Infrared Basics

[Philly Wood]

Now I am really befuddled. I 'want' to believe you, but I cannot reproduce your suggestions. When I am in MANUAL mode AND NIGHTSHOT, I get a note on the LCD that 'Night Shot is invalid".

I can adjust the F stop and the Shutter speed and even set the ISO to 400 when in this configuration but the LCD is still BLACK with the RM90 IR filter in place.

This black screen is there for EVERY mode except auto and mpeg/movie mode when the camera is set to NIGHT SHOT.

Did you disable something INSIDE the 707 to make it work as a full time infrared camera?

Photoave, you can shoot in manual mode with just the IR filter. Its
gotta be a really sunny day and try using ISO400 too.
You can also shooting at f4 or f4.5,f5.0, etc for better results.

--
-photoave
http://phillywood.com Images of the 156 mile First Union US Pro Bike Race

 

[ZipperZ]

Zipper:

When you take a IR pic at F8 - do you use any filters?

Just the IR filter. nothing else.

Could you please explain a little more for me please - I am a
little confused. I have never taken an IR photo - but I would like
to start.

So - At F8 - what do you do to get that IR shot?

you can effectively get great IR landscape shots with good DOF from f4 up to f8. Note that infrared is best on really really sunny days. You may want to move the ISO also up to suit your needs and results.

read above, ive explained more

Thanks....
Your Local STF Dummy,
Sam

But night shot does not work in manual mode, so to use F8 in
infrared, you would have to modify the cameras internal IR filter
or choose a different camera to use.

Yes shay...you are correct...'nightshot' does not work in manual
mode. If you read my "#2" again i did not mention 'nightshot'. I
personally perfer to shoot in "full manual" mode with F8.

I have some comparison shots i'll have to upload and show you.
My tests were of scenery using both IR methods. The tripod and F8
was by far better than the handheld F2 with ND filters. Its
something that doesnt take a genius to figure out. Thats why it was
so easy for me : )
lol

--
cheers
Zip
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BFS: been there had that...got the t-shirt
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'this fits me to a T'

--
Sam Pyrtle
[email protected]

--
cheers
Zip
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BFS: been there had that...got the t-shirt
Sticker Status: ON...but on upsidedown
Pie Chute: UnCorked
Lens Cap: No dangle at any angle
128mem stick: lost
Real Name: Michael C
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'this fits me to a T'

 

[Shay Stephens]

What he is saying is that you take the photo in manual mode, with the filter on, and not in nightshot mode. I would like to see an example of what the resulting image looks like.

--
Shay

My Sony F707 Gallery: http://www.shaystephens.com/portfolio.asp

 

[Shay Stephens]

The part that had me confused was the impression that IR was completely block in anything but nightshot mode. Thank you very much for the enlightening info

--
Shay

My Sony F707 Gallery: http://www.shaystephens.com/portfolio.asp

 

[Philly Wood]

Zipper please clarify the specific IR filter or 'other' filter youre using.

With my RM90 (which admittedly is a strong dark filter stopping everything below 900nm) I get black.

What he is saying is that you take the photo in manual mode, with
the filter on, and not in nightshot mode. I would like to see an
example of what the resulting image looks like.

If you want an example of what mine would show....simply close your eyes. BLACK in standard mode (not nightshot) regardless of 400 ISO EV+2 and 30 second shutter and F2 thru F8

-photoave
http://phillywood.com Images of the 156 mile First Union US Pro Bike Race

 

[ZipperZ]

Now I am really befuddled. I 'want' to believe you, but I cannot
reproduce your suggestions. When I am in MANUAL mode AND NIGHTSHOT,
I get a note on the LCD that 'Night Shot is invalid".

correct...you cant use "nightshot" in manual mode.

I can adjust the F stop and the Shutter speed and even set the ISO
to 400 when in this configuration but the LCD is still BLACK with
the RM90 IR filter in place.

If its sunny where you are go outside put your camera at full manual. Set the aperture at f4.5 and your shutter speed at say 8secs. Now take a picture of a sunny tree. You should see a red image when you review your shot in the LCD. If its too dark, go to f4, or f3.5 etc or change the shutter speed.
What this method of IR shooting is it gives you BETTER DOF

This black screen is there for EVERY mode except auto and
mpeg/movie mode when the camera is set to NIGHT SHOT.

Did you disable something INSIDE the 707 to make it work as a full
time infrared camera?

no

give this a read

http://irdreams.com/how_to_shoot_ir.htm

Photoave, you can shoot in manual mode with just the IR filter. Its
gotta be a really sunny day and try using ISO400 too.
You can also shooting at f4 or f4.5,f5.0, etc for better results.

--
-photoave
http://phillywood.com Images of the 156 mile First Union US Pro
Bike Race

--
cheers
Zip
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
BFS: been there had that...got the t-shirt
Sticker Status: ON...but on upsidedown
Pie Chute: UnCorked
Lens Cap: No dangle at any angle
128mem stick: lost
Real Name: Michael C
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



'this fits me to a T'

 

[ZipperZ]

Zipper please clarify the specific IR filter or 'other' filter
youre using.

