Starting with Infra-Red Photography Part 9 – First tests with a converted camera

I was going to have one of my camera bodies converted for ‘full spectrum’ sensitivity so that Infra Red and Ultra Violet can be seen by the sensor. However, for £50 more I could buy an already converted camera body so this is the path I took.

This camera was of a different system and mount (a Sony E-mount) to my current system (Fuji X-mount) but this wasn’t an issue for me as I am purchasing old M42 screw mount lenses (that are used with an adaptor) as modern lenses tend to suffer with hotspot issues when used for IR.

First off I tried the camera with a cheap Zodel 28mm M42 lens:

This is a straight forward unchanged colour image – false colour is normal
This is an unprocessed colour image with a 720nm IR filter attached

I then tried using an old Wray enlarger lens which is mounted using bellows. This lens has a focal length of 3.25 inches making it a telephoto on this camera body (equivalent to 124mm on the cropped format sensor):

This image has been converted to B&W and was taken using the Wray lens
This is another image converted to B&W showing the garden using the Zodel lens

It soon becomes apparent that this is a totally new style of photography that is going to need some practice to get right.

Author: Paul L.G. Morris

I am an amateur photographer whose photography is mostly of gardens, nature and the rural environment. My specialities are close-ups, panoramic views, or a combination of both that I call 'Nearscapes'. I work mostly for my own interest having closed my business PM Studios Ltd.