IR Photography on K2000

evildragon · 04-22-2010, 02:25 PM

I'm getting a R72 52mm lens for my K2000 and it's stock lens.

What else will I need to do? I know I'll need a really long exposure, and a tripod..

Am I missing anything? All photo editing is done in Apples Aperture.

JeffJS · 04-22-2010, 06:24 PM

Originally posted by evildragon

I'm getting a R72 52mm lens for my K2000 and it's stock lens.

What else will I need to do? I know I'll need a really long exposure, and a tripod..

Am I missing anything? All photo editing is done in Apples Aperture.

Use manual white balance to set your White balance with the filter in place. When you're making your exposures, Cover the eye piece to keep stray light from getting in there (I use a towel). This was done with a K20d (as an experiment), FA43, f9, 30 seconds, ISO100..

Some may suggest that the WB can be set in post processing but in this case, it's far better to have it correct when you take the photo.

evildragon · 04-22-2010, 06:41 PM

What would I set the white balance too?

JeffJS · 04-22-2010, 07:11 PM

The bottom one. You set it there and you fill the frame with the object you want to use as a reference. I use my concrete driveway. The sky sometimes works, the white siding on my house, and if all else fails, a gray or white card. Once you choose, simply press the shutter button. It will be saved as the custom setting (or a custom setting) until you change it. You may have to experiment to find what works best. Your goal is to get rid of the red cast that the R-72 is going to put on the photos.
From there, it's on to the post processing fun.

If you decide you REALLY like doing IR, you might want to look into a camera modified for IR..

More Here

evildragon · 04-22-2010, 07:13 PM

Don't have the money to get another DSLR for IR.

Gonna have to sit and wait with the 30 second exposure..

JeffJS · 04-22-2010, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by evildragon

Don't have the money to get another DSLR for IR.

Gonna have to sit and wait with the 30 second exposure..

That's part of what makes it fun

.. Experiment with ISO, aperture, etc until you find what works best. Note that everything that is true with noise in a DSLR exposure seems magnified when you put that IR filter on the lens. That's part of where covering the viewfinder helps for keeping out stray light.

There are also some point and shoot digicams that are particularly suited for IR. The Olympus 2020, the Panasonic FZ1, some of the sonys and nikons as well. With these, even with the R-72, you can go handheld (but the WB setting still applies).

There are a few IR masters around here (I'm not one of them) and once they spot the thread, they'll have plenty of advice.

evildragon · 04-22-2010, 07:24 PM

My father has an FZ1, it was the camera I used to use before I got the K2000..

I tried a cheap flea market IR filter on my cell phone and video camera (which is 1080p HDV), but both have IR blocking filters and limited exposure settings, and boosting the stuff later resulted in nasty pictures.

Cell phone:

Video camera (in photo mode):

The pentax didn't like the cheap IR filter at all, hence I purchased an R72 that'll arrive soon in the mail once the seller ships it.

JeffJS · 04-22-2010, 07:31 PM

Well, cellphones may be ok as memory saving, moment capture devices but I don't think they make very good cameras (of any kind)..

Out of camera, FZ1

After a channel swap in photoshop (different photo)

evildragon · 04-22-2010, 07:38 PM

Well I'll see how I do when the filter arrives.

My usual photography is stuff like this (taken on my k2000):
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs47/i/2009/205/4/6/Boats_and_Water_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs49/i/2009/189/b/4/Big_Bird_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs44/f/2009/129/a/a/Lamp_Details_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs42/f/2009/062/5/3/Church_and_Heavens_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg

On my fathers FZ1:
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs22/f/2007/334/0/b/Water_Drop_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs23/f/2007/337/5/d/Water_Drop_2_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg

JeffJS · 04-22-2010, 07:44 PM

I think you'll be able to get the hang of IR photography pretty quick. Those water shots with the FZ-1 are impressive. I've had a camera half ready twice in my life when I've seen a hawk and all I have to show for it is a blur. You're at least one up on me...

evildragon · 04-22-2010, 07:54 PM

The lens I had available for the hawk was only a vintage 200mm Cosmicar KA lens. manual focus too..

**rparmar** · 04-23-2010, 04:00 PM

I hate threads like this, because it stirs up my desire to get an IR modified camera. I guess I'll put that on the long list of things I am not allowing myself until after I resign from the ranks of the broke!

I do like seeing other people's shots, though.

What is the best alternative method people have found? R72 filter?

evildragon · 04-26-2010, 10:26 AM

My R72 infrared filter came..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/ir-1.jpg

That is the result.. SO grainy, I had to shoot ISO400, 30 second exposure, with a wide aperture just to capture this. Otherwise I got blackness.

JeffJS · 04-26-2010, 10:53 AM

Yep, It's grainy alright... It'll take some experimenting and finessing of the WB and exposure to find what works best. Is this from a RAW file or is it the out of camera JPG?

evildragon · 04-26-2010, 12:03 PM

From the RAW. I went into the gimp and channel swapped R and B, and auto leveled.

