Infrared Photography

[anzycpethian]

Can anyone tell me if I need any special equipment to make B/W Infrared-pictures (in daylight) through a Sony DSC-H9?

Do I need for example a IR-filter for the lens?

[djwixx]

If the camera has an adapter you can buy to add filter then you'll need an R72 filter to fit on that. Bear in mind with the filter in place you won't be able to see anything through the viewfinder or screen as te R72 filters out visible light. You'll probably need a tripod and longer exposures.

[sheila]

Two or three years ago, I bought an R72 filter for my Canon and I used it twice! You have to set up very long exposures for any light to hit the sensor. Possibly the cheapest and just as effective way is to obtain some software which does the same thing, more or less. I use a filter from Fred Miranda http://www.fredmiranda.com/software under Actions: Digital Infrared

Some IR shots at the end of this gallery. http://www.pbase.com/sheila/bw

Cheers
Sheila

[dang]

Here's an older thread discussing IR which you'll find lots of information:
http://forum.pbase.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... t=infrared

[edutilos]

Can anyone tell me if I need any special equipment to make B/W Infrared-pictures (in daylight) through a Sony DSC-H9?

Do I need for example a IR-filter for the lens?

Yes, you need a IR filter, the most common one used in the market today - at least in my country is the Hoya R72, relatively inexpensive, gives you colour IR, but can easily desaturate it if you're going for B&W infrared pictures.

As mentioned, you already need a tripod, though with the night shot mode and what the IR regulars on another forums tell me, you should be able to hand hold when the night shot mode is active, just that there are restrictions as to what you can do. If you want full control get a tripod.

Your camera is a prosumer, not a DSLR, so you'll be able to preview your images through the EVF/LCD somewhat. Please make sure you set a custom WB for best results - with the filter on, fill your frame with green foilage under strong sunlight, ensure your exposure timing is about right for a correctly exposed IR photo, then take the custom WB frame.

You should get photos with sepia-toned/bluish colours, without the custom WB you will get pinkish-magenta images, which are also fine, but in my view are quite alternative.

I used to use a H2, if everything stayed the same from H2/5 to H7/9, you might experience what is known as a hot spot in IR photography - due to lens diffraction - can google this. Basically it's not much of a problem, you just get some portions near the centre of your frame which seem to be overexposed. To resolve it, open up your aperture, should go away around f4.5 thereabouts if it is present at all.

[alrmj]

Hey

I have just started IR photography too:



Get in touch and I can point you in the direction of the websites I used.

Ali