Having a ‘great‘ camera, doesn’t mean you must be a ‘great‘ photographer… Over the years I have seen superb images taken on relatively inexpensive cameras (even phones) and I have seen terrible images taken with £1,000+ cameras… When all is said and done… a camera is simply a ‘tool’ which records images, either video or still. If you are happy with the outcome, then the camera has served its purpose.

I am a member of one of the oldest Photographic Society’s in the world, www.slps.co.uk founded in the mid 1800’s. I am a firm believer in ‘Better Photography Through Education‘ and this may simply mean researching the web, yourself. I often give talks and presentations to local Photographic Societies/Clubs, on a range of photographic topics…

To this end, I have numerous camera’s which I use constantly to get the ‘shot’ I’m happy with… from DSLR’s, to small sensor compact cameras, with many sizes inbetween. People often ask me “why so many?”… I simply reply… “you wouldn’t have a game of golf with only one club in the bag”… each of my cameras, handles light in very different ways… but still… my cameras are all just ‘items’ in my photography toolbox…

NOTE#

I have recently been accepted as an ‘official’ lecturer on the Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Union, and you can find my Infrared Presentation Website at…

www.myir.uk

 

A selection of my most used camera’s

 

Fuji X100 – visible spectrum

 
Lumix G2@590nm

Lumix G3@F.S.

 

Lenses & Filters

I own a varied array of lenses and filters. When I buy a lens, it must be compatible with the I.R. spectrum (unless its for ‘nature’) and I use this site to check… Kolari Vision. Sometimes, because of the multi-coatings on lenses, the best lens is not always the most suitable lens for me (as they can produce I.R. hotspots). As for filters, especially when using Full Spectrum cameras, I have a large selection of NM (nano-meter) B+W/Heliopan filters to suit the varying lighting conditions I encounter in the field. Coupled with this, an advanced knowledge of custom white balances is a must for serious I.R. shooters.

Typical I.R. hotspot
(click to enlarge)

 

Camera Conversions

There are many firms, and information on the web offering camera conversions, but I’m too ‘long in the tooth’ (old) to bother with sending cameras off for I.R. conversions these days, so I convert my own. This of course gives me an advantage, in that if I see a speck of dust on the sensor, I can disassemble the camera, remove the I.R. filter and clean the sensor, then reassemble until no specks are showing… it should be noted that taking cameras apart, voids any warranty on the camera and is personally not recommended if you are unsure of the procedures involved, as a high voltage shock from the in-built flash capacitor can KILL !!!

 

           
Lumix FZ50 conversion                      Nikon D70/80 conversion

           
Sony DSC-R1 conversion                              Lumix GF1 conversion

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Here is a small selection of shots taken with some of my cameras…

Nikon D7000 (visible spectrum)

           
Fuji X100 + 720nm filter                         Lumix FZ50 F.S. (no filter)

                          
Nikon D70@720nm                                  Nikon D7000@590nm

            
Leica F.S. + 850nm filter                            Nikon E5400 F.S. + 720nm filter

                      
Lumix FZ50 F.S. + 590nm filter                   Nikon D70@720nm

           
Nikon D80@850nm                               Nikon D7000@590nm

Fuji X100 (visible spectrum)

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