G2 w/ infrared?

[PeaceFrog]

Has anyone tried using the G1 or 2 with infrared filters?
What results has anyone achieved?

Thanks

[Mike K]

Did you try the search feature at the top (next to help)? I searched for 'infrared" in the title and got quite a few posts. the G-1 is better at this than the G-2 because it uses a different filter over the sensor.
Mike K

[BonTon]

Please, anyone who has played with IR on the G2, post your results and thoughts.

Yes we know the G1 is better at IR and yes we have the ability to search for EXISTING articles, but this is not what we're after. You G2/IR lurkers out there need to speak up.

I took possession of my G2 last week and I just ordered a Lensmate and Hoya IR filter today. As soon as I have some results, I'll post them.

-John

P.S. Maybe we could take up a collection for Dave Werner and get him a G2. Let him guide us.

[kd6lor]

What IR filter is best to use with the G2 for landscape shots?

Paul

[DWerner]

P.S. Maybe we could take up a collection for Dave Werner and get him a G2. Let him guide us.
[/quote]

"What have I done to deserve such disrespect…? Had you come to me in friendship, I would have advised you. The R72 would be on your camera now, and you would be working around the G2's IR limitations. Then your enemies would become my enemies and they would fear you.”

But, seriously (all "Godfather" fantasies aside) …

- Always use a tripod. (With a G1 you can sometimes hand hold).
- Anticipate a central “bloom” or lighter section in the very central quarter of the frame. Work it into the photos (a path, a gate, a doorway…). This is more of a problem in bright conditions.
- Try to shoot busy subjects (lots of leaves or other detail), large flat areas of sky or walls will show lots of noise with the G2.
- Learn to fix the dark red color that dominates G2 IR shots.

Feel free to write with any other questions.

Oh yes, I already have a G2, but perhaps you would like to contribute to my D-30 fund?

"I'm just a simple photographer with many generous friends..."

[BonTon]

Dave,

I am a huge fan of your IR pics. In another thread, I'd indicated that "Less Traveled" was my favorite. It's actually "Woodland Shrine." It was the image that solidified my resolve to play with IR once I got my camera.

I just got my Hoya R72 filter today and I've posted a few of post-worthy pics at http://www.pbase.com/bonton.

The blooming isn't too bad below 6 seconds. My biggest problem today was the wind. Damn the wind!

I look forward to seeing what you can do with your G2 in IR. Incidentally, I'm contributing to my sister's car purchase so alas, I cannot help you with your D-30.

- John

[DWerner]

Great job John!

"Pine Tree" is a better IR shot than I would have thought possible with a G2!

(Please no hate mail guys, I've covered why the G1 is better for infrared...)

I've added your site to "favorites" and will check in from time to time.

Keep up the wonderful work!

[classicgold14k]

I just joined this forum minutes ago. My camera is on order. I offer the folowing from
www.lensmateonline.com about infared filters for ghe G2.

"Explore the fantastic world of near
infrared with the Hoya R72 IR filter. The
Canon G1 is very sensitive to IR
wavelengths, typical exposures being
around 1/8 to 1/20 sec, allowing for
handheld work even at iso 50 resulting
in clean and crisp images.
Unfortunately, Canon has installed a hot
mirror in the G2 making it less suitable
for IR photography. 49mm. "


I'm not sure what the hot mirror is.

[RainerH]

The hot mirror reflects all the light coming from "hot things". So it reflects the IR radiation and lets the visible light through. Thats the theory. In reality this is angle sensitive. So only at one angle the reflection is nearly 100%. For other angles which are a few degrees away from the ideal more and more IR can pass the mirror. This is the reason why you can see a blurred spot in the middle of G2 pictures. There the mirror is doing its best work (not for IR photography) and the eges of the picture look better.

Perhaps we can make a few pictures of the object at different angles. Cut of the hot spot in the middle, take the rest, play puzzle and stitch it together again. I've just ordered my IR filter so my knowledge is theoretical, but in one week I hope I will know more.

