The first and obvious choice for conversion would be your old camera that you have replaced with a newer model. Instead of it just sitting in a closet collecting dust might as well get some more use out of it and convert it to IR. Although this is perfectly fine and the route most of our customers take, we recommend that you also consider other possibilities. Perhaps it would make better sense to purchase another model specifically for IR conversion.
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Mirrorless Cameras
There is now a new option besides pure DSLR and P&S cameras that you should consider and that’s the hybrid, mirrorless digital cameras. These cameras are relatively new innovations but have become one of our most recommended lines especially for IR and full spectrum conversions.
What makes these cameras so awesome?
- Well, they have the unique ability to auto focus infrared light without any focusing problems with all of their mirrorless lenses.
- They are mirrorless and therefore much smaller than normal DSLR cameras, while still retaining a large sensor size, similar to DSLRs.
- Because they are mirrorless the Auto Focus happens via the imaging sensor and you get a real time preview of the infrared image before you take a picture.
- Some models even have a dedicated or optional electronic viewfinder, which allows you to see the same real time infrared preview through the viewfinder as well as the rear screen. This is really handy in bright sunny conditions where the rear screen can be hard to see.
So if you are starting fresh and not tied down to a specific DSLR/Lens system then we highly recommend you go with a mirrorless setup, either as IR only or full spectrum.
All In One Camera Solution: If you want an all in one solution for your normal visible light photography as well as IR then mirrorless is the way to go, along with our Full Spectrum Conversion and External Filters. Then all you would need is to swap the filter over your lens and you can instantly go from normal to IR and back again. No need to worry about focus whatsoever, use any mirrorless lens you want – they will all focus IR light just as well as visible. We even give you up to 20% OFF the filters when you get your Full Spectrum Conversion and External Filters ordered together.
DSLR Live View or No Live View
As you have read in the previous section there are some differences in focus between visible and IR light. So it makes sense to consider how important it is to you to have the ability to focus with all lenses. If it is important then perhaps it would be best to sell your old camera and purchase a newer model that has Live View or even better, Live View with auto focus.
Then again, maybe you’re like many and would rather have a dedicated IR camera/lens combo instead. Then Live View would not be a concern as you could just have us calibrate to the lens you’re planning on leaving on your IR body most of the time. The choice is yours, it’s all a matter of preference and is the reason why we offer so many calibration options.
IR Sensitivity
It’s a popular misconception that digital cameras have a varied sensitivity to infrared light. Although this may be partially true of stock cameras as they do have internal hot mirror filters of varied IR blocking efficiency. This doesn’t apply though to modified cameras as all IR blocking filters are removed during conversion and therefore the camera’s full IR sensitivity is released.
After modification there is very little, if any, difference in IR sensitivity between models and therefore this is really a non-issue.
Image Quality
We receive lots of questions from prospective customers about what the image quality will be like after conversion. Well, it’s the same as with a stock camera, it’s still the same imaging sensor with the same resolution, dynamic range, noise, ISO range, etc. The main difference is now it’s capturing IR instead of visible light. So yes, the image quality is the same but the look to those images will be different because you are capturing a totally different part of the spectrum.
For more information, please visit IRLENS.
Point & Shoot vs DSLR
If your main objective is the best image quality then a DSLR or even better, a full frame DSLR, would be the best choice. On the other hand if you are just getting your feet wet in IR then a P&S makes a great starter camera. We receive lots of P&S cameras for conversion for all kinds of applications and people love them especially for travel due to the small footprint.
In Camera White Balance
Since IR light looks red to digital camera sensors unless a custom (preset) white balance is set all IR images would look very red. Unfortunately some camera models are incapable of setting a proper in camera WB in infrared because they were never meant to “see” IR light as they were designed for visible photography.
There are a number of reasons why capturing red images is bad. First, it’s very difficult to judge exposure and focus when images are so red. Second, capturing red JPEG images makes it impossible to get the blue sky effect in Photoshop. Of course shooting RAW takes care of this as one can change the WB after the fact in RAW conversion software. Watch the video bellow for a detailed explanation:
Fortunately many cameras still do set a custom WB just fine and even the ones that don’t are totally usable when you shoot RAW and process with OEM RAW Converter software, to learn how please watch the white balance videos on this page. We get them in for conversion on a daily basis and most photographers are completely satisfied with them for IR work.
Although these models are listed as WB problematic they can still occasionally accept a WB reading, it is really a matter of persistence, lighting, WB target and each camera. Some report being able to set WB just fine but since this issue affects at least some cameras we wanted to let you know of this potential issue beforehand.
More Information
This guide is more than enough to make an informed decision but if you would like even more info then we recommend you also read our post conversion Quick Start Guide. Another great resource is our Video Tutorials page, you may want to take a look there as well. It might be a good idea to also checkout the Frequently Asked Questions page while you’re at it.
Congratulations! You should now possess the needed information to proceed with placing your conversion order.
Once you place your order you will receive an receipt with instructions on how to send your camera to us. Upon receiving your camera we will send you an to let you know we have it and that it’s in our conversion queue. Then, once converted we will send you another to let you know it’s on its way back and provide the tracking number.
