Comments on: How to convert a Digital Concepts digital camera to be a IR camera.

By: Clark Hecker

Clark Hecker — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:50:54 +0000

The UV-blocking filter is not necessary if an IR-pass/visible blocking filter is being installed; such filters are themselves completely opaque to UV.

By: LC

LC — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:11:34 +0000

WARNING!

I just tore apart two of these cameras. The first one had the lens assembly exactly as described, with the IR filter out front. The second one (same model #, color, etc) had the IR filter inside the lens. If you remove it, the photographs become blurry.

By: LC

LC — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:42:46 +0000

Man, were you brave to try that! I am amazed that you knew the IR-cut filter was hiding up front. I would never have looked there. LOL Thanks again for all your help. I think I’ll try the Dremel idea, too. – LC

By: admin

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:36:40 +0000

Hello LC

It is in the front, but I would still recommend taking the whole lens assembly out so you can get to it easily. Instead of me cutting it off.. I broke the filter piece out. You can see it in the 5th photo I have in the how-to. The filter is broken or sheered off. I would go about it differently now.. maybe dremel cutter or something.

By: LC

LC — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:20:16 +0000

Thanks for replying, Admin. I guess I am wanting to know that if I purchase this Digital Concepts camera, do you think I could just cut the front lens assembly after removing the front cover? Am I correct in understanding that this camera is the exception, having the blocking filter place in front of the lens?

My other camera had the IR-cut filter behind the lens. Now I want a more challenging hack to “up” the megapixels. Thanks for all the info and replies! :C)

By: admin

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:01:48 +0000

LC, sometimes the IR blocker is not in the front. Regardless, if you want the full IR camera, you’ll need to add the UV filters.. which could be in the front, but I wanted a more stable and permanent solution.

Not sure about any advantages/disadvantages, etc. by allowing the UV in or not. All the IR hacks I’ve seen block the UV. I know there are some sweet full spectrum cameras (which I believe is more involved and goes beyond no putting UV block in there).

Thanks for commenting!
h

By: LC

LC — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:55:59 +0000

Admin, what a cool hack. It looks troubling when you get to the removing the front of the lens. I have a question to see if I understand the position of the IR-cut filter correctly.

Assuming the filter is right behind the initial, front lens cover, wouldn’t it be possible to just cut the front of the lens off, right after removing the front cover? This way you would eliminate a bunch of steps.

Also, other than having an IR camera that produces cool-looking images, is there any other advantage to blocking out the visible spectrum?

Thanks in advance for your reply. :C) – LC

By: omalley

omalley — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:17:48 +0000

Super COOL! you are so creative!

By: admin

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:30:35 +0000

Sally, it’s pretty easy. I think that camera was a cheap-o from walmart. The hard part is removing the IR filter. This example, I had to actually break the housing around the lens, pretty sketchy.

Here are some cool photos I took with it at Fort Missoula cemetery.

http://www.mtghosthunter.com/flickr/album/72157617951286789/fort-missoula.html

By: sally

sally — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:23:14 +0000

See now thats really interesting. If I come across a camera that I can do this too….I will in a heartbeat! Thanks for all your genius inventions and for sharing tidbits like this!

Omalley