NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => What the Nerds Do => Topic started by: stenrasmussen on May 30, 2016, 16:25:41

Title: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: stenrasmussen on May 30, 2016, 16:25:41
Ok, no more waiting around...
First few photos of operation on this "monocoque" body.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Jakov Minić on May 30, 2016, 16:32:59
Go Sten, go!
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on May 30, 2016, 16:49:40
I echo Jakov's sentiment.

D5300 is currently my main IR camera. At first I hated it because the GPS never got a satellite fix and happily would deplete its battery in the process. However, after downloading and installing an aGPS file as per Nikon Nordic's suggestion, that problem vanished.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: stenrasmussen on May 30, 2016, 22:10:09
Further into the 5300-abyss...
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: stenrasmussen on May 30, 2016, 22:13:56
Still on our way to the core section...
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: stenrasmussen on May 30, 2016, 22:17:10
And soon the sensor assy is in sight...
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: charlie on May 30, 2016, 22:29:24
What is the purpose of the printed circuit board attached to the filter in this last picture, and did you cut it to remove it?
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: stenrasmussen on May 30, 2016, 22:45:05
What is the purpose of the printed circuit board attached to the filter in this last picture, and did you cut it to remove it?

That's where the dust shaker is electrified from. I simply cut the flex cable off near the solder joints.
It is interesting that Nikon has reduced the thickness of the low pass filter (compared to earlier DSLRs).
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: charlie on May 30, 2016, 23:17:44
Ah, thats what that is. Thanks, and thanks for showing the process!
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Olivier on May 30, 2016, 23:36:58
thank you Sten. it is unclear to me whether you had to desolder some parts or not. can you please elaborate?
And btw, did you go filter-free ? If not, what filter did you select?
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on May 31, 2016, 00:23:37
I'm sure you have lots of fun converting your D5300. Eventually you hopefully are rewarded with a splendid IR camera.

Personally I tinker with lenses but not with cameras. Thus, letting my Nikon repair techs convert the camera with filters ordered from Lifepixel etc. is my choice.

Here is my D5300 IR. I purchased a red camera to make it stand out better as dedicated for IR. Also shown are the MF and AF versions of the Nikkor 35-135 mm f/3.5-4.5 which is a proven IR performer. And inexpensive to boot.

Just remember to download and install an aGPS file for the camera. Otherwise the GPS hardly works as it becomes excruciatingly slow in getting a satellite fix.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: bjornthun on May 31, 2016, 01:01:46
That's where the dust shaker is electrified from. I simply cut the flex cable off near the solder joints.
It is interesting that Nikon has reduced the thickness of the low pass filter (compared to earlier DSLRs).
Do you have an estimate of the thickness of the low pass filter in the D5300?

Cool project!  8)
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: richardHaw on May 31, 2016, 02:23:52
oh, i cannot take it. my heart almost stopped when i saw the electronics and motherboard :o :o :o

silly question. why the D5300?
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: richardHaw on May 31, 2016, 02:26:14
It is interesting that Nikon has reduced the thickness of the low pass filter (compared to earlier DSLRs).
i noticed that,too :o :o :o
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on May 31, 2016, 02:49:47
...
silly question. why the D5300?

Sten can answer for himself, I chose D5300 because it has a pretty good sensor with 24 MPix and (built-in) GPS support. Plus it uses the same battery as my D3200 (for UV) and the Df (for anything else than UV or IR). Getting a massive discount on a brand new camera helped as well.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: richardHaw on May 31, 2016, 03:07:16
i see. :o :o :o
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Akira on May 31, 2016, 04:21:30
Sten (or others who are courageous enough to modify the camera yourselves!), thanks for sharing the documentation of the adventurous work.  Hope the assembled camera will serve you well.

Do you have an estimate of the thickness of the low pass filter in the D5300?

Cool project!  8)

D5300 is one of the Nikon DSLRs without low-pass filter.  I think the filter with the FPC is only for the IR/UV cut and dust shaking.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: stenrasmussen on May 31, 2016, 07:13:14
It is a low pass filter. What, lacking is the anti-alias bit.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Akira on May 31, 2016, 07:24:00
It is a low pass filter. What, lacking is the anti-alias bit.

If I understand correctly, a low-pass filter IS an anti-alias filter.  The filter "pack" is made up with the dust shaker, IR/UV-cut filter plus (or sans) the low-pass filter.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: BW on May 31, 2016, 08:02:21
I am impressed! Its a bold move to open any camera in my view, but you Sten seem to have no inhibitions in that regard :)
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on May 31, 2016, 08:19:40
If I understand correctly, a low-pass filter IS an anti-alias filter. ...

You are correct. Low-pass filtering provides filtering against aliasing. Thus it is also an anti-aliasing filter.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Jakov Minić on May 31, 2016, 09:41:17
Sten, in order for the project to be complete we need to see a photo taken with your newly modified camera ;)
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: stenrasmussen on May 31, 2016, 10:08:52
Am in the process of cutting the new R72 filter. The stock filter/shaker is 0.75mm thick.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: Jan-Petter Midtgård on May 31, 2016, 12:11:31
That looks a lot scarier than converting my D70s a few years back.
The D70s is a simpler camera, and less disassembling was needed.
My main problem was to avoid any dust between the sensor and filter.
Title: Re: D5300 - IR conversion
Post by: stenrasmussen on June 01, 2016, 15:36:45
After some challenges with the thicker filter I am pleased to have a working IR camera again (third one in fact)...
Here's the first test shot. Still some adjustments to be done. I will describe some of the "obstacles" later.