K-1 MK2 Full Spectrum conversion for IR stuff

MJKoski · 05-09-2019, 04:14 AM - **1 Like**

I did not send it in yet. Instead, I found out that long exposure performance is good enough to make it work without any conversion. Samyang 35/1.4 lens allows composition wide open in live view easily.

Bulb timer for the win! Here, ISO100, F/11, 5 minute exposure during late evening, Hoya R72 (it has rather BAD coatings...) and channel swap in Photoshop. Time to try out Zeiss 50MP next.

MJKoski · 10-02-2019, 03:19 PM - **2 Likes**

Bump! I am shipping my k-1 today to Advanced Camera Services in UK to perform the full spectrum conversion. After shooting away with 720nm converted Fuji X-A3 for few months there is no going back anymore.

MJKoski · 10-23-2019, 08:19 AM - **2 Likes**

Wowzer! ACS has completed the conversion and now I must wait that bank transfer goes through for the payment. According to the job report conversion went fine and everything should still work. Next update as the camera arrives - hopefully in one piece.

**barondla** · 10-23-2019, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by MJKoski

Wowzer! ACS has completed the conversion and now I must wait that bank transfer goes through for the payment. According to the job report conversion went fine and everything should still work. Next update as the camera arrives - hopefully in one piece.

Can't wait to see how this works out and some photographs.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla

MJKoski · 11-06-2019, 10:42 AM

Camera arrived today. Advanced Camera Services did fine job indeed - I cannot see any marks or scratches which would indicate the body has been opened. Quartz glass filter is now installed, IBIS is still working and there is absolutely no dust behind the filter when checked @ F/22. Creaking grip issues vanished

First interesting observation is that the camera gained about 1.5 stops of sensitivity and about 2 stops under wide spectrum LED tabletop light. Liveview works brightly and fast under dim room light and 850nm filter as it should.

MJKoski · 11-06-2019, 03:49 PM - **3 Likes**

First test run with Zeiss 50MP. No filters. Reds are highly magnified as expected.

Setup reaches infinity barely requiring f/5.6 for sharp horizon. It was not perfect before either, required about f/4. Some flares are present which were not there before (as expected). This scenery is as hard as it gets for a test run. Almost pitch black foreground and very bright background light spots. On the lower left there is an intense highlight spot which is a frozen rock mirroring the background lights.

Dr_who · 11-06-2019, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by MJKoski

Anyone did this before? I am about to send my K-1 MK2 to Kolarivision for full spectrum conversion as it seems to be impossible to sell it locally. So I decided to keep it for all eternity until it fails completely.

Any experiences? Did it still work properly afterwards?

I have had my k-3 converted by Kolari vision for the Astro mod, but would be similar to their ir mod. SR still worked fine, I'm not 100 sure if the built in dust removal worked but I usually use cleaning swabs anyways. Of course WB ect will be wonky but it'll still work normally.

---------- Post added 11-06-19 at 04:58 PM ----------

Also I didn't have any issues reaching Infinity with lenses

MJKoski · 11-07-2019, 04:44 AM

My K-1 mk2 has been a bit cranky from the beginning considering infinity focusing. It is borderline tricky with some lenses which focused past infinity with my previous mk1. There seems to be some register distance variation at play here.

DrawsACircle · 11-07-2019, 04:58 AM - **3 Likes**

If you don’t know it already MJKoski, you can get clip-in filters for your K-1, guess you then have the opportunity to shoot with both a normal camera and an IR camera: clip_filter_for_pentax_k1

MJKoski · 11-07-2019, 07:43 AM

Nice! I did not know about availability of such items for Pentax camera. It could well be a solution to handle 15-30 zoom without huge and impossible to get filters.

**pcrichmond** · 11-08-2019, 10:50 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by DrawsACircle

If you don’t know it already MJKoski, you can get clip-in filters for your K-1, guess you then have the opportunity to shoot with both a normal camera and an IR camera: clip_filter_for_pentax_k1

Haven't tried any of the Astronomik IR or OWB filters yet but do have their CLS-CCD clip-in filter for the K1. It is very well made and does cut light pollution quite a bit for astrophotography. Let us know if anyone tries the specific bandwidth filters and how they perform.

MJKoski · 11-09-2019, 04:47 AM - **1 Like**

Wowzer! The ProPlanet 642 & 742 are just what I need! Solution for 15-30 (if the lens itself works for IR...)

Huge thanks.

**TimR** · 11-10-2019, 05:27 AM

Congratulations MJKoski on your converted K-1 MK2.
Very interesting thread.Hope to see more pictures.
Keep up the good work.. Thanks!

MJKoski · 11-10-2019, 06:06 AM

I look forward to next spring/summer already. Hope to see some clear skies soon for some astro-tracking.

Natural greens are mostly gone here right now.

photoptimist · 11-10-2019, 08:06 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by MJKoski

Wowzer! The ProPlanet 642 & 742 are just what I need! Solution for 15-30 (if the lens itself works for IR...)

Huge thanks.

Those slip-in filters might also help your ∞-focus issues. Assuming they are made of glass, they will reduce the ∞-focus distance by 1/3 the thickness of the filter.

