My friend has converted some Pentax dSLR cameras into IR only ones, and sold a couple here at the forum. Now he has an IR only K100D camera to let go. The camera is in great shape w/ box and everything. But it's an IR only camera, which means you can only take IR photos.
As to how the conversion is done, and the normal cost about the conversion, you can check it out here at maxmax: Conversions
Maxmax would charge $450 plus return shipping for the service alone, and you need to send your own camera over for the conversion.
My friend is asking for $550 only, this includes an IR only K100D camera and EMS shipping fee as well. EMS would only take 3 to 5 working days to reach anywhere around the world.
Did he use maxmax for the conversion or do it himself? I don't see any Pentax cameras listed on the maxmax site.
--Sean
He did the conversion by himself Basically he opens up the camera, takes out the IR mask in front of the sensor, then puts a 760nm IR filter on top of the CCD sensor. Because the sensor module thickness difference, and the different IR filters he has in hand, he can use a 720nm IR filter on the Ds camera, but only 760nm one on the K100D. After this, he has to adjust the focusing (debug mode) so the picture comes out sharp in focus. Sounds pretty easy, isn't it?
Here are some IR photos he took w/ this selling K100D and a DA16-45:
Now that's pretty cool! I thought he just removed the IR cut filter, but this is much better.
So, there is no need to mount an IR filter in front of the lens - meaning you can actually see the shot through the lens while composing. (Correct me if I am wrong.)
A question though - as you're looking through the lens, it will be out of focus, correct? I assume the debug alterations are for adjusting autofocus lenses.
Now that's pretty cool! I thought he just removed the IR cut filter, but this is much better.
So, there is no need to mount an IR filter in front of the lens - meaning you can actually see the shot through the lens while composing. (Correct me if I am wrong.)
A question though - as you're looking through the lens, it will be out of focus, correct? I assume the debug alterations are for adjusting autofocus lenses.
Hey Sean, you really know things! That's right, you can shoot w/ the camera as you are using a normal camera, don't need an IR filter in front of the lens. But the exposure would be different. Probably need to add about 2 stops EV to get correct exposure. But still alot easier to use than using an IR filter in front of a lens which most time you need to use a tripod and long time exposure.
And yes, he added about 400nm to get correct AF, the target from the view finder seems out of focus, but the actual results are spot on, a side effect I guess. Not really a big deal 'cause you'd be shooting landscapes mostly when taking IR photos.
My friend is very comfortable modifying both Ds and K100D. If some here is interested, he can do the service too (you send in the camera, he does the modification and sends it back to you) for a fee which is less than half of what maxmax charges for . The best thing is, he can put the IR cut filter back and restore your camera to a normal one if you don't like the IR results. You just need to pay the shipping fee for restoration.
I might get my own K100D converted when the K20D comes out (then the K10D will become a backup).
The friend also got a K100D w/ damaged inbody flash, but everything else works fine. He can get it converted and sent to you at $420 only. Guess we don't need a flash for IR photos?
And yes, he added about 400nm to get correct AF, the target from the view finder seems out of focus, but the actual results are spot on, a side effect I guess.
Maybe I am confused but does this effectively change focusing or not? I imagine with sufficient depth of field there would be no cause for concern, and one would need extra light anyway for IR. But can you confirm I am on base with this?
The focus adjustment is to compensate for the fact that the AF is now focusing at objects at the infrared spectrum. If the default AF (focusing at the visible spectrum) isn't tweaked, focusing won't be entirely sharp, even if there is ample DOF.
Because of the slight adjustment in the AF, what is viewed in the viewfinder might be slightly off focus wise but the IR images will be in focus when shot.
Maybe I am confused but does this effectively change focusing or not? I imagine with sufficient depth of field there would be no cause for concern, and one would need extra light anyway for IR. But can you confirm I am on base with this?
You know we can get into debug mode to adjust AF w/ K100D camera, right? 'Cause there is an extra layer of IR filter on top of the CCD sensor now, the AF has to be adjusted to get sharp in-focus results. After the adjustment, you can use the camera just as you are using a normal one: frame, focus and press the shuttle button
BTW, my friend is using some new IR filter now, which is much thinner than the previous self-cut ones. He only needs to add about 300nm. So what you see in the viewfinder is still quite in focus. Not like previous ones (what you see in the viewfinder is abit blurred when the focusing is on).
Basically he opens up the camera, takes out the IR mask in front of the sensor, then puts a 760nm IR filter on top of the CCD sensor. Because the sensor module thickness difference, and the different IR filters he has in hand, he can use a 720nm IR filter on the Ds camera, but only 760nm one on the K100D. After this, he has to adjust the focusing (debug mode) so the picture comes out sharp in focus. Sounds pretty easy, isn't it? 
. The best thing is, he can put the IR cut filter back and restore your camera to a normal one if you don't like the IR results. You just need to pay the shipping fee for restoration. 
