full spectrum cameras

[powerlord]

Just to say I came across this seller on ebay (no connection) who is doing some very cheap full spectrum modified cameras:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_dkr=1&iconV2Request=true&_blrs=recall_filtering&_ssn=lumographic&store_cat=0&store_name=lumographic&_oac=1&_nkw=spectrum

I nabbed an a5000 and a lens to try from him.

My use case is a small camera for travel use - maybe to stick to my seestar s50. A mirrorless like the a5000 is 20mp. with the addition of a cheap sony e mount lens and a uv/ir filter you will have a capable pocket sized nebula catcher it seems to me - and change out of 200 squid.

just a thought. I'll be no doubt posting my experimental results on here, so follow me if you don't wanna miss em!

 

[powerlord]

got camera. pretty cool. here's the back garden with 550nm IR pass and a channel swap.

[tooth_dr]

Had a look and was tempted, but didnt bother!  Must resist

Please post more photos.

[powerlord]

here's a few more:

530nm out the camera colours - just tweaked for exposure, brightness, contrast:

720nm (made black and white as no colour info by this stage):

560nm - out the camera colours - just tweaked for exposure, brightness, contrast:

720nm again, again, tweaked for exposure, brightness, etc then converted to black and white as no colour info really.

[michael8554]

"Full Spectrum" is an incorrect and misleading description.

These cameras are "Infrared Converted", which filter out the visual spectrum, leaving just the IR spectrum.

So they can't be "Full Spectrum" can they.

Michael

[powerlord]

er no you've misunderstood a bit there. The filters are removed making the cameras sensitive to ir and uv in addition to visible light (FULL SPECTRUM)

You then would almost never shoot with them without adding your own filters. Otherwise you will get everything from 300nm up through 1000nm..which does not look great as the uv and ir will be focusing at a different point to the visible light.

Here I am shooting with an adjustable IR PASS filter. Hence only various frequencies up from what pics say..720nm being pretty much no visible light.

I have a uv pass on order.when I fit that instead, I'll be shooting just UV light.

Hope that clears it up.

Edited October 4, 2023 by powerlord

[Stuart1971]

DSLR cameras have 2 filters in them and both cut the UV / IR,  if only 1 of these filters  is removed, (this is the common DSLR astro mod)  the other is left in place as UV / IR cut is needed, the one that is removed also cuts into the Ha hence why it is removed.

Now if you remove both of the filters, then this is the “Full spectrum mod’, (so all light will pass to the sensor) which many people do, then you need an UV / IR cut filter of your own in the imaging train for OSC imaging…

Edited October 4, 2023 by Stuart1971

[Stuart1971]

18 minutes ago, michael8554 said:

"Full Spectrum" is an incorrect and misleading description.

These cameras are "Infrared Converted", which filter out the visual spectrum, leaving just the IR spectrum.

So they can't be "Full Spectrum" can they.

Michael

Yes they can…

[powerlord]

4 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

DSLR cameras have 2 filters in them and both cut the IR,   only 1 of these filters  is removed, (this is the common DSLR astro mod)  the other is left in place as IR cut is needed, the one that is removed also cuts into the Ha hence why it is removed.

Now if you remove both of the filters, then this is the “Full spectrum mod’, which many people do, then you need an IR cut filter of your own in the imaging train for OSC imaging…

All good info - I'd just add that the remaining filter also cuts UV. Hence when both are removed - you get access to ranges below and above the visible range.

Not all cameras have 2 filters either - for example the a5000 I got has only the one - so removing it gets you full spectrum. that's common with quite a lot of more point and shoot cameras. So to shoot nebulas,etc you must ensure you use a regular uv/ir filter with it.

Whereas, as Stuart says - with my 6d, I had only the LPF-2 filter removed. So I don't need to use a UV/IR pass to shoot nebula with it.

[Stuart1971]

Just now, powerlord said:

All good info - I'd just add that the remaining filter also cuts UV. Hence when both are removed - you get access to ranges below and above the visible range.

Not all cameras have 2 filters either - for example the a5000 I got has only the one - so removing it gets you full spectrum. that's common with quite a lot of more point and shoot cameras. So to shoot nebulas,etc you must ensure you use a regular uv/ir filter with it.

