Anyone had dealings with Lifepixels
 

Anyone had dealings with Lifepixels

http://www.lifepixel.com/shop/cart.p...uct_detail&p=3

I have decided to have one of my DSLRs converted for IR, but can get no response from them via email, so I'm a little reluctent to just parcel up my 10D and post it.

Maybe some of our American members have knowledge of them, or indeed any other company that carry out the conversion.

A few years ago I would have done this myself, but these days It's very doubtful that I could manage it with my athritic fingers, but maybe as a last resort


http://www.lifepixel.com/shop/cart.p...uct_detail&p=3

Thank in anticipation.

Harry

Harry, I've looked at this site and one or two others with interest. Can you not get as much out of Photoshop, without having to convert the camera?

Andy, I've tried many ways to achieve what I want, but have always found PS wanting in this area.

I used to do quite a lot of IR back in 2002 using my Minolta D7 + the hoya IR 72 filter.

Here is a couple of photos from that period, that will give you an idea of what I want to do.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...RapeFields.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...on/IRImage.jpg

Harry

Very nice images Harry - best of luck and please let us know how you get on.

There's a guy in our club who had a camera converted - I'll try and find out who did it for him and let you know

Harry

My friend tells me he used www.maxmax.com and was very happy with the service.

If you give them a go let us kn ow how you get on.

Thanks Clive.

Not hearing from LifePixels I emailed MaxMax Monday, received a reply Tuesday. So they're on the ball regarding correspondence.

Will be packing the 10D ready for the go ahead in anticipation of my finacial controller (my wife) saying ok.

Harry

I've eventually received a reply from Life Pixels a week after requesting info from them.

They offer much the same as MaxMax, just $50 cheaper. However MaxMax are quoting an amazing $180 for "handling/shipping", as apposed to $55 quoted by LifePiXels.

So a total cost of $455 with LiePixels and $613 with MaxMax.

Will ask the relevent questions over on dprview

Hi there, have you made enquiries with this UK firm? They may be able to help. LINK: http://www.scsastro.co.uk/index.shtml

Thanks for the link Andy, I am a the moment in contact with another company, courtesy of a computer forum that I use. At the moment I'm awaiting confirmation of costing.

The company in question will be at the NEC (focus on Imaging) so will also pay them a visit.

Will post back with my experiences in due course.

Harry

You could possibliy save a few quid by doing it yourself with PifePixels instructions....

http://www.lifepixel.com/ir-tutorial...structions.htm

It's only $145 for the hot mirror:cool:

See first post of the thread.

Harry

Ok - missed that.

Could be worth contacting these people though:

http://www.dslr-astromod.co.uk/

Even with the exchange rate they are a little cheaper at £135 for a filter removal and £175 for a filter change (both including next day special delivery).

Thanks for the link. Will check it out. I have however been in contact with http://www.advancedcameraservices.co.uk/index.html who will carry out this work for me. Camera dispatched this PM should arrive ACS services Monday.

Wii soon be able to report back on the service of this company and also the quality.

Harry

Update for anyone interested, I sent my 10D for IR conversion, which the above company received midday Monday. I received a call from them this afternoon confirming that the work had been carried out at a cost of £215, this included a clean and service of the camera and a full six months warranty on work carried out.

The camera would have been returned to me by midday Thursday, but as I will be away for 3 days I've asked them to delay posting the camera until Monday.

So far so good, excellent service. Will test it out next week and report back.

Harry

Last week I sent my battered old 10D for conversion, I received the camera back today, turn round of less than a week, cost £214, the camera now looks as though it's brand new (had to check the serial number to make sure) and comes with a 6 month warranty. The cost of sending it to the States would have been approx $550 or approx £280.

The weather today was totally unsuitable for shooting IR and not really the right time of year, but just had to give it a go. So popped into the back garden and fired off shot.

This is the result. Must say I'm highly delighted.

Harry

Looks nice Harry, what post processing did you have to do (if any) to get this kind of result? Are you using a Hoya R72 filter?

No filters required Duncan, but the processing is the same. In "Channel Mixer" reverse the Red & Blue channel settings.

i.e. In the red channel the setting would normally be 100 and blue 0. So reverse the settings and do the same in the Blue channel.

I also tweak the "Green & Constant" settings.

The major problem when using such as the Hoya filter is the very slow shutter speeds, often well below 1/25 sec (assuming your camera will work with a filter), so conditions would have to be perfect, slightest breeze and leaves on the trees would be OOF.

Full exif is embedded within the above photo, 1/60 @ f/14, ISO100 and this is on a very misty day with a very weak sun.

Harry

So, if you're not using an IR filter, do I take it that this image is from a mix of visible and IR light? Your mod, I assume, involves taking off the filter which removes the IR component from the spectrum, thus allowing that bit through along with the normal visible light now.

Duncan

Looking good Harry, I can see why you had the conversion done.

Duncan, the method is to remove the "Hot Mirror" which is effectively the IR blocking filter from the sensor and replace it with an IR filter.

How it's done can be seen here http://www.lifepixel.com/ir-tutorial...structions.htm

The major benefit of this method is the increased sensitivity enabling much higher shutter speeds.

The above photo using such as the Hoya filter would have resulted in exposures of around 1/2 sec or longer at f/2.8.

Thanks Andy, all I require now is leaves on the trees, sun, blue skies + some wispy white clouds.

Harry