Chris and Jordan are joined once again by Don Komarechka – part photographer, part mad scientist – to explore the incredible possibilities of shooting with UV lights. The results are vibrant, unpredictable and other-worldly, and with the right equipment, you can try it at home too.
I've been doing UVIVF using a lamp made from a single LED that was made using a heat sink, ZWB2 filter, and resistors. There were problems along the way, but eventually I had a design that worked. Panasonic S series Full Frames are incredible, and I really have wanted to sell all of my equipment for one. The main thing that's great about them is how well designed they are, though the ability to make clean images in limited light is also excellent.
You need a big warning in text to add to these pages that if you want to do any work in UV buy and wear UVex Amber glasses or goggles. This is important for eye protection. As just as your quick filter test shows different glasses will leak. You can't just wear any polycarbonate plastic. Even the UVex Orange glasses leak 380nm.
To get at your filter question look up the difference between dichroic filters and absorbing filters. Thats why you see the angle dependence on blocking. Dichroic, are interesting that way and used to make very thin filters.
This did look fun. I typically photograph UV reflectance in most wavelengths. But do play with UV fluorescence as well. The advantage of UV fluorescence photography shown here is you don't need a full spectrum converted camera. Although Olympus cameras have the weakest UV sensor blocking filters and can be used for 370nm and up without conversion.
Interesting., andf thank you, but more information would help. The ultraviolet is divided into three broad ranges: A, B and C. LED UV flashlights barely reach into UVA, 315–400 nm, and that appears to be what was used in the video. UVA is comparatively innocuous, and moderate use would not necessitate UV-blocking goggles (in fact, they should have been tested, as were the camera filters -- do they block UVA?).
UVB and UVC are progressively shorter wavelengths, capable of damaging the eye and skin with short exposure. However, some fluorescent minerals require the shorter wavelength to fluoresce, or fluoresce in different colors than in UVA. UVB is often generated by gas-discharge lamps.
It would also have been interesting to see photos without a filter, i.e. relying on actual UV getting through the sensor filter, not just fluorescence photos.
The flashlights used were equipped with LG LEUVA33U70RL00 LEDs filtered through ZWB2 glass, so there us virtually zero UVC radiation. While you're right that the immediately impact of UVC (often used to sterilize labs and hospital equipment) would not be present, I wouldn't even trust my bare hands around UVC lights.
UVB can damage your eyes, with studies suggesting cataracts will form at younger ages for individuals exposed to UVB on a regular basis, but I don't know if there is conclusive evidence for exactly what that cut-off wavelength is, so the glasses are still a decent measure here.
I have done significant work in UV reflectance, revealing patterns in flowers. It's so niche and specialized in terms of equipment though - so it wouldn't find nearly the same audience in the general photography realm.
Also, I have some shortwave UV lamps for minerals, but there is always a purple light bleed. The only fix is the uber-expensive MidOpt BP250 filter. Maybe some day. :)
Typically UVA is referred to as 320nm to 400nm UVB is 290nm to 320nm, and UVC is 100nm to 290nm. There isn't a hard cut off and people use different numbers for convenience. I like the mercury lines as an easier UV source. The LED flashlights will have different peaks in UV. Don mentioned he was using a Convoy which is typically just a 365nm ligh. But there are other LEDs at 390, 380, 340nm. Also some in the UVC range. Leds have a tighter spectra output. ZWB (Chinese filters) are very cheap and can leak into 405nm or more. So not much use in adding a ZWB2 to a Convoy. Better to filter with a U340 filter.
I've made a UV lamp myself out of a single 365nm LED, which emitted an immense amount of visible light. I used a ZWB2 filter in front of it and it blocked the visible light, or the vast majority of it. It was enough to create UVIVF photos.
@MacM545, The main problem with ZWB glass is there are at least 5 different Chinese manufacturers all with different standards and cuts. I have a good version of ZWB1 and ZWB2 filters that I purchased directly and are good. But many have not been that lucky. A lot of ZWB2 glass leaks into visible significantly and may not be useful. However, 405nm is excellent for inducing fluorescence. So even with a little leak, you might be seeing that. Also 455 and 488nm are good excitation wavelengths. So some people may be looking at blue excitation and seeing red or IR fluorescence. Flowers and fruits have quite nice red fluorescence from blue excitation.
The LG or Nichia LEDs used in Convoy flashlights are generally pretty good to start with, and (at least on the flashlights I have), the visible light cut-off with the ZWB2 filter is almost as good as other options I have here in studio: XNite 330C + XNite BP1 (the best) or Hoya U-340 + MidOpt BP365 (bleeds IR from full-spectrum light sources, but the camera blocks that). I'd say it's about 95% as pure, but when playing with minerals or artificial inks, it's more than good enough.