Don’t have a camera to send for IR conversion? No problem! Just order one from your favorite online retailer and have it shipped directly to us with your name in the address.
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EE-digger
IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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on: April 24, , 01:58:54 pm »
I've done a fair amount of optical design but as an EE. Results vary
While "playing" with lenses for macro / closeup use, I had several thoughts and questions:
1. do you strategically use field stops in IR optics? In visible wave, they are critical for controlling stray, contrast, resolution and overall image quality. I'm assuming you want the same for IR?
2. I'm assuming you would still want field stops, tube, holder, etc. to be non-reflective at IR, therefore they should have decent coatings, like Krylon paint (or better but this is not mission critical )
3. using CO2 cutting lenses for imaging is really close to "playing". What is the form of the expensive macro / close up lenses from FLIR and others? Are they single element (mostly germanium ?) custom aspherics for best images?
DaJMasta
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #1 on: April 24, , 03:34:18 pm »
IR being LWIR/Thermal? I think in the NIR bands the same general principles apply, but in the thermal bands things appear to be done differently, at least. I don't see field stops in mechanical drawings and the relatively narrow depth of field suggests they aren't super common. My thought is that the materials for the lenses are more expensive and less transmissive, so simpler lens designs (fewer elements) and smaller optics are both a benefit, but in thermal, unless that lens is cooled, the baffle elements would be radiating and cause glow themselves - calibration data for thermal cameras usually nulls out the thermal glow from the lens body itself.
As for close up lenses - can't say I know. I don't think single element designs are common, but most are 2-3.
It's worth mentioning: because of the longer wavelength and the much larger average pixel size, the optics don't have to be finished to the same tolerances as normal optical lenses to perform really well, so while the materials are pricey and somewhat exotic, I don't think the processing requires fantastic machines or involves a lot of rejection of semi-finished parts. Lambda over four optical surfaces are a lot tougher to manufacture for 550nm than they are 10 micron.
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Fraser
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #2 on: April 24, , 05:18:19 pm »
Regarding “close-up” lenses…….
We need to define what we mean by a “close-up” lens. They can be as follows:
1. A simple, single element, Bi-Convex, Plano-Convex or Positive Meniscus lens profile placed in front of a cameras built-in lens. The simple lens element acts like the lens in reading glasses to permit closer focus than the primary lens can offer. Such supplemental lenses are common in visible light photography where they are supplied in different Diopters fir Macro photography. The simple nature of this type of close-up lens makes them less than ideal and they can degrade the quality of the image produced by the camera. The cheapest and most easily available lens elements for thermal imaging in the LWIR band are those designed for CO2 10.6um laser engravers and cutters. The base ZnSe material and surface AR coatings are compatible with LWIR imaging. These laser focus lenses are not intended to be used for thermal cameras so they are not the quality that would be found in a thermal camera lens or an accessory close-up lens from a company like FLIR. That said, they get the job done and do not break the bank in the process ! I have used such ZnSe close-up lenses for decades so they are nothing new. Better quality single element supplemental close-up lenses are sometimes offered as accessories by some manufacturers of thermal cameras. Industrial camera makers will charge a small fortune for such a lens but it will be if excellent quality and characterised in terms of transmission. Professional close-up lenses used to be made from appropriately AR coated Germanium. These days it is common to find such lenses made from Chalcogenide IR glass or ZnSe but the lens is designed for thermal imaging rather than borrowed from the CO2 laser focus lens parts bin ! Commercial Close-up lenses if this single element type are usually of the positive Meniscus profile. These close-up lenses only permit a thermal camera to achieve good focus at close range (dictated by the focus distance of the supplemental lens) and they do not actually magnify the target of interest. Getting closer to the target enables the user to better fill the thermal scene of the camera though.
2. Macro lenses are a form of close-up lens but they are more capable and usually provide a better image than a simple, single element, close-up lens. There are two main types of Macro-lens, the complete primary lens or the supplemental lens that mounts on the front of a cameras primary lens.
a) The dedicated Macro focus primary lens is basically a standard, multi element lens format that has been designed to provide excellent focus at close range. This type of lens offers the best possible imaging performance but is specialist in nature and requires the camera to have a removable primary lens. The materials used fir the lens elements are the same as those used for common thermal camera lens assemblies, that is Germanium and Chalcogenide IR glass. Sometimes ZnSe lens elements are present in the lens stack.
This type of lens assembly may be designed to produce magnification if desired. The price of such specialist primary lenses can be eye-watering and they are the preserve of the Industrial thermal imaging camera manufacturers.
b) The “reversed primary lens” type of macro lens is common in visible light macro photography and is often achieved by literally mounting a reversed lens on the front if the cameras primary lens so it is a supplemental lens type that does not require the removal of the cameras primary lens. As a reversed lens it contains the same lens elements as found in a primary lens, but operated in reverse ! This design can produce good macro imagery but it has the drawback of multiple lens elements in the optical path with resultant loss of energy transmission to the thermal sensor array. If the reversed lens is the same specification as the cameras primary lens, the pixel size on target will be the same as that of the thermal cameras FPA. This is like a thermal microscope but the focus distance can be very close to the lens ! It is not common to see a reversed primary lens offered as an accessory for a thermal camera but such may be created by an end user. What is sometimes offered is a version of the reverse primary lens format that has been designed from scratch to offer best performance and focus distance. They looked nothing like a primary lens that had just been reversed.
