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SOldBear · 12-03-2009, 06:02 PM

Have any of you converted a K10D (or any other Pentax DSLR) for IR photography? Please share your experience.

I'm thinking of converting my K10D to IR if and when I buy a K-7. A K10D is not worth much on the used market.

nedwards08 · 12-03-2009, 08:49 PM

Are you thinking of hacking the sensor, or just using an IR filter? I know the filter approach will work with a K100D, but does not work with the K10D. Can't remember why; someone smarter than me can probably elaborate.

SOldBear · 12-03-2009, 09:40 PM

Originally posted by nedwards08

Are you thinking of hacking the sensor, or just using an IR filter?

I tried the IR filter. I don't think I have enough patience for that.

I'm thinking of removing the IR filter in front of the sensor (serious surgery). There are companies advertising that for a few hundred $, but none of them lists Pentax.

More important than cost, I'd like to hear from Pentax DSLR owners who have converted their cameras to IR.

frank · 12-03-2009, 10:06 PM

My friend (lianglunche here at the forum) has converted a lot Pentax (and Canon/Nikon even Kodak) cameras to dedicated IR cameras. As a matter of fact, I'm having a converted K10D w/ me right now

Let me know if you need any help converting yours.

stuffjunkie · 12-04-2009, 07:31 PM

Yes, I have a converted K10D.
Mine was converted last summer (June 2009) by Spencer's Camera (Price, Utah) spencerscamera.com. I called Lifepixel and MAxMax and neither were interested. Then I found Spencer's. I chose the Enhanced IR filter (665nm) and am very pleased with my revived K10.

Metering is a trip though. In AP, point the lens at the sky and your two stops underexposed, point the lens at a patch of trees, even in the shade, and you likely to be as much as 2 stops overexposed. That's the nature of IR. I enjoy seeing the world in ths different way. The K10D works great.

Here's one from a trip to Maine this fall.

HawaiianOnline · 12-04-2009, 08:04 PM

Also got my K10D converted at Spencers. Works great, but gotta watch the metering just as was previously mentioned.

More here.

SOldBear · 12-04-2009, 08:19 PM

You guys are killing me

The images are breath-taking.

I think my DA 15mm will have to wait a bit longer

I contacted Spencer's Camera, will do it soon.

kent · 12-05-2009, 02:38 AM

What I would choose for IR photography is the k100d. It is more sensitive to IR than 10.2mp matrix. What is more I have tried IR with Nikon D70 which was incredibly sensitive to IR. Even more I could hold it in hands and take a picture without needing a tripod. And the picture was already coloured - grass was white and sky.. well something between blue and violet. So that means I could get a coloured picture without using photoshop. I believe you could achieve same results with K100d.

SOldBear · 12-05-2009, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by kent

What I would choose for IR photography is the k100d.

I would actually choose a camera with live view. I imagine focusing using live view would be more accurate.

But I already have a K10D body laying around.

stuffjunkie · 12-06-2009, 12:19 AM

Originally posted by SOldBear

I would actually choose a camera with live view. I imagine focusing using live view would be more accurate.

But I already have a K10D body laying around.

I agree that live view would be nice. I've not seen focus issues with my K10d. I would like the live view for exposure reference/info/help.

SOldBear · 12-06-2009, 12:22 AM

Originally posted by stuffjunkie

I've not seen focus issues with my K10d.

That's good to know. I was afraid that since the focus sensors are not designed for IR, focusing might be off. For that reason I was thinking of converting the Canon G5 instead. But now I definitely go with the K10D.

Lloydy · 12-06-2009, 11:21 AM

I was just trawling around looking for information about my other hobby, 4x4's, and I noticed that the 'man of many links' WJ also has a huge page of photography links, with a lot of I.R. links as well.

WJ's Infrared & Photography Homepage

Typically, a lot of the links are now dead, but there might be some that are still active and worth looking at.

frank · 12-08-2009, 02:48 AM

Here are a few IR photos I took with an IR converted K100D (done by lianglunche from ebay, also my buddy friend

):

kent · 12-08-2009, 10:04 AM

incredible. now thats what i call real ir image

Andi Lo · 12-08-2009, 01:42 PM

Originally posted by kent

What I would choose for IR photography is the k100d. It is more sensitive to IR than 10.2mp matrix. What is more I have tried IR with Nikon D70 which was incredibly sensitive to IR. Even more I could hold it in hands and take a picture without needing a tripod. And the picture was already coloured - grass was white and sky.. well something between blue and violet. So that means I could get a coloured picture without using photoshop. I believe you could achieve same results with K100d.

I need this clarified by someone... does IR sensitivity matter if you've removed the IR filter? I'm under the impression that the difference between the 6mp and 10mp sensor only matters when you use a screw-on filter on the lens.

@Frank: amazing images... are they all the same wvalength? did you do any exposure manipulation on the skies? It looks almost as if you got a DR boost by converting it to IR.

