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**baro-nite** · 01-09-2019, 06:26 AM

Originally posted by jcsnyc

I have 2 retired cameras - istDS and K5. Any suggestions on which would be best to modify.

The K5 -- while it's obviously possible to shoot IR without live view, most modern lenses don't have IR focusing marks, and there's the issue of having the focus calibrated during the conversion -- all in all I'd say live view is a must.

Ontarian50 · 01-09-2019, 08:51 AM

Originally posted by baro-nite

The K5 -- while it's obviously possible to shoot IR without live view, most modern lenses don't have IR focusing marks, and there's the issue of having the focus calibrated during the conversion -- all in all I'd say live view is a must.

Yes, while it's tempting to go with an older, pre-video, body, I have found live view to be a much better idea when shooting infrared - not that I can actually carefully compose my image on the screen in bright sunlight. But if I frame up my image in the viewfinder, then switch to live view, I can then press the AF button to get a sharp focus on my subject, then shoot.

We have to remind ourselves that our lenses were designed for visible light, and they aren't intended to focus (or even have edge to edge sharpness) infrared light. Calibrating the sensor depth for your favourite lens, doesn't guarantee sharp focus with another, even if it has an infrared film mark.

I'm on the hunt for another 21mm Limited, as my last one got stolen - but I found it worked nicely on the converted K-r.

jcsnyc · 01-09-2019, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by Ontarian50

I'm on the hunt for another 21mm Limited, as my last one got stolen - but I found it worked nicely on the converted K-r.

Good to know! I have a 21mm Limited that I am using a lot less due to the K1... now it might be back in action!

**OzzRod** · 01-09-2019, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by jcsnyc

...... I have 2 retired cameras - istDS and K5. Any suggestions on which would be best to modify.

I also have a K3 II and K1 II - so I am okay working on the K5 if it's a good fit for this.

Another vote for the K5. I had mine converted (Full Spectrum) by Kolari Vision and I'm very happy with the results. Also I have yet to encounter any hotspots with the lenses used to date. My Flickr album is here.

**baro-nite** · 01-12-2019, 04:44 AM - **1 Like**

Funnily enough, having just advocated for the importance of live view for infrared work, I had a very successful session the other day where I worked entirely handheld, with preset focus. (I was with friends and not wanting to slow down the group over much.) I did use LV to establish a couple of focus points (close-ish and medium-far-ish), but just went with that focus for the rest of the session, lens well stopped down. In general for IR I will continue to use a tripod and LV, but I was very happy with how the handheld shots came out. It helped that I was using a K-series lens with a firmer focusing ring that often found on AF lenses. It was also interesting, and not unhelpful, to compose with an out-of-focus viewfinder.

ZombieArmy · 01-12-2019, 11:43 AM

I really want to get my K-01 converted to full spectrum, what are the best guides for doing it yourself?

sqrrl · 01-12-2019, 04:36 PM

I'm not aware of any guide for the K01 - but these guys have a lot of information for a lot of cameras. It's usually not simple, but if you are comfortable rebuilding cameras it's usually fairly straight forward if you can get your hands on a service manual. If you are not comfortable opening up a camera to replace the internals then it's usually cheaper/easier to get a company who specializes in it to do it for you.

Infrared Photoshop Tutorials & DIY Infrared Conversion Instructions

ZombieArmy · 01-12-2019, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by sqrrl

I'm not aware of any guide for the K01 - but these guys have a lot of information for a lot of cameras. It's usually not simple, but if you are comfortable rebuilding cameras it's usually fairly straight forward if you can get your hands on a service manual. If you are not comfortable opening up a camera to replace the internals then it's usually cheaper/easier to get a company who specializes in it to do it for you.

Infrared Photoshop Tutorials & DIY Infrared Conversion Instructions

Yah I'm pretty comfortable disassembling stuff. These guides should be useful for when you get down to the sensor itself ty.

If I attempt this and succeed I'll post a guide on how to do it for the K-01.

