A2 - EVF repair and (!) IR conversion

My A2 (one of two I own) has the dreaded flaky EVF problem. On top of that, since I bought a spare (because of the EVF), I figured it would be cool to convert one to IR. I have a Dimage 7 that I've been shooting IR with, but with the filter it's SO slow, and it's got a smaller chip and all.

So I contacted Spencer Camera in Utah, USA and they say they can and will repair the EVF and the standard cost of this is $70. And if I have the conversion to IR done at the same time I get a 20% discount on the whole shebang, so it's going in the mail as soon as I can decide on which IR filter to put on it. I'm thinking the one that does straight black and white.

I'm so excited!

I'll let you know how this all works out.

Oh, and by the way, the person at Spencer says the new flexible circuit thing they put in is sturdier than the original and they also add some protective foam so that I will not have to worry about this any more and can tilt the EVF to my heart's content. It looks like I may have a Dimage 7 to get rid of at some point.

• A.

For the record, the DiMAGE 7 uses the same size sensor as the A2 and it's actually gives fast shutter speeds for shooting IR. In daylight I often shoot my IR images at 1/15 or 1/30 sec at 100 ISO using the Hoya R72 filter and it doesn't contain a hot mirror filter.
Dick

Digital Dick wrote:

For the record, the DiMAGE 7 uses the same size sensor as the A2 and it's actually gives fast shutter speeds for shooting IR. In daylight I often shoot my IR images at 1/15 or 1/30 sec at 100 ISO using the Hoya R72 filter and it doesn't contain a hot mirror filter.
Dick

I don't understand. My understanding is that the Dimage 7 is (like the A1) a 5 megapixel chip, while the A2 is an 8 megapixel chip. How can you say these are the same size?

I agree with your exposure experience. I don't consider 1/15 of a second in bright daylight as fast! My understanding is that with the conversion the speed will be more comparable to the camera's normal ISO.

So it is very possible that I am all screwed up, but what you are saying does not coincide with my understanding.

• A.

RogerRex wrote:

I'm relatively new to IR. I found this book (see link) helpful in determining which option to select when converting and for many other issues related to IR.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_28?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=digital+infrared+photography&sprefix=digital+infrared+photography%2Caps%2C434

Thanks. I also found a lot of helpful info on the SpencerCamera.com site itself. I'll go check out the book.

• A.

A Subset wrote:

Thanks. I also found a lot of helpful info on the SpencerCamera.com site itself.

• A.

Sorry, that's Spencerscamera.com

A Subset wrote:

Digital Dick wrote:

For the record, the DiMAGE 7 uses the same size sensor as the A2 and it's actually gives fast shutter speeds for shooting IR. In daylight I often shoot my IR images at 1/15 or 1/30 sec at 100 ISO using the Hoya R72 filter and it doesn't contain a hot mirror filter.
Dick

I don't understand. My understanding is that the DiMAGE 7 is (like the A1) a 5 megapixel chip, while the A2 is an 8 megapixel chip. How can you say these are the same size?

They are the same size sensor. Both sensors are of a physical size known as "2/3rds." Please note that pixel count (Megapixels) is separate from the sensor size.

Actual dimensions of the DiMAGE 7 and A2 respective sensors is 8.8 x 6.6mm , making them amongst the biggest sensors ever fitted to what are now known as "super-zoom" type cameras.

Image diagonal is 11mm. Crop factor compared with FF35mm is 4 , making the frame area approximately 1/16th that of full frame 35mm film.
--
Regards,
Baz

"Ahh... But the thing is, they were not just ORDINARY time travellers!"

Barrie Davis wrote:

They are the same size sensor. Both sensors are of a physical size known as "2/3rds." Please note that pixel count (Megapixels) is separate from the sensor size.
Baz

Thanks Baz for the clarification. I guess that's kinda like saying a one dollar bill is the same size as a hundred dollar bill. (Although the ratio is different.)

It depends on which dimension you're measuring.

• A.

Yes they both use the same size sensor. The difference being that the DiMAGE 7 has fewer but larger pixels which in theory gives less resolution but also less noise. In reality, my KM A200 (using the same sensor size) does give noticeably higher resolution and about the same noise level as my DiMAGE 7. Presumably the better than expected noise level in the A200 relates to the three years in general noise reduction improvements between the two cameras.