[brettnem]

Hey guys,
I too am waiting (quite impatiently) for my G2 to arrive in the mail. I just found out about this whole Digital infrared stuff and am very excitied. However I'm disappointed to hear about the limitations of the G2 over the G1.

I'm curious about this hot mirror issue. Is there any posibility that canon might actually see this as a defect and offer a replacement part? Or is this just a typical digital camera design and that's just how it's done.

Well, it's just a thought.

I look forward to participating in the community here.. I've looked through many of the topics here and it so far looks great.
Thanks!
-Brett

[twalker294]

It's interesting to see how the G2 differs from the G1/Pro90 with regard to the results from IR pictures. Here are a few test shots from my Pro90 and R72 combo:

http://twalker.d2g.com/pro90/ir/index.htm

The shutter speeds and aperture info are listed below the shots.

Todd

[brettnem]

Hey all,
I was thinking last night about the G2 and it's "hot mirror" issue.

The hot mirror is essentially a IR filter, right?
My question is this.. does this mean that certain wavelengths won't EVER make it to the CCD, or that it just takes longer? I've heard from some people that IR pics with the G2 lack the impact of cameras like the G1 without a hot mirror. That kinda implies to me that the hot mirror is completely blocking some wavelengths.

If that is the case, should I use a different filter than a #89B (0% @ 680nm)

Does anyone know the wavelength range of the hot mirror?

Thanks!
-Brett

[brettnem]

In case anyone is interested.. This is one of my first trials with infrared on the G2. Looks like it works fine to me. I'll put a link up with some foliage in a few days..

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=570724
-Brett

[Inactive member 41]

I just got an infrared filter for my G2 and was unable to get any shots at all through it. Even with exposures as long as 15 seconds... what mode and settings have peopel been successfull with?

[brettnem]

I acutally had a lot more luck than I thought I would doing infrared with my G2. What kind of filter are you using? I was using a R72 filter. Although the G2 has the hot mirror, it still WILL pick up some IR. In fact, you can really quickly see this if you turn the LCD on and put the R72 filter in front of the lens. If YOU look though the filter (naked eye) you probably won't be able to see anything (dark dark dark red, or maybe black). If you put it on the lens and look at the LCD you should see a purple and white picture. That's the picture it will actually take. Try doing this outside in bright SUNlight. I was able to even take some fast pictures.

One thing to be careful of tho. IR wavelength focus at a different distance. I have had LOTS of problems getting the camera to focus automatically with the R72 filter on. So you might want to try manual focus.

Good Luck.
-Brett

[21farms]

here's my first two IR shots with my G2/R72 combo:

http://www.pbase.com/21farms/infrared

i shot in Tv mode and set the shutter to 6 seconds (a number i pulled out of the air! since i had no clue, i just thought i'd try it and it seemed to work pretty well).

when i look at the pictures straight out of the camera with no processing, there is indeed quite a bit of blooming in the middle. so, in photoshop, i just click on the burn tool a few times over it, select auto levels and that's it.

i think they look pretty good although if you look at the full size versions (originals), you'll see they are quite noisy.

conclusion: while the G1 is better suited for IR, i think it's still worth it to try IR on the G2...i know i'm having a lot of fun.

-norm

[BonTon]

Wow! I really like your false-color IR pics and I would LOVE to know how you do it. I've taken a number of IR shots with my G2/Hoya R72 but I just can't figure out how to do all that post-processing stuff.

I only know how to convert to sepia or gray. Here's what I mean:
http://www.pbase.com/bonton/infrared

[21farms]

for anyone interested, i went back and posted the original infrared photos as they came out of my camera with no processing:

as you can see, the photos are almost pure magenta and you can see the blooming in the middle i was talking about. in photoshop, i "corrected" this with a few dabs of the burn brush set at a feathered size of 200 and exposure at 50% until the blooming was gone. then, i used 'auto levels' and that was it.

i think when i have more time, i'm going to experiment with shorter shutter times...maybe 3 seconds or so.