Eos 400D for Infrared photography

Hi

 

I am thinking about shooting some infrared pictures with my Canon EOS 400D.

I would be using a tamron 17-50 2,8 lense for the purpase.

 

I have read on the internet that you can test your camera to se if it able to

pick up the infrared spectrum by pointing a remotecomtrol at the camera, and

looking at it through the view finder. It works on my Canon PowerShot SD200 but

not on the EOS 400D.

 

Does anyone know why? And if it is possible to use the 400D for IR photography?

 

I am not interested in investing in an ir-filter if it does not work.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Kind regards

 

Claus

Possible but not recommended. You can see some samples from the similar 350D here - http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/eos_digital_rebel_xt_review2.html

 

The Canon EOS DSLRs are not very IR sensitive, meaning long exposures (seconds) and noisy images. It can be done, just to do something different, but they aren't suitable for serious IR work.

 

You also tend to get hotspots with some lenses as documented here - http://www.lensplay.com/lenses/lens_infra_red_IR.html

 

Your Tamron lens isn't on either the "good" or "bad" list so I'm not sure if it suffers from the hotspot problem.

The only way to get good IR images out of most DSLRs is to remove the IR filter covering the sensor. The other option is to get the EOS 20Da. It is designed for astronomy and doesn't have an IR filter.

The 20Da does have an IR filter, it's just cuts off at a slightly longer wavelength to allow Hydrogen-alpha light though at 656nm (see http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/eos20da.html). It should give somewhat better IR response, but it's still not great.

 

You can get a Digital Rebel specially modified for IR use by removal of the IR filter altogether, thought it will cost you around $350 for the conversion.

Perhaps the best DSLRs for IR work are the Fuji UVIR special camera (designed for forensic work), or one of the Sigmas, where it is easy to remove the IR cut filter because it is in front of the mirror, rather than stuck over the sensor.

 

Of course, you can use a Canon film body with either Ilford SFX, or Kodak HIE - but then again perhaps not an EOS one:

 

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-ir/

Hi guys.

 

Thanks for some very usefull responses and great links. It has been very helpfull.

 

Kind regards

 

Claus