EOS-M worth converting to IR?

I want to dive into the IR photography world. I have the 7D and 5D Mark III. My 7D rarely gets used since buying my 5D Mark III. I was toying with having the 7D converted, but the extra reach with the crop factor and 2 frames per second faster burst still have more advantage for wildlife vs the 5D Mark III. Depending on what Canon does with the rumored 7D replacement may make my decision for me on whether to convert my 7D or not. In the mean time, what about converting an EOS-M?

After watching several reviews on the EOS-M, it sounds like it is a pretty solid performer with some exceptions. The big issue seems to be AF speed. If I am using an EOS-M dedicated to IR photography only, I do not see AF speed as an issue. After all, I have never in my life needed to run around tracking a moving tree or other foliage worrying about fast AF before it can get away from me. I think shooting a majority of stationary objects in IR should give me the luxury of time to wait for the focus to dial in without missing the shot.

If you wanted to have a body converted to IR and didn't want to convert any of your existing bodies, would the EOS-M be a decent route to go? I can still use my existing lenses with the adapter. It won't take up much space in the camera bag. You can get a brand new EOS-M body for $300 or less now that it is discontinued. The body, lens adapter, and IR conversation service still comes in at less than buying an entry level DSLR. This thing will pretty much be a one trick pony after the conversion is done which is the main reason I am hesitant to convert my 7D. Am I going in the right direction or would you recommend something else?

Heya,

You can get a T2i converted to IR, or a 60D to IR for probably near the same cost.

Depends on if you're ok to use an LCD for everything, and not have a view finder. Also, if you're ok with swapping batteries after a short period of time.

Very best,

Once you go IR you can't use the viewfinder anyway as IR light focuses at a different distance than visible light, so I'd say go for it. My IR camera is a converted 550D (T2i) and I use a Hoodman Hoodloupe over the rear LCD with Magic Lantern for focus peaking. With the M focusing off the sensor you should be able to get away using the AF on it as it would normally work. You may even want to pick one up with the 18-55 kit lens. The lens is plenty sharp and it will present a small, light package for walk around IR shooting.

I'd be curious to see any EOS-M converted examples, must say lugging the 1D2 around makes me wonder if a lighter solution is available within a reasonable pricetag. Be interesting too, to see how sensor-orientated focussing works on a converted camera.

MalVeauX wrote in post #17067282
Heya,

You can get a T2i converted to IR, or a 60D to IR for probably near the same cost.

Depends on if you're ok to use an LCD for everything, and not have a view finder. Also, if you're ok with swapping batteries after a short period of time.

Very best,

This is one issue that I am not sure if there is a way around. I can have a DSLR converted and focus calibrated with a lens, but that still doesn't guarantee I will be able to get accurate AF with all my lenses. So even on a DSLR, I still might be stuck with 100% Live View anyways.

Check http://www.lifepixel.c​om …ls/infrared-diy-tutorials or http://www.kolarivisio​n.com …Pj6_qPnqrcCFQWg​4AodFUQArA for info, even do it yourself procedures. Either of these people specialize in conversion and you can also buy already converted cameras.

You will need to decide what filter to be installed during a conversion. It is a matter of personal preference although I have found that the Kolarvision offers some better examples of what you might get depending on the filter. Go to the filter choice section (http://www.kolarivisio​n.com/filterchoices.ht​ml) or on the Lifepixel site go to http://www.lifepixel.c​om/infrared-filters-choices.

John from PA wrote in post #17067830
Check http://www.lifepixel.c​om …ls/infrared-diy-tutorials or http://www.kolarivisio​n.com …Pj6_qPnqrcCFQWg​4AodFUQArA for info, even do it yourself procedures. Either of these people specialize in conversion and you can also buy already converted cameras.

You will need to decide what filter to be installed during a conversion. It is a matter of personal preference although I have found that the Kolarvision offers some better examples of what you might get depending on the filter. Go to the filter choice section (http://www.kolarivisio​n.com/filterchoices.ht​ml) or on the Lifepixel site go to http://www.lifepixel.c​om/infrared-filters-choices.

Thanks for the info. I was leaning towards the 590nm from Lifepixel. This is their enhanced color filter or whatever they call it. I hadn't checked out Kolarvision yet. I will give them a look. I would rather go for a filter that will allow in more visible light like the 590nm. I kind of like the look and it seems to give more versatility and post process options than going with something like a 1000nm and being limited to only b&w.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #17067362
Once you go IR you can't use the viewfinder anyway as IR light focuses at a different distance than visible light, so I'd say go for it. My IR camera is a converted 550D (T2i) and I use a Hoodman Hoodloupe over the rear LCD with Magic Lantern for focus peaking. With the M focusing off the sensor you should be able to get away using the AF on it as it would normally work. You may even want to pick one up with the 18-55 kit lens. The lens is plenty sharp and it will present a small, light package for walk around IR shooting.

I was thinking about using the kit lens, but after reading up on lenses that are good and bad for IR, it looks like it is prone to hotspots. I think realistically the only two lenses I would use if I go this route and use the adapter would by my 10-20 and 24-70 which both show to do pretty well with IR.

joeseph wrote in post #17067622
I'd be curious to see any EOS-M converted examples, must say lugging the 1D2 around makes me wonder if a lighter solution is available within a reasonable pricetag. Be interesting too, to see how sensor-orientated focussing works on a converted camera.

That is kind of why I am investigating the EOS-M. I don't want to carry around a third DSLR in my bag. Plus for the price of the EOS-M now, I can gradually get a couple of them and have each converted to different IR. I was thinking the 590nm now and maybe full spectrum in the future on another body.