3. There is also the option to insert spacer rings between a cameras primary lens and the Thermal FPA in order to provide a very close focus capability for the camera. Such spacers are only useable if the camera has a removable primary lens.
So there you have it, the term “close-up lens” includes some very different approaches to achieving the desired result.
There are optical solutions in the thermal imaging domain that would be frowned upon in the high resolution visible light photography community as poor practice. Yet we see very expensive thermal imaging lenses that appear very simple in design, yet also very expensive. Thermal imaging has traditionally used simple lens assemblies unless in a specialist role that requires multi fields of view or Zoom telephoto capabilities. In the thermal camera, the optical resolution is quite low and so forgiving of less than ideal lens designs. The cost of the specialist lens elements encouraged thermal camera lens designers to keep things simple with a low lens element count in the BoM. With the advent of cheaper Chalcogenide IR glass moulded lenses we may see more sophisticated lens assemblies becoming affordable and better suited to higher resolution Thermal FPA’s.
Looking at the above, is it any wonder that the single lens element close-up lens is so popular ?
Fraser
« Last Edit: April 25, , 03:59:24 pm by Fraser »
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Fraser
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #3 on: April 24, , 05:35:09 pm »
To see what a commercial primary type close-up lens design looks like, take a look at this thread where we discuss a “mystery lens” that turns out to be a high quality Mikron brand primary close-up lens. Scary expensive to buy new from Mikron.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/this-lens-good-anything-(thermal)/
Fraser
« Last Edit: April 24, , 06:25:14 pm by Fraser »
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Fraser
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #4 on: April 24, , 05:45:36 pm »
A thread where I detail a professional AGEMA/FLIR close-up lens that originally cost $5K and is ‘just’ a single lens element supplemental lens design !
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/want-to-see-a-~$-close-up-lens-here-you-go-)/msg/#msg
Fraser
« Last Edit: April 24, , 07:03:40 pm by Fraser »
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Fraser
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #5 on: April 24, , 05:51:11 pm »
Another thread of mine detailing the close-up lenses offered by Inframetrics at scary prices. One type is a single element supplemental lens design but another is a right angle close-up supplemental lens head that uses two lenses and a mirror.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/thermal-cameras-professional-telescope-and-close-up-lenses-by-inframetrics/
Fraser
« Last Edit: April 24, , 05:53:23 pm by Fraser »
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Fraser
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #6 on: April 24, , 06:03:42 pm »
An Inframetrics supplemental close up lens for the PM280 camera
This lens mounts on the front of the camera and may have more than one element in it, making it a “reverse primary” lens, but I am not certain of this.
This particular lens is for MWIR use and uses ZnSe lens elements.
Fraser
« Last Edit: April 24, , 06:27:07 pm by Fraser »
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EE-digger
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #7 on: April 24, , 10:35:55 pm »
It's worth mentioning: because of the longer wavelength and the much larger average pixel size, the optics don't have to be finished to the same tolerances as normal optical lenses to perform really well, so while the materials are pricey and somewhat exotic, I don't think the processing requires fantastic machines or involves a lot of rejection of semi-finished parts. Lambda over four optical surfaces are a lot tougher to manufacture for 550nm than they are 10 micron.
Thanks for the input, especially the last part I quoted. I'm talking Thermal and you are absolutely correct in that you don't need the same angular resolution with the huge pixels (compared to a visible light imager).
EE-digger
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #8 on: April 24, , 10:49:13 pm »
I like to think about Macro and Close Up in film camera terms The close up lens used to be a $20 screw in attachment to give crude (optically speaking) imaging abilities. The macro is a different beast and I recall the price of one or two Nikon 35mm macro lenses I've had over the years.
And thanks for all the other lens details. I look at the huge germanium front lens on the PM675 and wonder if I should sell it separately !
Germanium is not cheap and the way the world is headed, may become unobtanium. Edmund already comments on the Germanium supply being turned off and no product will be available when stocks are depleted, unless things change.
Your odd shape lens may be a diamond turned aspheric of some sort. It can correct for various anomalies in the optical path and keep the element count low. It's full custom of course.
Fraser
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #9 on: April 24, , 11:59:32 pm »
Regarding the FLIR PM series camera lens size….. they also have large supplemental wide and telephoto lenses !
I have both of these for my PM series cameras. The telephoto lens is gorgeous
I detail these lenses in this thread…..
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/inside-flir-pm-series-tele-wide-supplemental-lenses/
Fraser
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EE-digger
Re: IR optics - several design questions, fields stops, etc.
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Reply #10 on: April 25, , 12:42:53 am »
Thanks. I'll enjoy the read.
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