The other advantage of the DiMAGE 7 was that it used its own Minolta color space which gave wonderful colors. My A200 allows use of either sRGB or AdobeRGB color space but I miss the Minolta color space.
Dick

Digital Dick wrote:

The other advantage of the DiMAGE 7 was that it used its own Minolta color space which gave wonderful colors. My A200 allows use of either sRGB or AdobeRGB color space but I miss the Minolta color space.
Dick

I bought, and consistently use, the X-rite Colorchecker Passport system for color. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this tool! I always (almost) shoot RAW, so Minolta's color space is not an issue. But I do agree, the Dimage 7 has a nice color space.

Thanks for your thoughts.

• A.

SAY, aren't you the guy who did the lens correction profile thingie for PhotoShop and Lightroom? If you are, I must say that I have tried every possible thing I can think of to get Lightroom to recognize the file for my A2 and can't get it to. I've spent DAYS pulling out hair and pushing buttons to no avail. If you have any helpful ideas in that regard I promise to take back all of those bad things I've been saying about you!

Yes, I posted a link to the lens correction profile I had created for my Konica Minolta A200. I had tried to upload it to Adobe's database but it never showed up there. So I made it available for downloading from one of my own websites. It's a little tricky finding where to put it on your computer so that both Camera Raw for Photoshop and Lightroom can both find it. The filename for my profile was DiMAGE A200.lcp . If you are running Windows 7 or Vista, I think it will be found by Photoshop and Lightroom if you put it into the Minolta folder in the path C: ProgramData/Adobe/CameraRaw/LensProfiles/1.0/Minolta .

The proper location will be different if you are running XP or on a Mac. If you need the profile I think I can email it.
Dick

Digital Dick wrote:

The filename for my profile was DiMAGE A200.lcp . If you are running Windows 7 or Vista, I think it will be found by Photoshop and Lightroom if you put it into the Minolta folder in the path C: ProgramData/Adobe/CameraRaw/LensProfiles/1.0/Minolta .
Dick

Thanks for replying, Dick. I have the file, but can't get it to be found by Lightroom. I'm running Win7/64 and I have it in the directory you show above. I also have it in a directory called"Konica Minolta," and that brand name doesn't show up at all in Lightroom. I also have it in several other places where Adobe seems to sometimes put these files. But no matter what I've done, where I've put the file, it won't show up in Lightroom. One interesting thing I've noticed is that if I go into Lightroom 3.6 (in the Develop module) and bring down the list of cameras from which to choose a profile, "Minolta" shows up, but only a profile that I tried to create in the Lens Profile Creator program. It is listed under Minolta and is the only file that shows, but it is no good (I didn't do a good job creating the profile). I've put your file into the same directory as that one and it won't show up from there either. This is driving me nutz.

This is so strange. I can select another camera brand and then select one of the lenses from that brand and it will modify the image displayed, so I know that part works, but your file is simply invisible to Lightroom.

Any more thoughts?

• A.

Try putting it into:
C:\Users\Dick\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\LensProfiles\1.0\Minolta
Dick

Digital Dick wrote:

Try putting it into:
C:\Users\Dick\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\LensProfiles\1.0\Minolta
Dick

That's the first place I put it, as per your instructions in the thread where you posted it originally. I just checked and I still have a copy there, among other places. No happy face.

• A.

K5ZYZ wrote:

I have a Minolta DiMage 7 that has erratic display. Does anyone know of a reputable service center? Reply to " steifermaninc@gmail.com ".

Rather than digging up an 8 year old zombie thread about a different topic , it would be best if you started your own thread when asking for advice .

The person you replied to was last seen May 3rd , 2016 , so it would be a surprise if they reply !

Maybe title it "Minolta repair shop in **** "

Saying where in the world you are might be handy as your asking on an international forum , and we have no idea what country you are even in .

Parts are likely to be an issue after the best part of 20 years !

A repair , if possible , might cost you between £40 - £100 .

A replacement camera would probably cost about £15 - £20 .

Hope this helps .