I modified my EOS-M by sending to LifePixel and having them put a 590nm in. Provides some great looks. I pretty much just keep the 22mm lens on it but will be trying some of the other EF lens I have to see what works good. BTW, i don't notice a hot spot on the 22mm.

I just picked up another EOS-M during the ebay sale, will be sending that in to LifePixel also. Will have the B&W filter put on that one.

BTW, also wanted to mention. You don't need the full version of Photoshop to get channel mixing (for the color IR stuff), you can just get a little plug in called Elements + that has the channel mixer.

Good to see some others have the same idea I had with the M. Decided to get it for IR purposes as IQ was superb and wasn't going to need it for sports photography, or kids movement.

pig pile wrote in post #17069294
I modified my EOS-M by sending to LifePixel and having them put a 590nm in. Provides some great looks. I pretty much just keep the 22mm lens on it but will be trying some of the other EF lens I have to see what works good. BTW, i don't notice a hot spot on the 22mm.

I just picked up another EOS-M during the ebay sale, will be sending that in to LifePixel also. Will have the B&W filter put on that one.

BTW, also wanted to mention. You don't need the full version of Photoshop to get channel mixing (for the color IR stuff), you can just get a little plug in called Elements + that has the channel mixer.

Good to see some others have the same idea I had with the M. Decided to get it for IR purposes as IQ was superb and wasn't going to need it for sports photography, or kids movement.

Thanks for the feedback! I was thinking in the long run having two or three bodies. At least one with IR at either 590nm or 720nm and then one with full spectrum. If I go the three body route, I would pick one at a higher level that gets almost pure b&w. I like the idea of sticking with a single 22mm lens, but I like to shoot really wide sometimes. If I were to convert a full frame, I would stick with my 15 fish and 24-70. If I go the EOS-M or other crop sensor route, I can still use my 10-20 and my 24-70.

I have the entire Adobe CC Suite so the different versions aren't an issue but I appreciate the advice on the software side.

In a perfect world, I would have an additional 5D Mark III dedicated to IR, but I can't see having that much invested into a one trick pony. At least not at this point into my experimentation with IR. I figure the EOS-M route is a "low cost" risk compared to getting another body and dedicating it to IR only.

Does working with only the Live View bother you? Do you miss not having a view finder? Is the touch screen to pick focus points a pain? How does working with the EOS-M compare to working with a DSLR in regards to manual controls and menus?

saxman124 wrote in post #17069389
Thanks for the feedback! I was thinking in the long run having two or three bodies. At least one with IR at either 590nm or 720nm and then one with full spectrum. If I go the three body route, I would pick one at a higher level that gets almost pure b&w. I like the idea of sticking with a single 22mm lens, but I like to shoot really wide sometimes. If I were to convert a full frame, I would stick with my 15 fish and 24-70. If I go the EOS-M or other crop sensor route, I can still use my 10-20 and my 24-70.

I have the entire Adobe CC Suite so the different versions aren't an issue but I appreciate the advice on the software side.

In a perfect world, I would have an additional 5D Mark III dedicated to IR, but I can't see having that much invested into a one trick pony. At least not at this point into my experimentation with IR. I figure the EOS-M route is a "low cost" risk compared to getting another body and dedicating it to IR only.

Does working with only the Live View bother you? Do you miss not having a view finder? Is the touch screen to pick focus points a pain? How does working with the EOS-M compare to working with a DSLR in regards to manual controls and menus?

I don't mind working with live view. I know some get upset with that, but I guess I just worked all that out before I bought---so maybe I told myself not to complain? lol

seriously though, the IQ is so good that I just don't mind putting up with a few inconveniences.

Oh, while I'm thinking of it; get a custom grip (I ordered one from Richard Franiec). That one is top notch, and has improved usage tremendously. Another thing I got that helps out a lot is one of those thumb rests (put right into the hot shoe) to make it easier to hold when shooting. I find it works to steady me as well. They come cheap on ebay (I think I just paid maybe $5 or something), shipped from China. All it is really is just a small piece of metal you screw into the hot shoe for your thumb to rest on.

Love my M, haven't even touched my DSLR since getting it!!

by the way eBay has them for $250 shipped, at least they did yesterday in the deal section.

maverick75 wrote in post #17071070
Love my M, haven't even touched my DSLR since getting it!!

by the way eBay has them for $250 shipped, at least they did yesterday in the deal section.

I just picked up a new one (white) from that sale to convert to 720 IR, will sell the 22 as I already have one of those. Bottomline, after feebay costs $165 for the new M.

I had my 50D converted to IR last year and went with the 665nm conversion from LifePixel because it was a good balance between being able to do false color IR photos and black and white IR photos without the use of any additional filters...the 590nm didn't seem to give the results I was after when converted to black and white.

A year and a half on, I RARELY find myself using the optical viewfinder to focus, mostly because I had them do the standard 50mm calibration and I've found that I shoot mostly wide-to-ultrawide when I' shooting in IR. My 10-20mm Sigma practically lives on the 50D nowadays, and normal AF just doesn't cut it at that focal length, so I always use live view when shooting that camera.

The other thing that I've done is to pick up some cheap IR filters from Amazon. I think I got a 58mm set of 4 (720nm, 760nm, 850nm, and 950nm) for something like $30. I'll take the 720nm and 850nm along with my old Nikkor 24mm and 50mm lenses which have 52mm filter rings and swap out different filters. Sure, you can't see through the viewfinder, but I don't use the viewfinder. This allows me to shoot three distinct looks by simply changing filters.

I believe this is 720nm:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/onHX​8x

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