Everything About DSLR Infrared Photography
In today’s text, we will bring you all the details about DLRS Infrared Photography, from what a DSLR is to the techniques and possibilities of photography, and we will also answer the most frequently asked questions on the subject of ‘DSLR Infrared Photography’.
If you want to learn even more about infrared photography, be sure to also read our articles How Infrared Photography Works in General and Complete Guide to Digital Infrared Photography. Without further ado, let’s learn some new things about infrared photography.
- What is DSLR Photography?
- Compact Camera, Classic DSLR or Modified DSLR Infrared Photography
- Conclusion
- FAQ
- What is DSLR infrared photography?
- How can I capture infrared images with a DSLR camera?
- What are the benefits of DSLR infrared photography?
- How do I convert my DSLR camera for infrared photography?
- Can I convert any DSLR camera for infrared photography?
- What types of infrared filters are available for DSLR cameras?
What is DSLR Photography?
DSLR stands for “Digital Single Lens Reflex”. This phrase would mean that it is a digital camera that uses a mirror system to reflect light from the lens to the optical device, that is, by moving the mirror during the exposure, it allows light to pass directly to the sensor. This “single lens reflex” technology has existed in various forms since the 19th century, and the first commercial digital SLR cameras appeared in the early 1990s. The most famous companies that produce DSLR cameras are Canon and Nikon. Also worth mentioning are Sony, Sigma, Pentax, Mamiya, Leica, Hasselblad and Phase One.
DSLR cameras consist of three parts. Camera body, shutter and lens. The body of the camera is a chamber in which the light beam is refracted and where the image is recorded on the electronic chip, the digital sensor. The camera shutter is a mechanical obstacle that affects the duration of the exposure. Pressing the shutter button on the camera body opens the shutter, and allows light to pass through to the light-sensitive electronic chip that creates the photo. A lens is a device that receives and positions light. Lenses are made of glass and several separate lenses. Lenses can be changed with DSLR cameras, which are divided into standard, wide-angle and tele/zoom lenses.
DSLR cameras represent the standard in digital photography. Interchangeable lenses give this type of device an incomparable advantage over other types of cameras, so they are equally represented by amateur photographers, beginners, usually with a kit lens, as well as by professionals involved in photography.
Compact Camera, Classic DSLR or Modified DSLR Infrared Photography
If you have decided to try your hand at infrared photography, then we will explain the three variants that are used in infrared photography today. We will definitely start from the cheapest and simplest option to the most expensive and complex.
Compact Camera
This category includes all devices that can record a photo and have small sensors that do not have a filter in front of them to block infrared light. This is definitely the easiest and probably the cheapest start. There is a good chance that you already have some kind of small compact or newer generation cell phone with a better sensor; all you need is an infrared filter.
Advantages:
- Since the lens diameters are small, the filters for them are also cheaper.
- They enable infrared photography with relatively short exposures.
Disadvantages:
– The biggest drawback would certainly be the lack of wide-angle lenses. Although there are compacts with relatively wide lenses (24mm), as a rule, they start from 28 to 30 and even with longer focal lengths. For many, this is a shortcoming, but perhaps it shouldn’t be a serious objection to begin with.
– Small sensors mean that as the ISO value increases, the digital noise will increase considerably. Although new generations of cameras successfully solve this, we must know that the ISO value will inevitably rise when we put an infrared filter in front of the lens, at least by 2 steps, depending on the shooting conditions.
If the camera allows you to manually set the settings, then this does not have to be a complaint, because by using a tripod and extending the exposure, we can get photos that are not marked by digital noise, and about the best options for infrared photography, read our text on this LINK.
Classic DSLR Infrared Photography
In addition to DSLRs, this also includes new generations of mirrorless cameras, zoomers and all those that have higher quality and larger sensors than compacts and have a filter in front of them to block IR light.
Advantages:
– We don’t think we need to mention the advantages of a classic DSLR over compacts and mobile phones, and over modified DSLRs, it can be used for both “normal” photography and IR photography.
Disadvantages:
– The filter to block infrared light in front of the sensor does its job very well. By placing an infrared filter in front of the lens, we are essentially forcing the camera to capture light that barely reaches it. Therefore, our exposure will always be very long. In my case, it’s even 30 seconds at ISO 200, and that’s when there’s the most sun, i.e. when the conditions are the best for IR photography. Therefore, all your IR photos will be an immediate and long exposure, so it is almost impossible to get a completely sharp photo.