11-07-2019, 04:58 AM - 3 Likes	#24
DrawsACircle Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ulfborg, Denmark Photos: Albums Posts: 434	If you don’t know it already MJKoski, you can get clip-in filters for your K-1, guess you then have the opportunity to shoot with both a normal camera and an IR camera: clip_filter_for_pentax_k1 Last edited by DrawsACircle; 11-07-2019 at 08:20 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K-5 Full spectrum conversion (IR filter removal)	Azergoth	Do-It-Yourself	21	03-20-2024 04:03 AM
Considering Full-spectrum Conversion	K David	Pentax DSLR Discussion	6	10-07-2018 07:38 PM
K-30 full spectrum conversion	eye	Pentax K-30 & K-50	12	11-14-2015 04:21 PM
Nikon D70 Full-Spectrum IR Conversion	AquaDome	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	0	01-18-2014 11:45 AM
The Yellow Brick is going out for a full spectrum conversion.	VoiceOfReason	Pentax K-01	11	10-08-2013 02:00 PM

05-09-2019, 04:14 AM - 1 Like	#16
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	I did not send it in yet. Instead, I found out that long exposure performance is good enough to make it work without any conversion. Samyang 35/1.4 lens allows composition wide open in live view easily. Bulb timer for the win! Here, ISO100, F/11, 5 minute exposure during late evening, Hoya R72 (it has rather BAD coatings...) and channel swap in Photoshop. Time to try out Zeiss 50MP next.

10-02-2019, 03:19 PM - 2 Likes	#17
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	Bump! I am shipping my k-1 today to Advanced Camera Services in UK to perform the full spectrum conversion. After shooting away with 720nm converted Fuji X-A3 for few months there is no going back anymore.

10-23-2019, 08:19 AM - 2 Likes	#18
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	Wowzer! ACS has completed the conversion and now I must wait that bank transfer goes through for the payment. According to the job report conversion went fine and everything should still work. Next update as the camera arrives - hopefully in one piece.

10-23-2019, 09:08 AM	#19
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,715	Originally posted by MJKoski Wowzer! ACS has completed the conversion and now I must wait that bank transfer goes through for the payment. According to the job report conversion went fine and everything should still work. Next update as the camera arrives - hopefully in one piece. Can't wait to see how this works out and some photographs. Thanks for sharing, barondla

11-06-2019, 10:42 AM	#20
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	Camera arrived today. Advanced Camera Services did fine job indeed - I cannot see any marks or scratches which would indicate the body has been opened. Quartz glass filter is now installed, IBIS is still working and there is absolutely no dust behind the filter when checked @ F/22. Creaking grip issues vanished First interesting observation is that the camera gained about 1.5 stops of sensitivity and about 2 stops under wide spectrum LED tabletop light. Liveview works brightly and fast under dim room light and 850nm filter as it should.

11-06-2019, 03:49 PM - 3 Likes	#21
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	First test run with Zeiss 50MP. No filters. Reds are highly magnified as expected. Setup reaches infinity barely requiring f/5.6 for sharp horizon. It was not perfect before either, required about f/4. Some flares are present which were not there before (as expected). This scenery is as hard as it gets for a test run. Almost pitch black foreground and very bright background light spots. On the lower left there is an intense highlight spot which is a frozen rock mirroring the background lights.

11-06-2019, 04:57 PM	#22
Dr_who Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 777	Originally posted by MJKoski Anyone did this before? I am about to send my K-1 MK2 to Kolarivision for full spectrum conversion as it seems to be impossible to sell it locally. So I decided to keep it for all eternity until it fails completely. Any experiences? Did it still work properly afterwards? I have had my k-3 converted by Kolari vision for the Astro mod, but would be similar to their ir mod. SR still worked fine, I'm not 100 sure if the built in dust removal worked but I usually use cleaning swabs anyways. Of course WB ect will be wonky but it'll still work normally. ---------- Post added 11-06-19 at 04:58 PM ---------- Also I didn't have any issues reaching Infinity with lenses

11-07-2019, 04:44 AM	#23
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	My K-1 mk2 has been a bit cranky from the beginning considering infinity focusing. It is borderline tricky with some lenses which focused past infinity with my previous mk1. There seems to be some register distance variation at play here.

11-07-2019, 07:43 AM	#25
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	Nice! I did not know about availability of such items for Pentax camera. It could well be a solution to handle 15-30 zoom without huge and impossible to get filters.

11-08-2019, 10:50 AM - 1 Like	#26
pcrichmond Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Bishop, CA Posts: 278	Originally posted by DrawsACircle If you don’t know it already MJKoski, you can get clip-in filters for your K-1, guess you then have the opportunity to shoot with both a normal camera and an IR camera: clip_filter_for_pentax_k1 Haven't tried any of the Astronomik IR or OWB filters yet but do have their CLS-CCD clip-in filter for the K1. It is very well made and does cut light pollution quite a bit for astrophotography. Let us know if anyone tries the specific bandwidth filters and how they perform.

11-09-2019, 04:47 AM - 1 Like	#27
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	Wowzer! The ProPlanet 642 & 742 are just what I need! Solution for 15-30 (if the lens itself works for IR...) Huge thanks.

11-10-2019, 05:27 AM	#28
TimR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 344	Congratulations MJKoski on your converted K-1 MK2. Very interesting thread.Hope to see more pictures. Keep up the good work.. Thanks!

11-10-2019, 06:06 AM	#29
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784 Original Poster	I look forward to next spring/summer already. Hope to see some clear skies soon for some astro-tracking. Natural greens are mostly gone here right now.

11-10-2019, 08:06 AM - 1 Like	#30
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,128	Originally posted by MJKoski Wowzer! The ProPlanet 642 & 742 are just what I need! Solution for 15-30 (if the lens itself works for IR...) Huge thanks. Those slip-in filters might also help your ∞-focus issues. Assuming they are made of glass, they will reduce the ∞-focus distance by 1/3 the thickness of the filter.