Ifrared Conversion

Has anyone here had an infrared conversion done? If so who did you use and were you happy with the work?

I had a Canon 7D converted to 590nm (super color filter) by LifePixel and bought a 720nm converted Panasonic Lumix from Kolari Vision. I'm happy with both. I recently set the Canon to record in RAW and jpg, as rendering the RAW files is a little more complicated.

I haven't, but friend has, and used LifePixel as well. He was very satisfied with their work.

I used Kolarivision and had problems but they made it right in the end by giving me a new camera body.

KeithS wrote in post #18314467
I had a Canon 7D converted to 590nm (super color filter) by LifePixel and bought a 720nm converted Panasonic Lumix from Kolari Vision. I'm happy with both. I recently set the Canon to record in RAW and jpg, as rendering the RAW files is a little more complicated.

Would you mind explain what you mean by rendering raw files being more complicated?

KeithS wrote in post #18314467
I had a Canon 7D converted to 590nm (super color filter) by LifePixel and bought a 720nm converted Panasonic Lumix from Kolari Vision. I'm happy with both. I recently set the Canon to record in RAW and jpg, as rendering the RAW files is a little more complicated.

I also bought a converted Lumix from Kolari Vision and had a lot of fun. My conversion, however, was the highest nm available only allowing for B&W photos. Just keep in mind you still have some post production work to do. These were 2 from Gettysburg a couple years ago.
I'm not entirely sure, but when I first looked into having a DSLR converted I was told it best to send the lens that you would use w/ it so the focus could be adjusted as the focus for IR is slightly off. ?

jcothron wrote in post #18314717
Would you mind explain what you mean by rendering raw files being more complicated?

A "little" more complicated.....Sure. Using Lightroom, I needed to download the DNG Profile Editor from Adobe Labs and use it to set up a white balance that would allow the Lightroom to be used for future raw processing. Without that step in starting with a raw file, the temp slider has no room to move far enough to remove a sufficient amount of the red to enable a satisfactory channel swap. With a jpg taken with a proper white balance, this step is unnecessary and can go directly to Photoshop. Now, if images are to be rendered in black and white, it doesn't matter.

ETA Then the raw files need to be imported, in Lightroom, as dng, or converted to dng before beginning processing.

Pigpen101 wrote in post #18315151
I also bought a converted Lumix from Kolari Vision and had a lot of fun. My conversion, however, was the highest nm available only allowing for B&W photos. Just keep in mind you still have some post production work to do. These were 2 from Gettysburg a couple years ago.
I'm not entirely sure, but when I first looked into having a DSLR converted I was told it best to send the lens that you would use w/ it so the focus could be adjusted as the focus for IR is slightly off. ?

Hosted photo: posted by Pigpen101 in
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forum: DIY & Customizing

Hosted photo: posted by Pigpen101 in
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forum: DIY & Customizing

For Canon DSLRs, Life Pixel recommends the 50mm f/1.8, which I bought for my 7D. Without sending in another lens, they will calibrate for the 50mm. It works well, but I wish it was wider. I've tried a few other lenses but all exhibited hotspots to a certain extent. There is in depth info on their website. What is needed (but too few users to warrant it) is a feature in LR or PS to repair hotspots in one click.

They say focusing is best done with live view. I've used both methods and haven't noticed any issues with focus-when it is achieved. Live view tends to hunt a lot and may go so far OOF that it will not achieve focus.

I have converted years ago my Canon EOS Rebel XT / 350D to infrared (and more). But I have to admit that I have not worked with it the last years.
I did the conversion on my own, used a differten way thant all others to have the possibilitiy to change the filters (I could not decide, and back then still need this camera as visible backup camera).
I was very happy with the conversion, it is not perfect - but works well enough for my needs.