Also, digital noise will be more visible, especially with older generation devices. And that is the only real drawback of this combination. With other manufacturers, and even with different models of the same manufacturer, these figures may be different. But you have to try it yourself, and it depends on the strength of the infrared light blocking filter that each manufacturer has built into each device.
Modified DSLR Infrared Photography
This is a variant that requires moving a filter that blocks infrared light. Usually, a classic infrared filter is then placed instead, the one that would normally be placed in front of the lens. This means opening the camera, rummaging around to get to the sensor and performing the filter change operation. Although it is not nuclear science, it is not exactly an operation that anyone would dare to perform.
Advantages
– We work with the camera in the same way as with a classic camera, we don’t need filters in front of the lens, we can also have fast exposures, so we can photograph everyday scenes handheld.
Disadvantages:
– Such a device is then only an infrared device, it will always produce only infrared photos, which means that we must have another one for classic photography.
– Although we can do the operation of moving and changing the filters in front of the lens ourselves, specialized companies will charge us several hundred dollars for it. If at all you have someone who does this in your vicinity.
What to choose? Today, we would choose the latter version because it enables more creative possibilities and ease of work, but if we had nothing better than the compact, we would use that option as well. So, all three variants allow you to create infrared photos and that’s what matters most.
Conclusion
DSLR stands for “Digital Single Lens Reflex”. The most famous companies that produce DSLR cameras are Canon and Nikon. DSLR cameras consist of three parts. The camera shutter is a mechanical obstacle that affects the duration of the exposure.
DSLR cameras represent the standard in digital photography. If you have decided to try your hand at infrared photography, then we will explain the three variants that are used in infrared photography today. This category includes all devices that can record a photo and have small sensors that do not have a filter in front of them to block infrared light. This is definitely the easiest and probably the cheapest start. –
The biggest drawback would certainly be the lack of wide-angle lenses. – Small sensors mean that as the ISO value increases, the digital noise will increase considerably. Also, digital noise will be more visible, especially with older generation devices. And that is the only real drawback of this combination. the one that would normally be placed in front of the lens. This means opening the camera, rummaging around to get to the sensor and performing the filter change operation.
Although we can do the operation of moving and changing the filters in front of the lens ourselves, specialized companies will charge us several hundred dollars for it. We would definitely choose the latter version because it enables more creative possibilities and ease of work, but if we had nothing better than the compact, we would use that option as well.
FAQ
What is DSLR infrared photography?
DSLR infrared photography refers to the technique of capturing infrared images using a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera. It involves modifying the camera or using specialized filters to allow the camera to capture infrared light and create unique and ethereal images.
How can I capture infrared images with a DSLR camera?
There are two main approaches to capturing infrared images with a DSLR camera. The first method involves using an external infrared filter, which blocks visible light and allows only infrared light to pass through. The second method involves converting the camera itself by removing or replacing the infrared-blocking filter inside the camera.
What are the benefits of DSLR infrared photography?
DSLR infrared photography offers several benefits. It allows photographers to capture surreal and dream-like images with a distinct infrared aesthetic. Infrared photography can reveal hidden details and textures in subjects, especially in landscapes and foliage. It also provides a unique and creative perspective on everyday scenes, making it a popular choice among photographers who want to experiment with different styles.
How do I convert my DSLR camera for infrared photography?
Converting a DSLR camera for infrared photography typically involves removing or replacing the infrared-blocking filter that is present in most cameras. This process is best performed by professional camera conversion services that specialize in modifying cameras for infrared use. They can remove the existing filter and replace it with an infrared-passing filter, allowing the camera to capture infrared light.
Can I convert any DSLR camera for infrared photography?
In theory, most DSLR cameras can be converted for infrared photography. However, the ease of conversion and availability of conversion options may vary depending on the camera model. Some older DSLR models are easier to convert, while certain newer models may require more complex conversion procedures. It’s advisable to consult with a camera conversion service to determine the feasibility of converting your specific camera model.
What types of infrared filters are available for DSLR cameras?
There are different types of infrared filters available for DSLR cameras. The most common is the infrared-passing filter, also known as the infrared filter or IR filter. This filter blocks visible light and allows only infrared light to reach the camera’s sensor. Other variations include full-spectrum filters, which allow both infrared and visible light to pass through, and infrared cutoff filters, which block infrared light and only capture visible light.
