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Removing the IR filter from an SLR camera

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Picture-2.jpgThis one falls in the “if you are planning to do this, you have to hate your SLR” category. If you enjoyed our earlier tip about IR photography, you will probably have noticed that many cameras – especially DSLR cameras – have IR filters built into the body. Obviously, that means that you can’t use it for IR photography. Unless you remove the filter, that is…

I wouldn’t dare do it to my own camera, but if you have a destructive streak (or very steady hands), you could follow the instructions posted on this page. It concerns the Canon EOS 350d, but the procedure should be similar for most camera brands:

1) Take the whole thing apart
2) Locate the IR filter
3) Remove the IR filter
4) Put the whole thing back together again

Hey, we never said it was going to be easy!

Money made from this advert will be invested in prime lenses.
This post, "Removing the IR filter from an SLR camera", is part of these categories: All articles, was posted by Haje Jan Kamps and saw the light of day on the 6th of April 2006. I hope you liked it.

Insights, suggestions and comments

By shackDan on April 6th, 2006 (permalink)

Not with my precious you don’t. In a few years, if I somehow find myself with some expendable money, or a thrift shop dSLR, I might not scream when the idea crosses my thought paths.

Any hints on doing cheap IR with more consumable cameras, the workhorse Canon Powershot A line perhaps?

By Haje Jan Kamps on April 6th, 2006 (permalink)

Heh, you big wimp.

But I’m with you on that one, I wouldn’t cannibalise one of my own DSLR’s either. Then again – y’know, I’m only offering the information, what you are trying to do with it is up to you, really :)

I believe the A series is very susceptible to IR photography – just give it a shot! My Digital IXUS 500 (you may know it as the Digital ELPH) works very, very well. Give it a shot (or a powershot, if you will.. hehe, okay, sorry, that was rubbish), and see if you can get it to work!

Let us know if you get any problems :)

By Haje Jan Kamps on April 6th, 2006 (permalink)

Also, I love how Google tries to sell me “cheap digital SLR cameras” on this post. It is as if it realises my readers are going to break their cameras. welcome to the new Google Psychic™ – heh!

By wolever on April 7th, 2006 (permalink)

There is one on the 350D? When I was playing around with my 300D yesterday it could see IR no problem…

By not me on April 8th, 2006 (permalink)

It’s not really required to remove the IR filter to do IR shooting. Just you’ll need a longer exposure than if you had removed it

By fiordiluce on April 9th, 2006 (permalink)

Hi people !!!

There is someone that have removed the IR filter from an Olympus 300E camera ?

It has an automatic ultrasonic system to remove the dust from sensor.

ThanK You!

By james on December 1st, 2006 (permalink)

Hi, I am interested in having my DSLR converted to IR by having the IR filter removed. I was wondering If it was possible to have a external IR filter that threads onto my lenses that will block the IR light to the sensor but still transmit all visible light through it, mimicking the original internal IR filter that was previously attached to the cameras image sensor? That way when I want to take IR photos I just take off the IR filter from my camera and when I want to take regular visible spectrum photos I put the IR filter back on?

 

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