Whereas, as Stuart says - with my 6d, I had only the LPF-2 filter removed. So I don't need to use a UV/IR pass to shoot nebula with it.

Yea I guess I was referring to the older canon conversions…👍🏻

[michael8554]

7 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

DSLR cameras have 2 filters in them and both cut the IR,  if only 1 of these filters  is removed, (this is the common DSLR astro mod)  the other is left in place as IR cut is needed, the one that is removed also cuts into the Ha hence why it is removed.

Now if you remove both of the filters, then this is the “Full spectrum mod’, which many people do, then you need an IR cut filter of your own in the imaging train for OSC imaging…

Agreed.

But not how these cameras have been modded if they are truly "IR Conversions".

For that, both the factory filters are removed.

And an "IR Pass" filter inserted - not an "IR Filter", which cuts the IR.

So no longer "Full Spectrum", they're IR spectrum only.

Michael

[Stuart1971]

With a Full spectrum mod, the camera is basically the same as a dedicated uncooled Astro camera…👍🏻

[Stuart1971]

1 minute ago, michael8554 said:

Agreed.

But not how these cameras have been modded if they are truly "IR Conversions".

For that, both the factory filters are removed.

And an "IR Pass" filter inserted - not an "IR Filter", which cuts the IR.

So no longer "Full Spectrum", they're IR spectrum only.

Michael

Maybe he had used the wrong terminology in the advert, and has he added an IR pass filter, I doubt it for that cost, it will just have no filters now in front of the sensor…that’s my assumption anyway…🤔

[Stuart1971]

Just looked at the advert again, and they are just cameras with all filters removed, no other filters added, as he says you can use them for normal daytime photography with the addition of a UV / IR filter, that would not be the case if it had been modded with a filter than only allows IR light through…

Edited October 4, 2023 by Stuart1971

[powerlord]

Michael, we both did go to some length to explain this, even though your reply was a bit er..uppity. give us a bit of the benefit of knowing what we are talking about.

here is the camera and filter:

its the filter I am using at the moment- a 49mm EXTERNAL filter. I can take it off (ooo), and replace it with a UV/IR block, or an L-ultimate, or an Sii 3nm or whatever I want.

I have effectively, as Stuart says, made my camera the same (sort of) as an astro camera.

 

[powerlord]

1 minute ago, Stuart1971 said:

Just looked at the advert again, and they are just cameras with all filters removed, no other filters added, as he says you can use them for normal daytime photography with the addition of a UV / IR filter, that would not be the case if it had been modded with a filter than only allows IR light through…

correct. I didn't think it was confusing, but clearly I was mistaken... 🙄

[Stuart1971]

2 minutes ago, powerlord said:

correct. I didn't think it was confusing, but clearly I was mistaken... 🙄

I think it’s because the seller put “IR conversion” and “full spectrum” in the title..

Edited October 4, 2023 by Stuart1971

[Stuart1971]

This was the title on the listing..

SONY a5000 FULL SPECTRUM/ IR CONVERTED CAMERA BODY BLACK 2710A

[powerlord]

1 minute ago, Stuart1971 said:

This was the title on the listing..

SONY a5000 FULL SPECTRUM/ IR CONVERTED CAMERA BODY BLACK 2710A

sure, which is accurate in that, that is how they are usually described. However it was my title and description the Op had an issue with. hopefully that's cleared up now. 👍

[Stuart1971]

1 minute ago, powerlord said:

sure, which is accurate in that, that is how they are usually described. However it was my title and description the Op had an issue with. hopefully that's cleared up now. 👍

Yes, your title was correct…👍🏻

[tooth_dr]

I suspect 'IR conversions' is just to help with the search on ebay, as that is a common terminology used.

[michael8554]

"Maybe he had used the wrong terminology in the advert, "

Wot I said.

If the vendor doesn't know the difference then caveat emptor.....

Michael

[michael8554]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

I would never call a Full Spectrum conversion an IR Conversion.

Michael

[tooth_dr]

Looking forward to more photos Stu, pedantics aside.

[powerlord]

a bunch of the jpgs straight out the camera. my filter goes from 520-720nm. the more colour, the lower I'd have shot. apologies that there seems to be a couple of hairs floating about..

 

and lastly a few with no filter at all: