will be b+w, but my color shots currently take a lot of work to get vibrant enough.

Any issues with the z6 in infrared? Ive seen banding issues, looks overblown to me but I could be wrong.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Personally, I have a full spectrum converted camera. This gives me a choice of what visible cut/IR pass to use by adding a filter (or none at all). Gives more flexibility. It works very well.
Click to expand...
I'm curious what a pic would look like on a full spectrum camera with no filter at all...a blend of UV, visible, and IR? And you probably have very fast shutter speeds, right?

Also, I'm probably wrong but it seems to me that full spectrum cameras filtered to visible light only don't look quite...right. The samples I've seem are sometimes super-saturated, or otherwise look not quite real. Any thoughts?

--
My Photos
 
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Montanawildlives said:
Richard B99 said:
dreyko said:
Just ordered a used z6 to send out for conversion, couple questions.

Anyone running a full spectrum? I can't seem to find many shots with the external hot mirror filter, makes me think this works less well than they say.

Leaning towards a 720nm, my d700 is a 720nm, pretty happy with it but could be convinced to try a 665nm. 90% of the shots will be b+w, but my color shots currently take a lot of work to get vibrant enough.

Any issues with the z6 in infrared? Ive seen banding issues, looks overblown to me but I could be wrong.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Personally, I have a full spectrum converted camera. This gives me a choice of what visible cut/IR pass to use by adding a filter (or none at all). Gives more flexibility. It works very well.
Click to expand...
I'm curious what a pic would look like on a full spectrum camera with no filter at all...a blend of UV, visible, and IR? And you probably have very fast shutter speeds, right?
Click to expand...
1st is with no filter, from a full spectrum converted Sony a6300. 2nd is from the same camera with the Life Pixel visible light filter.








Montanawildlives said:
Also, I'm probably wrong but it seems to me that full spectrum cameras filtered to visible light only don't look quite...right. The samples I've seem are sometimes super-saturated, or otherwise look not quite real. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Tried both the Kolari Vision & Life Pixel visible light visible light filters. Both were acceptable, but the Life Pixel filter had a slightly warmer white balance; could not tell, until I looked at the same composition side-by-side.

Had Life Pixel perform 2 conversions: Full Spectrum & 830nm. Regret the later --> Should have stuck w. Full Spectrum. :(

Niels

--
“Photography is inspired by beauty, captured with passion.”
? Destin Sparks
 

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nkistrup said:
Tried both the Kolari Vision & Life Pixel visible light visible light filters. Both were acceptable, but the Life Pixel filter had a slightly warmer white balance; could not tell, until I looked at the same composition side-by-side.

Had Life Pixel perform 2 conversions: Full Spectrum & 830nm. Regret the later --> Should have stuck w. Full Spectrum. :(

Niels
Click to expand...
 
dreyko said:
nkistrup said:
Tried both the Kolari Vision & Life Pixel visible light visible light filters. Both were acceptable, but the Life Pixel filter had a slightly warmer white balance; could not tell, until I looked at the same composition side-by-side.

Had Life Pixel perform 2 conversions: Full Spectrum & 830nm. Regret the later --> Should have stuck w. Full Spectrum. :(

Niels
Click to expand...
Did you notice any other differences between the filters? Likely will add a 665nm and an 830nn filter later to my kit and could go either way. I am partial to keeping it in the same brand family unless there is a reason not to.
Click to expand...
NOPE! And I know that I did a lot of pixel peeping.

Hypothetically, if the Sony A7iii bites the dust, it would be replaced with a Full Spectrum camera & a Life Pixel visible light filter; personal preference strictly because it wasn't 'better' than Kolari Vision, just different.
 
nkistrup said:
dreyko said:
nkistrup said:
Tried both the Kolari Vision & Life Pixel visible light visible light filters. Both were acceptable, but the Life Pixel filter had a slightly warmer white balance; could not tell, until I looked at the same composition side-by-side.