Im using a Hoya R72

With my RM90 (which admittedly is a strong dark filter stopping
everything below 900nm) I get black.

Yes...you have the best Hoya IR filter there is. But it comes at a price. The price is losing the ability to take normal sunny day shots.

Theres a chart here on this site.
http://wrotniak.net/photo/infrared/

What he is saying is that you take the photo in manual mode, with
the filter on, and not in nightshot mode. I would like to see an
example of what the resulting image looks like.

If you want an example of what mine would show....simply close your
eyes. BLACK in standard mode (not nightshot) regardless of
400 ISO EV+2 and 30 second shutter and F2 thru F8

because your filter is sooooo high, you have no other choice but to shoot in "nightshot" mode together with ND filters.

-photoave
http://phillywood.com Images of the 156 mile First Union US Pro
Bike Race

--
cheers
Zip
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
BFS: been there had that...got the t-shirt
Sticker Status: ON...but on upsidedown
Pie Chute: UnCorked
Lens Cap: No dangle at any angle
128mem stick: lost
Real Name: Michael C
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



'this fits me to a T'

 

[Philly Wood]

Ok that explains the discrepancy. I thought that was the reason. Well the RM90 isnt mine but a nearby friends. BTW Hoya also makes an RM100.

Im using a Hoya R72
Yes...you have the best Hoya IR filter there is. But it comes at a
price. The price is losing the ability to take normal sunny day
shots.

--
-photoave
http://phillywood.com Images of the 156 mile First Union US Pro Bike Race

 

[JohnK]

Ooops, forgot to mention covering the emitters, so once again, in a nutshell, here's one way to use the 707 to take daylight photographs by infrared radiation:
Cover Infrared emitters on front of lens (tape works)
Attach to lens a 58mm Wratten 87C Infrared filter plus ND.6 and ND.4 filters
Set camera to AUTO Exposure
Set Camera to Nightshot
Set ISO to 100
Set EV to -2
Take pictures, slight underexposure is prefered
Desaturate pics in PS
Levels Adjust to pics in PS



An overgrown lot in between two beach houses, but it has grandeur in infrared
--
JohnK

 

[Steven Painter]

If you want an example of what mine would show....simply close your
eyes. BLACK in standard mode (not nightshot) regardless of
400 ISO EV+2 and 30 second shutter and F2 thru F8

LOL!

I'm using a B+W 093 - I think it's equivalent. On a bright day last weekend I was curious enough to see if I could get a shot in normal mode with the IR filter on.

I did a 30 second exposure (don't remember my aperture) but because I didn't have my tripod handy it was all blurred. Anyway, the point is that I did manage to get a reddish tinted picture. I'll be trying this method out again soon, and I'll be sure to post comparison pics.

Steve

 

[Camera Slug]

You da man, Zip!

My Tiffen 87 should be coming tomorrow.

I've heard people say that they use tape to cover up the sensors near the lens. What type of tape do you use?

Any other, simple, easy methods to cover them up?

Just so my slow and plodding brain can understand what you are
saying...
You are saying you are taking IR photos with the camera in F8?

I have not tried doing this, but I will try now. Any info or
clarification greatly desired ;-)

yes my man shay!
your brain activity is going in the right direction.
"IF" the 707 did not have "nightshot" the best way to shoot IR is
in manual mode with either 'aperture priority' or 'full manual'.
( disclaimer ...take it, your shooting landscapes/scenery and you
would like the best DOF you can get(F8) which only makes sense when
shooting landscapes)
Yeah, you can shoot in full auto if you want but you'll only have a
DOF of F2.
The BIG advantage of having "nightshot" is the ability to "SEE"
what your shooting thru the LCD. But you'll need the ND filters to
tone down the possibility of overexposing your shot while in
nightframing mode. And because of the "nighshot" ability in the
707, this gives you the bonus of shooting handheld because of the
'faster' shutter speeds.

Here some average numbers for and average sunny day.
Manual mode (apert prior or full man)
at f4 - f8, shutter speeds will be from aprox 2secs to 8secs

Auto mode with "nightshot" (require ND filters)
aperture will be at f2 and shutter speeds flutter from 1/40th to
1/60th sec.

Now, im from old school photography and im a firm believer that too
many filters will defeat the purpose of trying to achieve a great
detailed shot. And when your shooting black and white, details is
what its all about.

I cant seem to pull myself to want to shoot in "auto/nightshot"
mode with one or more ND filters, polarizer, skylight and the IR
filter too. Give or take a filter or two.

i hope all this helps.

--
cheers
Zip
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
BFS: been there had that...got the t-shirt
Sticker Status: ON...but on upsidedown
Pie Chute: UnCorked
Lens Cap: No dangle at any angle
128mem stick: lost
Real Name: Michael C
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



'this fits me to a T'

--
Camera Slug
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/cameraslug