12-03-2009, 06:02 PM	#1
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Converting K10D for IR photography Have any of you converted a K10D (or any other Pentax DSLR) for IR photography? Please share your experience. I'm thinking of converting my K10D to IR if and when I buy a K-7. A K10D is not worth much on the used market.

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12-03-2009, 08:49 PM	#2
nedwards08 New Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 6	Are you thinking of hacking the sensor, or just using an IR filter? I know the filter approach will work with a K100D, but does not work with the K10D. Can't remember why; someone smarter than me can probably elaborate.

12-03-2009, 09:40 PM	#3
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206 Original Poster	Originally posted by nedwards08 Are you thinking of hacking the sensor, or just using an IR filter? I tried the IR filter. I don't think I have enough patience for that. I'm thinking of removing the IR filter in front of the sensor (serious surgery). There are companies advertising that for a few hundred $, but none of them lists Pentax. More important than cost, I'd like to hear from Pentax DSLR owners who have converted their cameras to IR.

12-03-2009, 10:06 PM	#4
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	My friend (lianglunche here at the forum) has converted a lot Pentax (and Canon/Nikon even Kodak) cameras to dedicated IR cameras. As a matter of fact, I'm having a converted K10D w/ me right now Let me know if you need any help converting yours.

12-04-2009, 07:31 PM	#5
stuffjunkie Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 37	Yes, I have a converted K10D. Mine was converted last summer (June 2009) by Spencer's Camera (Price, Utah) spencerscamera.com. I called Lifepixel and MAxMax and neither were interested. Then I found Spencer's. I chose the Enhanced IR filter (665nm) and am very pleased with my revived K10. Metering is a trip though. In AP, point the lens at the sky and your two stops underexposed, point the lens at a patch of trees, even in the shade, and you likely to be as much as 2 stops overexposed. That's the nature of IR. I enjoy seeing the world in ths different way. The K10D works great. Here's one from a trip to Maine this fall.

12-04-2009, 08:04 PM	#6
HawaiianOnline Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hawaii Posts: 613	Also got my K10D converted at Spencers. Works great, but gotta watch the metering just as was previously mentioned. More here.

12-04-2009, 08:19 PM	#7
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206 Original Poster	You guys are killing me The images are breath-taking. I think my DA 15mm will have to wait a bit longer I contacted Spencer's Camera, will do it soon.

12-05-2009, 02:38 AM	#8
kent Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 344	What I would choose for IR photography is the k100d. It is more sensitive to IR than 10.2mp matrix. What is more I have tried IR with Nikon D70 which was incredibly sensitive to IR. Even more I could hold it in hands and take a picture without needing a tripod. And the picture was already coloured - grass was white and sky.. well something between blue and violet. So that means I could get a coloured picture without using photoshop. I believe you could achieve same results with K100d.

12-05-2009, 11:15 AM	#9
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206 Original Poster	Originally posted by kent What I would choose for IR photography is the k100d. I would actually choose a camera with live view. I imagine focusing using live view would be more accurate. But I already have a K10D body laying around.

12-06-2009, 12:19 AM	#10
stuffjunkie Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 37	Originally posted by SOldBear I would actually choose a camera with live view. I imagine focusing using live view would be more accurate. But I already have a K10D body laying around. I agree that live view would be nice. I've not seen focus issues with my K10d. I would like the live view for exposure reference/info/help.

12-06-2009, 12:22 AM	#11
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206 Original Poster	Originally posted by stuffjunkie I've not seen focus issues with my K10d. That's good to know. I was afraid that since the focus sensors are not designed for IR, focusing might be off. For that reason I was thinking of converting the Canon G5 instead. But now I definitely go with the K10D.

12-06-2009, 11:21 AM	#12
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	I was just trawling around looking for information about my other hobby, 4x4's, and I noticed that the 'man of many links' WJ also has a huge page of photography links, with a lot of I.R. links as well. WJ's Infrared & Photography Homepage Typically, a lot of the links are now dead, but there might be some that are still active and worth looking at.

12-08-2009, 02:48 AM	#13
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Here are a few IR photos I took with an IR converted K100D (done by lianglunche from ebay, also my buddy friend ):

12-08-2009, 10:04 AM	#14
kent Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 344	incredible. now thats what i call real ir image

12-08-2009, 01:42 PM	#15
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Originally posted by kent What I would choose for IR photography is the k100d. It is more sensitive to IR than 10.2mp matrix. What is more I have tried IR with Nikon D70 which was incredibly sensitive to IR. Even more I could hold it in hands and take a picture without needing a tripod. And the picture was already coloured - grass was white and sky.. well something between blue and violet. So that means I could get a coloured picture without using photoshop. I believe you could achieve same results with K100d. I need this clarified by someone... does IR sensitivity matter if you've removed the IR filter? I'm under the impression that the difference between the 6mp and 10mp sensor only matters when you use a screw-on filter on the lens. @Frank: amazing images... are they all the same wvalength? did you do any exposure manipulation on the skies? It looks almost as if you got a DR boost by converting it to IR.

Converting K10D for IR photography

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