04-22-2010, 02:25 PM	#1
evildragon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22	IR Photography on K2000 I'm getting a R72 52mm lens for my K2000 and it's stock lens. What else will I need to do? I know I'll need a really long exposure, and a tripod.. Am I missing anything? All photo editing is done in Apples Aperture.

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04-22-2010, 06:24 PM	#2
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by evildragon I'm getting a R72 52mm lens for my K2000 and it's stock lens. What else will I need to do? I know I'll need a really long exposure, and a tripod.. Am I missing anything? All photo editing is done in Apples Aperture. Use manual white balance to set your White balance with the filter in place. When you're making your exposures, Cover the eye piece to keep stray light from getting in there (I use a towel). This was done with a K20d (as an experiment), FA43, f9, 30 seconds, ISO100.. Some may suggest that the WB can be set in post processing but in this case, it's far better to have it correct when you take the photo.

04-22-2010, 06:41 PM	#3
evildragon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22 Original Poster	What would I set the white balance too?

04-22-2010, 07:11 PM	#4
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	The bottom one. You set it there and you fill the frame with the object you want to use as a reference. I use my concrete driveway. The sky sometimes works, the white siding on my house, and if all else fails, a gray or white card. Once you choose, simply press the shutter button. It will be saved as the custom setting (or a custom setting) until you change it. You may have to experiment to find what works best. Your goal is to get rid of the red cast that the R-72 is going to put on the photos. From there, it's on to the post processing fun. If you decide you REALLY like doing IR, you might want to look into a camera modified for IR.. More Here

04-22-2010, 07:13 PM	#5
evildragon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22 Original Poster	Don't have the money to get another DSLR for IR. Gonna have to sit and wait with the 30 second exposure..

04-22-2010, 07:21 PM	#6
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by evildragon Don't have the money to get another DSLR for IR. Gonna have to sit and wait with the 30 second exposure.. That's part of what makes it fun .. Experiment with ISO, aperture, etc until you find what works best. Note that everything that is true with noise in a DSLR exposure seems magnified when you put that IR filter on the lens. That's part of where covering the viewfinder helps for keeping out stray light. There are also some point and shoot digicams that are particularly suited for IR. The Olympus 2020, the Panasonic FZ1, some of the sonys and nikons as well. With these, even with the R-72, you can go handheld (but the WB setting still applies). There are a few IR masters around here (I'm not one of them) and once they spot the thread, they'll have plenty of advice.

04-22-2010, 07:24 PM	#7
evildragon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22 Original Poster	My father has an FZ1, it was the camera I used to use before I got the K2000.. I tried a cheap flea market IR filter on my cell phone and video camera (which is 1080p HDV), but both have IR blocking filters and limited exposure settings, and boosting the stuff later resulted in nasty pictures. Cell phone: Video camera (in photo mode): The pentax didn't like the cheap IR filter at all, hence I purchased an R72 that'll arrive soon in the mail once the seller ships it.

04-22-2010, 07:31 PM	#8
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Well, cellphones may be ok as memory saving, moment capture devices but I don't think they make very good cameras (of any kind).. Out of camera, FZ1 After a channel swap in photoshop (different photo)

04-22-2010, 07:38 PM	#9
evildragon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22 Original Poster	Well I'll see how I do when the filter arrives. My usual photography is stuff like this (taken on my k2000): http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs47/i/2009/205/4/6/Boats_and_Water_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs49/i/2009/189/b/4/Big_Bird_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs44/f/2009/129/a/a/Lamp_Details_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs42/f/2009/062/5/3/Church_and_Heavens_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg On my fathers FZ1: http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs22/f/2007/334/0/b/Water_Drop_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs23/f/2007/337/5/d/Water_Drop_2_by_blackevilweredragon.jpg

04-22-2010, 07:44 PM	#10
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	I think you'll be able to get the hang of IR photography pretty quick. Those water shots with the FZ-1 are impressive. I've had a camera half ready twice in my life when I've seen a hawk and all I have to show for it is a blur. You're at least one up on me...

04-22-2010, 07:54 PM	#11
evildragon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22 Original Poster	The lens I had available for the hawk was only a vintage 200mm Cosmicar KA lens. manual focus too..

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04-23-2010, 04:00 PM	#12
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,817	I hate threads like this, because it stirs up my desire to get an IR modified camera. I guess I'll put that on the long list of things I am not allowing myself until after I resign from the ranks of the broke! I do like seeing other people's shots, though. What is the best alternative method people have found? R72 filter?

04-26-2010, 10:26 AM	#13
evildragon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22 Original Poster	My R72 infrared filter came.. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/ir-1.jpg That is the result.. SO grainy, I had to shoot ISO400, 30 second exposure, with a wide aperture just to capture this. Otherwise I got blackness.

04-26-2010, 10:53 AM	#14
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Yep, It's grainy alright... It'll take some experimenting and finessing of the WB and exposure to find what works best. Is this from a RAW file or is it the out of camera JPG?

04-26-2010, 12:03 PM	#15
evildragon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22 Original Poster	From the RAW. I went into the gimp and channel swapped R and B, and auto leveled.