IR Conversion Specialist Service

[John G]

I have just returned from a morning meeting at Advanced Camera Services premises where they carry out a variety of Professional Body and Lens services. They are only a 20 minute drive from my home and I only learnt of there existence this week.
I was met by the owner, out of the usual working hours and have been given a guided tour of the quaint facility.
As I was very impressed by the companies enforced Quality Control Procedures, I thought it would be a good thing to let the NG community
know of this.
The company specialises in IR and UV conversions as well as supplying filters, much of the discussions were new to me at such a depth of information supplied. What I have taken away is a witness of a very professional environment, where Quality components are selected through deselection of items, only the best tested items are utilised, and a friendly informative customer service that is given to all levels of customer.
They can be seen on the web at www.advancedcameraservices.co.uk
There is a video showing their technicians at work, carrying out a cross section of tasks.   

[Bjørn Rørslett]

This company is listed on our "sister" site,  www.ultravioletphotography.com. The UVP site is run jointly by Andrea G. Blum (AndreaB as NG member) and myself.

I'd wish they had been more open with the filtration used in the converted cameras, though. The secrecy makes it quite difficult to compare their products with those from other companies doing similar services and modifications.That they are not alone in being secretive doesn't improve the matter either.

All the above notwithstanding, having an enthusiatic hands-on report is most welcomed.

[John G]

On reflection of some of the conversation with the owner. It was voiced "this service is a niche market globally".
Also if the customers are viewed that have received a service, there are a few of these I would imagine require a secrecy.
I did not feel I was being restricted in my experience, there was works in progress to be seen.
I went with a intention to view a item, the overall experience was very positive, so I chose to express this on NG.
I did enjoy the supplied information about the 820nm filter for B&W images and the quartz filter allowing a more diverse experience with the allowance of many different filters to be used, It was made clear the quartz filter method would require long exposures.
I was shown a few of the owners personal images taken at landscapes I am familiar with, using IR Converted D70.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

"It was made clear the quartz filter method would require long exposures"

See, here is the problem. What is exactly a "quartz" filter (if it exists at all)? What is its transmission curve? Without such information the claim is basically useless. The company should clearly state these data.

For UV work, the filter *and* lens in conjunction determines the exposure time. with natural light sources, one can do perhaps at the very best -6 to -7 EV re visible light, more likely -7 to -8 EV with the dedicated UV specialist lenses, and around -11 to -14 EV with non-specialist lenses. The latter group in general stops much earlier in the spectral range going into the UV band.

Using a uncoated Xenon flash tube for illumination, hand-held UV is easy.