Inherently, UV lights do not cover a wide spectrum (white light from LEDs is often achieved through fluorescence). With a peak of 365nm on these diodes, it's safe to say that there is no significant issue of UVB or UVC light; such diodes that emit those wavelengths are much more expensive and specialized! The ZWB2 glass also cuts these more dangerous wavelengths considerably.
dbateman, UVIVF isn't the only game in town, vis-to-vis and vis-to-ir fluorescence can also be fun as you suggest!
i'd really like to know why that HOYA filter is letting more UV-light through off-axis. I wonder if that is also the case with sunglasses, after all HOYA is a producer of spectacle glas. I worry that UV protection on sunglasses (that is standard nowadays) might be just as "faulty" in some cases and therefore harmful. Testing for certiification might actually only be checking the on-axis efficiency of the UV filter....
To the best of my research it's because the Hoya filter is using optical interference coatings to block the UV (and IR) light with this filter, and such coatings behave differently when light hits from a different angle. The angular shift means that light will take longer to pass between different coating layers, disrupting the normally-intended interference pattern.
The same (or similar) coatings are likely used on glass filters in front of our sensors, but the light hitting those filters cannot come from such an oblique angle.
The Zeiss T* on the other hand doesn't use interference as a method of blocking UV light, it simply absorbs it - and also fluoresces slightly while it's at it. :)
My flickr page has photos of scropions under UV, it takes a lot of time to get correct exposure and one needs to be extremely careful when working with UV lights.
Although mentioned in the video-be very, very careful NOT to get UV light into your eyes. Aside from cataracts, retinal burns are possible-and they are very painful. As noted- modern digital cameras have UV filters over the sensor. What you are seeing is visible light excited by the UV light. A while back there was a flap in that some cameras were sensitive to UV with the results that visibly black objects had a bit over a color cast to them. Perhaps some reader can dig up the details.
Nikon D70 was a famous one for UV photography. But some cameras today are also sensitive to the 370nm to 400nm range. You can use a stock Olympus Em1 and Em5mk2 to photography in that range. The older four thirds Olympus cameras were all sensitive in that range as well. Also you can pop out the dust blocking filter in a Sigma Foveon camera (SD10, SD14, SD15, SD1M and Quattro) and image in monochrome UV from 350nm to 400nm.
Ultraviolet photography comes in two flavours: UV reflectance and UV fluorescence. Both require UV light as a source, but what we're doing here is playing with the fluorescence element - the camera captures visible light that wouldn't exist without UV excitation.
It's far simpler to shoot (no camera modifications, no specialized bandpass filters and high-UV-transmission lenses), making it accessible to anyone with a high quality UV flashlight. :)
I've done a good amount of UV reflectance work, but it wouldn't make for nearly as interesting a video. The only thing that has really stood out for me in UV reflectance is patterns in flowers that insects can see, as well as UV haze that can add depth to certain landscape images. UV fluorescence is much more fun. :)
The Insta360 One R is a unique action camera: it has interchangeable camera modules, including one with a large 1"-type sensor and a Leica lens. We show you how it works and ask, 'who's it for'?
Exposure X6 is the latest Adobe Lightroom competitor from Exposure Software. With great image quality, impressive speed and powerful features, it's a compelling option that doesn't require a monthly subscription.
Sigma's 35mm F2 DG DN designed specifically for mirrorless cameras is a compact, well-built lens that produces lovely images. Is it a good fit for you? Find out in our field review.
US manufacturer Really Right Stuff just released a new lightweight travel tripod, aimed at active and weight-conscious photographers that don't want to compromise on quality. Does its performance justify its high price? Find out in our initial review.
Fujifilm's latest X-S10 is a likeable mirrorless camera with some of the company's best tech packed inside, and it doesn't cost the earth. We think it could be a good fit for photographers of all kinds – find out more in our full review.
Whether you make a living out of taking professional portraits, or are the weekend warrior who knows their way around flashes and reflectors, you'll want a camera with high resolution, exceptional autofocus and a good selection of portrait prime lenses. Click through to see our picks.
What's the best camera for shooting landscapes? High resolution, weather-sealed bodies and wide dynamic range are all important. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting landscapes, and recommended the best.
What’s the best camera costing over $2500? The best high-end camera costing more than $2000 should have plenty of resolution, exceptional build quality, good 4K video capture and top-notch autofocus for advanced and professional users. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing over $2500 and recommended the best.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional productions or A-camera for amateur and independent productions. We've combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class.
Which high resolution mirrorless camera is best for you? This week, we compare the Canon EOS R5, Sony a7R IV, Nikon Z7 II and Panasonic S1R to answer that question.
As part of CES 2021, Canon launched a new website allowing users to view select locations on earth from the Canon CE-SAT-1 satellite. Using the onboard Canon 5D Mark III and Canon telescope, you can zoom in and see our planet from a fresh perspective.
