IR Conversion bodies (which one?)

[richardHaw]

Hello, everybody! I am in the mood to replace the IR filter of a camera and which one of he above will make a good camera for that in terms of sensor and how difficult it is going to be to dismantle. The D7000 was a pain and I do not want to do that again... 

Thanks in advance!

[Øivind Tøien]

I put in a vote for D40x, not for ease of conversion (I used Lifepixel for that), but for its sensor and also the ability for custom white balance IR in-camera. It is also a robust little camera that is easy to carry in addition to other bodies, so it is more likely to come along. There are indications that some lenses like Nikon 12-24 mm are less prone to hot spots with this body (where Bjørn's initial review of that lens show hot-spotting with another body); it is a favorite beside 105/2.5 on my D40x IR-720nm.

[Chip Chipowski]

I like my D200 IR conversion, but it is my first so I have no comparison.  Also, I had the conversion done by a shop so I don't know anything about the difficulty.  My favorite lenses have been the 70-300VR, 18-55VRii, 28mm f/3.5, and 10.5. 

[Erik Lund]

I have converted a couple of D200 with Lifepixel cover glass, It's fairly straight forward to do, the flat cables are always the worst part to do so take extra care there,,,
D300 is a nightmare to get together again,,,

[JJChan]

I converted a D200 myself using Lifepixel tutorial with 665nm filter from a Sydney eBay seller for US$45. He is currently selling them for US$58.

It was not difficult and I did not desolder the one point as I could manoeuvre around it. Getting the filter spotless was tricky but not difficult. I ended getting some replacement rubber grips after I reassembled everything as mine kept peeling around the edge from where I had to rip it off.

I chose D200 because:
1. had the last big CCD sensor in a Nikon DSLR
2. can meter with AI glass and add non-cpu lens data
3. manually change white balance
4. autofocus AF-D glass
5. got a low shutter D200 cheap from eBay

It should be very easy for you Richard - I can't even think about pulling apart a stuck lens!

A couple for shots - straight out of camera just resized and straightened and one B+W conversion - both from a quick walk around my suburb.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I have used a good number of different DSLRs for IR over the years. Among the Nikon range D1, D1H, D2H, D2X, D3, D600, D40, D40x, D200, D300, D5200, and D5300. Plus of course Fuji (S3Pro) and Panasonic (GF-1, G-2, GH-2).

For many years I relied on the D200 as my main IR work horse, and in fact still have one of them floating around, but it is no longer used as I now find the dynamic range a little restricted. My current IR camera is a Nikon D5300 and my backup is D40X, both with internal filters of the R72 class. The D5300 is of course CMOS and while it might lack the IR 'punch' of the D200, it certainly resolves better and has a better signal:noise ratio. It also natively support GPS, which is important for my use (do note you really need to upload an aGPS helper file to this camera otherwise it struggles way too much finding a satellite fix). The D200 also supports GPS, but only by adding a GPS device as an accessory.

I think a D5300 is about a good as it gets in the IR world these day, but undoubtedly, a D200 is a cheaper point of entry for DIY. Don't overlook the charms and capabilities of a D40X though, if you can live without GPS support.

[IAW1965]

I went for a cheap D70 which I had converted to 720nm first three are with 12-24mm f/4 DX, last one 35mm f/2 D













Didn't do it myself rather used firm in Sussex.

Ian

[richardHaw]

thank you everybody! looks like the D200 is the favorite here. I am also leaning towards the D40X due to the cost and compact size. 

[Øivind Tøien]

The sensor of the D40x although based on the same one as D200 is a later one and has slightly better dynamic range:
http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Nikon%20D200,Nikon%20D40x

[Akira]

The sensor of the D40x although based on the same one as D200 is a later one and has slightly better dynamic range:
http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Nikon%20D200,Nikon%20D40x

Øivind, thanks for directing to a good alternative of Sensorgen which seems to have been inactive for some time.

[Øivind Tøien]

Glad it was helpful; Bill Claff's site has been around for quite a while and there is lots of other information there. I contributed the data for the AW1 dynamic range curve after he initially got some data that did not make sense. One thing to keep in mind is that photographic dynamic range depends on viewing magnification as do noise levels. So if two sensors are listed with the same dynamic range, the lower resolution one will be better at pixel level (both at 100% view on screen). The photographic dynamic range data on the site are standardized to a certain print size and viewing distance. I believe the DXO data works in a similar way although I am less familiar with their site.

[Akira]

Thanks for the further tip for the interpretation of the data on the website.  If I understand correctly, the DXO data are based on the measurements on the pixel level rather than equalized for a certain print size.  The difference seems to be similar to that of FULL and COMP (=compensated) in the studio comparisons on dpreview.com.

[richardHaw]

thank you everybody for the input. that was very encouraging! looks like the D200 is the all time favourite! i can source a junk here for cheap 
are there any alternatives to lifepixel?

[JJChan]

Richard
It really is not difficult to do a D200 yourself - your shots of the lens deconstruction is far more tricky.

Lifepixel site has DIY tutorial - as i wrote earlier I didn't need to desolder if that is intimidating.
The ability to AF and meter with old lenses is worth it especially if you do not have chipped lenses.

Just found that the AFD 35-70mm is pretty good on IR -v sharp AND the flare/haze issue shooting into the sun does not occur in IR

JJ

[Olivier]

Richard,

I completely agree with JJ, you have already done far more complex tasks. I have converted a D70, D80 and a V1 and don't consider myself as a gifted person when it comes to fine technical tasks. So don't worry...

Olivier