Forum: Photography

Subject: The Smallest Digital IR Camera ... and it's MINE!!!

nplus opened this issue on Jan 30, 2006 · 24 posts

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:31 PM

This is a project I've been working on for quite a while now. It started about a year ago when I was using different materials (exposed film, floppy disks, etc...) for cheap filters for infrared photography. Not satisfied with the results and having to jumble around with goofy contraptions to cover the lens...I went in for the kill.

Subject: 4 megapixel Pentax Optio S4 !Bye Bye Warranty!
The time had come for me to turn this rather crappy camera into something very unique and more useful to me.

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:32 PM

Tiny screws gone...cover off...now where is that damn hotmirror and CCD?

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:33 PM

It's got to be around here somewhere!?

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:34 PM

Ahhh HA! I think I've found the sweet spot.

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:35 PM

There she is boys and girls....In all her glory!

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:36 PM

I guess they call it a hot mirror for a reason.

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:37 PM

slightly different angle...strange little piece of glass....

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:38 PM

I wonder if I can get this all back together? hmmmm.

Margana posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:48 PM

An impressive project.Certainly out of my league... So when do we get to see the pix from it?

Marlene <")

Marlene S. Piskin Photography
My Blog

"A new study shows that licking the sweat off a frog can cure depression. The down side is, the minute you stop licking, the frog gets depressed again." - Jay Leno

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 8:58 PM

Once I get this thing back in one piece and run a few tests....and see if it will still work...remember this is an experiment....plus I have to borrow a soldering iron from work...

Margana posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 9:02 PM

Oh.LOL.I thought you had finished it.Well good luck then! :^)

TomDart posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 9:26 PM

Yikes! It really IS yours...to destruct. I could not put the alarm clocks back together as a kid..now this! Ha Ha! You made my heading off to zzzzzzzzzzzzland very pleasant indeed.

nplus posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 10:05 PM

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?Form.ShowMessage=2177548

here is a sample of what should happen...this post was a while ago... but it should give you an idea of what i'm striving for.

jocko500 posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 10:07 PM

this is how sceintests get to the top of the ladder of they world

what you see is not what you know; it in your face

jocko500 posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 10:08 PM

was that a spy camera?

what you see is not what you know; it in your face

DJB posted Mon, 30 January 2006 at 10:40 PM

I think it is a hilarious little reportage thread. Like something I would do too. I always take things apart. Just not my new camera though. How else can you figure out the workings. Can't wait for you to post the results.

"The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions."

TwoPynts posted Tue, 31 January 2006 at 8:53 AM

VERY cool project. If it works out, I'll send you one so you can do it for me, okay? ;] I'd like to think of myself as pretty good with electronics, but looking at that jumple of electronics and wires, it is out of my league. I really enjoyed your "hunt for the hot mirror" reportage, humorous and informative...what a good RR forum thread should be! If you get photos like the one shared above, then I say it was a success!

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

LostPatrol posted Tue, 31 January 2006 at 10:36 AM

Attached Link: 5D IR conversion

There is a site that shows you how to do this to a 5D (if you are either rich or very brave) or they will do it for you for a few $$$ USD. Interesting project, good luck!

The Truth is Out There

TwoPynts posted Tue, 31 January 2006 at 11:15 AM

Very cool to see the innards of the 5D. Maybe Jim will donate his new mistress to the cause and we can test it out??? ;^P

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

TwoPynts posted Tue, 31 January 2006 at 12:11 PM

Just been looking over that site more. I want a dedicated digital IR cam SO bad! You'd think they'd make one that way, there has to be enough people that would want it.

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

Nameless_Wildness posted Tue, 31 January 2006 at 12:37 PM

Kort...only if I can have a Valium first :)

TwoPynts posted Tue, 31 January 2006 at 12:54 PM

Talk to Andreas, he's the one getting the strong drugs lately. Seriously though, you've got to be rolling in dough to let someone do that to a brand new 5D. I was cringing just looking at the process. ;'] Hey Kang, reading up on the process on the other site, don't you need to replace the hot mirror with an IR filter to block out the visible and UV light?

Message edited on: 01/31/2006 12:59

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

LostPatrol posted Tue, 31 January 2006 at 1:40 PM

I think it may void your warrantee LOL

The Truth is Out There

TwoPynts posted Tue, 31 January 2006 at 3:54 PM

Attached Link: DB

Another good link on this topic.

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations