Infragram convertible cameras
A page listing cameras which can be converted for near-infrared, and requests for photos/documentation of cameras to be converted.
Excellent
Cameras which are easy to convert and work well:
Canon
Canons usually convert easily and are a favorite:
- Canon A490 or A495 (see conversion on YouTube) or below (~$50, 10 megapixel) Works well with a Rosco #2007 filter. Apparently the A495 has 2 fixed apertures which may be a problem with IR focus.
- Canon A1200
- Canon A2200 Internal neutral density filter - not good for IR focus
- Canon A1300. Virtually the same procedure as with the A2200 above.
- Canon A810: The IR block filter removal went smoothly and was successful even though I had never opened up a camera before. Its 16 megapixels is more than you really need.
- Canon A800 It was really straight forward like the other cameras.
- Canon S4000 IS - The camera is very tightly built but not hard to open and convert, and works well with Rosco #74 filters.
- Canon Digital Rebel (various, external site, very involved)
- SD1100 Internal neutral density filter - not good for IR focus
- S95 has variable iris which may help with IR focus
- list cameras here
Generic brand mini-cameras
These typically have 720p or 1080p sensors and sometimes come with waterproof cases.
several examples here have been very easy conversions, but have not worked well for infrablue photos, due to the blue channel leaking infrared light. We're currently looking for cameras with better characteristics.
Webcams
- Logitech C270
- SYBA CAM63014 (shows removal, but not filter placement, but that's an easy next step)
- Creative Notebook Live webcam
- Sanm webcam module: Really easy except that the lens is tiny. Suffers from blue/infrared leakage.
- Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD (external site)
- list any additional cameras here
Acceptable
Cameras which can be converted although it may not be ideal (please state why!)
Smartphones
Extra difficult, but could be very exciting to have a smartphone that can do this!
- http://www.eigenimaging.com/DIY/NexusDYI - for a Galaxy Nexus (Android) phone
Canon
- Canon Powershot SX120 IS: This camera has full manual controls and a 360 mm (eqiv.) zoom lens. The goal was to take infrablue Gigapans. One ribbon cable must be unplugged, but it's pretty easy. Twenty-five screws must be accessed from the outside or back, as usual, but two deep internal screws must be accessed from the front, so the entire camera must be disassembled (31 screws total). The IR block filter is under a plate which is attached to the front of the sensor with two screws. While removing the filter, it touched the sensor. The reassembled camera worked fine, but there was a blotch where the sensor is damaged (see image). So I bought a new sensor ($13 ebay). It would be hard to install a film or polyester filter instead of the IR block filter -- it would not stay in place. The SX120 has a variable iris which may help with IR focus.
Guide to most of the screws to get to the IR block filter in a Canon SX120. Note damage to sensor (photo taken by reassembled camera).
- Canon PowerShot A2400: conversion tutorial here - very difficult one due to the ribbon cables coming unclamped repeatedly; some have reported only a 66% success rate.
- list cameras here
Requests
Cameras which have not yet been converted -- if you've done it, please move it up!
Videos
This video, listed above, shows the removal of a filter on a Canon A495, but then shows a film negative filter taped to the front. For Infragram conversions, we recommend you put the Infragram filter inside the camera -- exactly where the IR-block filter used to be.
Focus
Some people report blurry photos after installing a new filter. Some of these people have been able to fix this by tightening the screws which hold the sensor down. It's possible that the rubber gasket under the sensor has been shifted and stopped the sensor from properly screwing in.
Read more about this and peoples' solutions here: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/plots-infrared/blurry/plots-infrared/cqX3zqfzes8/LPGeGuCMwuQJ and here:http://publiclab.org/notes/cfastie/11-07-2013/focus-on-filters#comments