Digital Infrared Revolution
Digital camera technology has revolutionized Infrared Photography by providing a means for the Amateur and Professional alike to create dramatic Infrared photos with relative ease. Previous to the digital camera age, infrared photographers resorted to shooting IR film while using an Infrared Filter on the front of the lens, greatly reducing the amount of visible light allowed into the camera. This caused a few problems that digital technology has overcome.
First, on-lens infrared filters are so dark
you cannot see the subject throught the camera's viewfinder while the
filter is attached to the lens. Normal Infrared film shooting required
framing your shot before attaching the IR filter on the lens. Second,
Infrared light causes focus issues unless the camera has been calibrated
for correct focus. (Infrared Light transmission is at a different
wavelength than visible light creating a variance in the focal plane
resulting in focus differences. Earlier lenses have IR focus markings to
help with IR focus adjustments.) Third, this caused longer
shutter/exposure times due to less light reaching the film and limited
ISO availability, limiting the ability to shoot moving subjects under
darker situations with out them being blurred. This also required the
use of a tripod for most scenic pictures otherwise causing blurry
images.
The unique ablility of digital camera CCD or CMOS Imaging
Sensors to capture infrared light allows a photographer to take Infrared
pictures at normal shutter speeds. The camera's imaging sensor must be
modified for this to happen. There are no infrared filters used on the
end of the lens which allows the photographer to use the IR camera just
like a normal camera but with Infrared results.Spencer's Camera can modify/convert your digital camera enabling it to capture Infrared images by removing the internal IR blocking filter (Low-Pass Filter/Hot-Mirror Filter) currently installed over the imaging sensor and replace it with an Infrared Filter. This will enable you to capture infrared photos with your own camera. You will be able to see through the viewfinder and lens, frame your shot, and capture images just like a normal camera but with the dramatic results of infrared photography. (Electronic viewfinder cameras will produce a "live" image in Infrared, allowing you to frame, adjust exposure and fine-tune your image before taking the shot) Unlike some of our competitors that use plastic filters, only the highest image quality polished glass and quartz material is used in our modification/conversion process. Plastic filters will result in distortion, uneven and soft focus in the final images and are very soft allowing scratching when cleaned.