IR photography and the Q

[robgo2]

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I have been following the IR image thread, and I wonder how this type of photography is possible on the Q simply by placing an IR-cut filter in front of the lens. The camera's sensor is covered by an IR filter, which should block all or most of the IR light, thus negating the effect of the cut filter. Obviously, this does not happen on the Q. Why is this the case, and are the results as good as with cameras whose sensor IR filters have been removed and replaced by filters that block visible light?

 

Rob

[stephanjaeger]

Interesting quesrtion, to which I don’t know the answer.

But I am surprised that no one else answered that question.

 

All the best,

Stephan

[robgo2]

As a followup, which has nothing to do with my original question, I purchased a Hoya R72 filter for my Q. The most notable finding is how little light passes through to the sensor. Hence, very high ISOs are required for handheld shots, which results in a great deal of luminance noise. To me, this means that the  best way to use an IR filter is with the camera mounted on a tripod, which will allow for long exposures and lower ISOs. My past IR experience using a camera with a converted sensor was much more satisfactory all around. I realize that there are people on this forum who are getting some fine images with the Q+IR filter, but it does have its limitations.

[Leica Guy]

Absolutely agree with Robgo2’s comments. I immediately gave up on handheld when i saw how little light was getting through to the sensor. I figure the Hoya R72 is just a start. I can learn a little about IR images then decide if I want a camera dedicated to this wavekength. So far I’m pretty delighted with all the inages I see on this thread. Some fopks are doing well with such a cheap and simple solution. It’s another dimension of B&W that’s fun.

Edited June 1, 2018 by Infiniumguy

[gbealnz]

Agreeing as well.

 

If you want real easy I/R, what could be simpler, use a tripod, and away you go, albeit with limitations. Exposures are long, hand-held is (virtually) impossible, and subject movement is inevitable.

 

But for cheap and cheerful it's hard to beat.

 

Possibly a clever sod could remove the I/R cut filter, but that possibly opens up a whole new can of worms, and in the end either get a dedicated I/R camera or play with what we have and have fun.

 

An M8 is somewhere between, I used a simple filter with mine and hand-held was feasible, great fun. Plus the V/F wasn't "dark" like the Q.

 

Gary

[uffehagen]

To me it comes down to the benefit of carrying only my Q. I have my Q, a +1 macrofilter, the Hoya 720 filter, a ND filter and a 'table'tripod from Manfrotto. This allows me all possibilities to have fun and be creative. 

I might get more into IR someday, snd will convert one of my Nikons, but for now it's more about trying out

[Belle123]

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That’s exactly why, even though I have a dedicated camera for IR that I went to the expense of conversion, I still bought the Hoya filter for the Q. It works but with some quirks. Just for fun. If I want to get serious about IR, I use my dedicated T that I did the infrared conversion on. And if I wanted to get even more serious, I would convert a higher resolution camera, but so far the old T suffices. The experience of using a converted infrared camera is much different. IF the Q lens has a clear hot spot, is good to know as not to try doing a conversion on one. I would say, if someone decides to do a conversion, do on an interchangeable lens camera.

 

To me it comes down to the benefit of carrying only my Q. I have my Q, a +1 macrofilter, the Hoya 720 filter, a ND filter and a 'table'tripod from Manfrotto. This allows me all possibilities to have fun and be creative. 

I might get more into IR someday, snd will convert one of my Nikons, but for now it's more about trying out

[bags27]

Amazon's sells a very cheap brand that has virtually every density from 650 to 1000. Besides my Hoya 720 I have an 850 which is great fun too.

[IBICO]

I have a B+W 092 donkelrot IR filter that I have tried. It does give a IR look, but I need to try it more now when the sun is back.

Going to post pictures later

Edited June 3, 2018 by IBICO

[carbon_dragon]

The Leica M8 works very well for IR unconverted (sensor is very sensitive to IR, it was described as a disadvantage, but I like to think of it as the reason I still have an M8).

[Amy]

I just purchased a Kolari IR chrome filter and learned my Q needs to be converted.  If I do convert it can it be converted back?  Is there any other way around this?

I have old Canon digital cameras, maybe I could convert one of those.  Is it expensive and where do you get it done?

Edited June 1, 2019 by Amy
added information

[Siriusone59]

I'm sure there are some places that would remove the internal filter, at least there several years ago.  But I wouldn't take that chance with a Q or anything else unless I intended to use it as a dedicated IR camera. Don't think it would be easily reversible.

I have had pretty decent results with the Q and a R72 filter by setting the ISO to 400-800, f8-11 and a +1 on exposure comp.  Leaving the shutter in auto it would select 1-2sec and of course that required a tripod.

[robgo2]

8 hours ago, Amy said:

I just purchased a Kolari IR chrome filter and learned my Q needs to be converted.  If I do convert it can it be converted back?  Is there any other way around this?

I have old Canon digital cameras, maybe I could convert one of those.  Is it expensive and where do you get it done?

This is something that you should discuss with Kolari.  It seems to me that you had better be totally committed to using the Q exclusively for IR before going down that road. In my own case, I bought a used Fuji X-T20 and had them do the conversion. It's a much less expensive option and gives you the opportunity to use more than one lens. I'm not totally happy with the Fuji, but it has given me some really fine IR images.

[Marac]

I bought i Leica T to have converted to use my CL lenses with it... perfect, really nice and around £400 for the T £250 for the conversion... This was in the UK.