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01-09-2019, 06:26 AM	#16
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,295	Originally posted by jcsnyc I have 2 retired cameras - istDS and K5. Any suggestions on which would be best to modify. The K5 -- while it's obviously possible to shoot IR without live view, most modern lenses don't have IR focusing marks, and there's the issue of having the focus calibrated during the conversion -- all in all I'd say live view is a must.

01-09-2019, 08:51 AM	#17
Ontarian50 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 530	Originally posted by baro-nite The K5 -- while it's obviously possible to shoot IR without live view, most modern lenses don't have IR focusing marks, and there's the issue of having the focus calibrated during the conversion -- all in all I'd say live view is a must. Yes, while it's tempting to go with an older, pre-video, body, I have found live view to be a much better idea when shooting infrared - not that I can actually carefully compose my image on the screen in bright sunlight. But if I frame up my image in the viewfinder, then switch to live view, I can then press the AF button to get a sharp focus on my subject, then shoot. We have to remind ourselves that our lenses were designed for visible light, and they aren't intended to focus (or even have edge to edge sharpness) infrared light. Calibrating the sensor depth for your favourite lens, doesn't guarantee sharp focus with another, even if it has an infrared film mark. I'm on the hunt for another 21mm Limited, as my last one got stolen - but I found it worked nicely on the converted K-r.

01-09-2019, 09:21 AM	#18
jcsnyc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Brooklyn, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 253	Originally posted by Ontarian50 I'm on the hunt for another 21mm Limited, as my last one got stolen - but I found it worked nicely on the converted K-r. Good to know! I have a 21mm Limited that I am using a lot less due to the K1... now it might be back in action!

01-09-2019, 03:11 PM	#19
OzzRod Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Newcastle, N.S.W. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,322	Originally posted by jcsnyc ...... I have 2 retired cameras - istDS and K5. Any suggestions on which would be best to modify. I also have a K3 II and K1 II - so I am okay working on the K5 if it's a good fit for this. Another vote for the K5. I had mine converted (Full Spectrum) by Kolari Vision and I'm very happy with the results. Also I have yet to encounter any hotspots with the lenses used to date. My Flickr album is here.

01-12-2019, 04:44 AM - 1 Like	#20
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,295	Funnily enough, having just advocated for the importance of live view for infrared work, I had a very successful session the other day where I worked entirely handheld, with preset focus. (I was with friends and not wanting to slow down the group over much.) I did use LV to establish a couple of focus points (close-ish and medium-far-ish), but just went with that focus for the rest of the session, lens well stopped down. In general for IR I will continue to use a tripod and LV, but I was very happy with how the handheld shots came out. It helped that I was using a K-series lens with a firmer focusing ring that often found on AF lenses. It was also interesting, and not unhelpful, to compose with an out-of-focus viewfinder.

01-12-2019, 11:43 AM	#21
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	I really want to get my K-01 converted to full spectrum, what are the best guides for doing it yourself?

01-12-2019, 04:36 PM	#22
sqrrl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Otago, New Zealand Posts: 422	I'm not aware of any guide for the K01 - but these guys have a lot of information for a lot of cameras. It's usually not simple, but if you are comfortable rebuilding cameras it's usually fairly straight forward if you can get your hands on a service manual. If you are not comfortable opening up a camera to replace the internals then it's usually cheaper/easier to get a company who specializes in it to do it for you. Infrared Photoshop Tutorials & DIY Infrared Conversion Instructions

01-12-2019, 10:42 PM	#23
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	Originally posted by sqrrl I'm not aware of any guide for the K01 - but these guys have a lot of information for a lot of cameras. It's usually not simple, but if you are comfortable rebuilding cameras it's usually fairly straight forward if you can get your hands on a service manual. If you are not comfortable opening up a camera to replace the internals then it's usually cheaper/easier to get a company who specializes in it to do it for you. Infrared Photoshop Tutorials & DIY Infrared Conversion Instructions Yah I'm pretty comfortable disassembling stuff. These guides should be useful for when you get down to the sensor itself ty. If I attempt this and succeed I'll post a guide on how to do it for the K-01.

Infrared lens for Pentax

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