IR filter?

Hi all, I was wondering if it was worth it to get an IR pass filter (B+W 092) for my E-PL6.  My other Olympus cameras have rather strong IR blockers (around 13 stops of light loss) so I was wondering if it was worth it to get a 37mm IR filter or a step down ring 40.5mm-37mm for the 40.5mm IR filter I already own.

Camera sensors already have IR filters.

You could set up a test and see if it improves your image, but I suspect the additional glass may degrade the image.

alexisgreat wrote:

Hi all, I was wondering if it was worth it to get an IR pass filter (B+W 092) for my E-PL6. My other Olympus cameras have rather strong IR blockers (around 13 stops of light loss) so I was wondering if it was worth it to get a 37mm IR filter or a step down ring 40.5mm-37mm for the 40.5mm IR filter I already own.

Use the same IR filter.

Eventually, if you really like doing infrared photos, ask one of your old camera to be converted into an IR cam. You won't need a tripod since about half daylight is infrared rays: the other half (approximatively) is color photons.

https://jpmartel.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/la-photographie-infra-rouge/ (in French)

Spectre38 wrote:

Camera sensors already have IR filters.

But those filters remove almost all IR light.  The BW 092 does the opposite - it removes almost all non-IR light - and you need one for IR photography.

Chris R-UK wrote:

Spectre38 wrote:

Camera sensors already have IR filters.

But those filters remove almost all IR light. The BW 092 does the opposite - it removes almost all non-IR light - and you need one for IR photography.

The funny thing is that the IR blockers on different cameras have different intensities.  For example, on my Fuji HS50, it's a fairly weak one (8.7 stop light penalty for IR, 11 stop light penalty for UV) which allows you to do handheld IR in bright sunlight at ISO 100, even at the long end of the zoom (1000mm EFL!)  I was wondering if the Olympus is like that too, I guess testing it will show it one way or the other  Most modern cams are not as sensitive, my nonFuji cams give me more like an 11-13 stop penalty for IR and a 17 stop penalty for UV!

alexisgreat wrote:

The funny thing is that the IR blockers on different cameras have different intensities.

When you're using an IR-filter in front of a colour camera, the older the camera the better. Because newer cameras have a more effective, thus stronger, IR-blocking filter inside. So there is next to no light reaching the sensor; colour light is blocked by the IR-filter and IR rays are blocked by the anti-IR filter inside the camera.

That's why you'll always get better results with IR-converted cameras.

Why don't you just hold it in front of the camera, or tape it on? That would answer your question.

I tried it with my E-PM2 and the results were ugly. Since then, I have converted it to IR only and the results are good.

There is also an option to just remove the hot mirror filter and replace it by a glass plate - then you could have both "regular" and IR (and UV) photography with the same body. Drawback is that you would then need filters for either option, either an IR blocking (hot mirror) filter, or an IR filter (720nm etc).

View from Cone Peak