Had Life Pixel perform 2 conversions: Full Spectrum & 830nm. Regret the later --> Should have stuck w. Full Spectrum. :(

Niels
Click to expand...
Did you notice any other differences between the filters? Likely will add a 665nm and an 830nn filter later to my kit and could go either way. I am partial to keeping it in the same brand family unless there is a reason not to.
Click to expand...
NOPE! And I know that I did a lot of pixel peeping.

Hypothetically, if the Sony A7iii bites the dust, it would be replaced with a Full Spectrum camera & a Life Pixel visible light filter; personal preference strictly because it wasn't 'better' than Kolari Vision, just different.
Click to expand...
 
Montanawildlives said:
Richard B99 said:
dreyko said:
Just ordered a used z6 to send out for conversion, couple questions.

Anyone running a full spectrum? I can't seem to find many shots with the external hot mirror filter, makes me think this works less well than they say.

Leaning towards a 720nm, my d700 is a 720nm, pretty happy with it but could be convinced to try a 665nm. 90% of the shots will be b+w, but my color shots currently take a lot of work to get vibrant enough.

Any issues with the z6 in infrared? Ive seen banding issues, looks overblown to me but I could be wrong.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Personally, I have a full spectrum converted camera. This gives me a choice of what visible cut/IR pass to use by adding a filter (or none at all). Gives more flexibility. It works very well.
Click to expand...
I'm curious what a pic would look like on a full spectrum camera with no filter at all...a blend of UV, visible, and IR? And you probably have very fast shutter speeds, right?
Click to expand...
I’m not a huge fan of using the full spectrum in full sunlight. The result very much depends on how the WB is set but the company who did mine supplied a preset. Exposure is broadly like visible light but, you are right, it tends to overexpose a bit but that’s easily sorted. UV end tends to create a bit of general haze which again isn’t unsurprising. IR does bring out the light foliage (reddish in colour) which differentiates from a visible wavelength shot. Overall it looks a bit strange but hard to put your finger on why if you dont know. If I did much like this I’d at least ad a normal UV cut or a specialist UV end filter (expensive).

Things get more interesting in woodlands as UV is blocked and the IR kicks in without filters.

I tend to go quite quickly to a 720nm IR pass filter that gives exactly the same result as a 720nm conversion. I’d originally intended to get some other types too but haven’t got around to it. What interests me is a Kolarivision IR Chrome (for Kodak AeroChrome film effect) but the carriage and import duty makes these rather pricy in the UK). As spring is approaching I’m kind of tempted again...

For me though, it’s night photography with IR illumination (of wildlife) that really interests me. Here no filter is needed other than over the speedlights (Perspex IR pass works perfectly and is cheap). I’m really enjoying this and hoping to do more as we emerge from another lockdown. For me, I’m usually processing to Monochrome so a bit of background visible spectrum isn’t an issue here.

For me, going full spectrum was all about flexibility but I’ve barely scratched the surface yet. It’s even possible I think to convert with a single filter back to visible only though I haven’t tried that either as I’ve got other bodies.
Montanawildlives said:
Also, I'm probably wrong but it seems to me that full spectrum cameras filtered to visible light only don't look quite...right. The samples I've seem are sometimes super-saturated, or otherwise look not quite real. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
I don’t really know as a filter for visible light is again quite pricy. So doing it for an experiment isn’t something I’m likely to do. However, as IR photos generally involve post processing I’d not be surprised if a fair bit of over saturation happening here in the examples you have seen.

HTH
 
Richard B99 said:
What interests me is a Kolarivision IR Chrome (for Kodak AeroChrome film effect) but the carriage and import duty makes these rather pricy in the UK). As spring is approaching I’m kind of tempted again...
Click to expand...
Tried the Kolari Vision IR Chrome filter, and it was hit-or-miss ... mostly miss. But most likely, this was a Sony body issue. (Kolari Vision mentioned that on their web site.)

Found it very difficult to tweak the white balance, to make this work. But on the few occasions that I nailed it, produced some interesting results.
 
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