The new Pro+ and Platinum+ plans cost $150 and $300 per year, respectively, and add additional benefits over the complimentary 'Pro' plan Nikon Professional Services offers. These NPS plans are limited to residents of the United States and U.S. territories.
The Insta360 One R is a unique action camera: it has interchangeable camera modules, including one with a large 1"-type sensor and a Leica lens. We show you how it works and ask, 'who's it for'?
Considering getting your hands on a Soviet film camera? Good for you! There's quite a few quality options out there and many can be had for a reasonable price. But before you go and pull the trigger on a Zorki-3C rangefinder, we suggest reading the guide below, from our pals at KosmoFoto.
Although the announcement wasn’t set to be made public yet, we’ve been able to confirm with Venus Optics the details of its four ‘Argus’ F0.95 lenses set to be released throughout 2021.
Samsung has unveiled a trio of new Galaxy smartphones, the S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra. The S21 and S21 Plus incorporate new cost-saving measures amidst a variety of improvements. The S21 Ultra, on the other hand, showcases what Samsung can do with a $1,200 price point.
MacRumors has come across a bit of code that suggests Apple may soon show a warning in the Settings menu when the camera modules inside iOS devices have been replaced with third-party components.
We've been pressing on with our review of Panasonic's Lumix S5, and have put it in front of our studio scene to see what it can do. Spoiler alert, its JPEG engine and high-res mode are both really impressive.
Our team at DPReview TV recently published its review of the new Sony 35mm F1.4 GM lens. How good is it? Take a look at the photos they took while reviewing the camera and judge the image quality for yourself!
Costco has informed U.S. and Canadian customers that all in-store camera departments will be shut down on February 14, 2021. Costco’s online printing services will still be available.
It's been a long time coming, but Sony has finally announced a G Master series 35mm lens for its full-frame mirrorless system. This compact alternative to the Zeiss version has some impressive spec: click through to learn more.
Dora Goodman got her start customizing existing analog cameras. Since then, she and her team launched a company offering open-source designs for 3D printing cameras and selling customers 3D printed parts and fully assembled cameras.
We've been busy shooting around with Sony's brand-new, compact and lightweight FE 35mm F1.4 G Master lens and initial impressions are quite positive: It's extremely sharp wide open across the frame, and controls ghosting, flaring and chromatic aberration with ease.
The 35mm F1.4 GM brings one of photography's classic focal lengths to Sony's G Master series of lenses. How does it perform? According to Chris and Jordan, it's pretty darn good.
Sony has just announced their 39th full-frame E-mount lens, the FE 35mm F1.4 GM. It comes with a complex optical formula and fancy autofocus motor technology, but it's among the lightest fast 35mm lenses on the market.
In an article published by ICAN Management Review, Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki speaks to the future of the company, including the possibility of RF/Z mount Sigma lenses, future camera systems and more.
ViewSonic has announced new ColorPro monitors at CES. The monitors, available in 27" and 32" sizes, range from 2K to 8K resolution and have been designed for color-critical applications including photography and video editing.
BCN Retail, which tracks online and in-person sales of digital cameras in the Japanese market, has shared its end-of-year data, showing the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded the already-shrinking camera market in Japan.
Fujifilm's main macro lens for its GFX system is the 120mm F4 Macro – a lens we've been playing around with for some time. We got the opportunity to update our gallery using the GFX 100, and we jumped at the chance to see what this lens can really do.
A new license or upgrade for Capture One for Fujifilm, Nikon and Sony used to cost $129 USD. A newly-instituted price hike has increased the cost to $199 (or $149 for an upgrade). Alongside the price change, Capture One has added a seat to new license purchases. Subscription costs have also increased.
The OWC Envoy Pro FX is constructed of an aluminum closure that’s IP67 rated to ensure your photos and videos are protected from the elements (and clumsiness)
The new CV5 system on a chip can encode 8K video at up to 60 fps, while also providing enough overhead for AI-powered features and capture modes, such as face-detection in action cameras and collision avoidance in drones.
What is field curvature, and why should you care? In this article – the second of two – professional optics geek Roger Cicala goes even deeper into the subject. Warning: many swirly graphs ahead.
Exposure X6 is the latest Adobe Lightroom competitor from Exposure Software. With great image quality, impressive speed and powerful features, it's a compelling option that doesn't require a monthly subscription.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have used NASA's HiRISE camera, which is onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, to capture high-resolution images of the Valles Marineris canyon on Mars. The new images shed light on how the canyon formed and help better our understanding of Mars.
The Nikon Z7 II has the same great ergonomics as its predecessor, but has more processing power, dual card slots, 4K/60p video, improved autofocus and more. Chris and Jordan tell us why it's a solid choice for many shooters.
Our team at DPReview TV just wrapped up its review of the Nikon Z7 II. Check out the photos they took along the way and judge the image quality for yourself!
Comments