What's the best way to start out with digital IR photography??

Now that I have a better job a little more income, I'm starting to upgrade my gear. IR photography has always facsinated me but I don't want to convert my body to IR only (maybe once I upgrade to a 40D). What's the best type of filter to use for IR? I went to B&H's filter section and I got a little more confused.

I bought a Hoya R72 filter and tried that for a while.

It works, and the filter is a good one, but there are several drawbacks to using any IR filter. The exposure times are long (10-20 seconds) and at least on my 10D this brought out the noise like crazy. And even though the lens I used, the 28-135, was on the "ok for IR" list it still produced a bright spot in the middle of the image. I was very unhappy with the setup.

All these drawbacks vanished when I converted the 10D to IR and I'm extremely happy with it.

Anyway.....I've got a Hoya R72 in 72mm that I'm wanting to sell....

waylandcool,
I have been very happy with my Hoya R72, I even made a quick Infrared how to page <-- click to see

However some lenses do show a hot spot. ex my 50mm f/1.4, 100mm f/2.8 show hot spots. My 28-105 f/3.5-4.5, 17-40 f/4L, 75-300 f/4-5.6, 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L don't show hot spots when using a Hoya R72 IR filter.

Also like tiktaalik said you need long exposures

Same here, I started with the Hoya R72 but because of the time it took to set up a shot I had my older digital rebel converted to IR. I'm completely satisfied with my converted camera and it's a lot easier than using the Hoya R72. I didn't have any problems with the R72, it did a good job for me but once you figure out how to post process your photo's, the converted camera wins hands down.

I bought a Hoya R72 when I wanted to try IR with my 10D. Being I wasn't really sure how it would work, I bought a filter for my nifty fifty lens as it was the least expensive.

Real pain in the A$$, IMHO!

Goal was eventually to convert the 10D to IR so after buying my 5D last July I sent my older 10D off for conversion. Not even close to how much easier it is to shoot IR after conversion compared to using a filter. No messing around with long exposures and hoping it comes out right ... just shoot!

On a casual morning walk, turned, pointed and shot!

I'd suggest looking for an inexpensive dSLR such as a 10D, which you are familiar with already and converting it. Or save your 10D when you upgrade.

BTW ... the price of some of the larger R72 filters is about the same as the cost of conversion of my 10D.

John_B wrote in post #4393230
waylandcool,

Also like tiktaalik said you need long exposures

You don't need long exposures if you have the camera converted to shoot ir only. Lifepixel is a good place to have you Xti converted.

http://www.lifepixel.c​om/IR.htm

BobbyT wrote in post #4396980
You don't need long exposures if you have the camera converted to shoot ir only.

The OP said he didn't want to convert his camera to IR.

Although the Hoya R72 will work, I think most of us would try to convince him to go for the conversion