If you’re a Nikon or a Canon user and considering shooting infrared or already are shooting infrared and just looking to upgrade from an older model you’d never normally even consider going to an outside brand camera. Well, you really should! At least open it up as an option as there are some great advantages.
UPDATE 09/2015: Since this post was written many more mirrorless cameras have been released by Panasonic as well as other manufacturers like Olympus, Sony, Canon, Nikon, etc. So there are many more choices for mirroless cameras and all of them work great for IR. In fact, for the simplest solution for IR photography a mirrorless camera is just about perfect! These are quickly becoming one of our best selling conversions.
As you can see from the picture above the Lumix G cameras are considerably smaller than a standard DSLR. This is possible due to the fact that these little cameras don’t have a mirror box to divert the light into the viewfinder like on a standard DSLR. Instead, they use the imaging sensor for all tasks, previewing the image, auto focusing, metering and capturing the images. This really works to your advantage for infrared photography because the camera actually “sees” the infrared light at all point of image capture process and is able to work with IR just as well as visible light. That’s right, no more focus issues, you can use any Lumix G series lens and still get accurate IR focus. This is a huge advantage over older DSLR cameras!
Another great benefit is the ability to see a live preview in infrared, even in the viewfinder! This is possible because the viewfinder is not optical and doesn’t show you a view through the lens like in a normal DSLR. Instead, the viewfinder is electronic and contains a monitor (think video camera) that displays the infrared version of the scene in real time. Some models in this series don’t have a viewfinder to conserve size but still do make the viewfinder available as an attachment (think hotshoe flash).
Plus they are tiny! Perfect for you camera bag without the extra size and weight of a DSLR. No more excuses for leaving your IR camera behind, get one converted here.
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Is the Olympus OMD EM1M2 good model for conversion?
It sure is!
i have a sony nex that i could send for conversion. You mention that the best would be a panasonic. I would like to know would converting a sony nex give similar ease of use as the panasonic? will the sony lens autofocus in IR in a similar way to micro three forth cameras or is the technology different?
Actually, every mirrorless hybrid camera converts to IR very well since they all contrast autofocus off the imaging sensor. This includes not only the micro 4/3rd cameras from Panasonic and Olympus, but also the ones from Sony and Fujifilm, as well as the Canon EOS M and the Nikon CX cameras.
Once any of these cameras are converted, all lenses continue to focus correctly no differently than how they do in the camera’s stock form. So unless the lens is prone to getting a hotspot in infrared, it will work well on a converted camera.
Is GF5 good model for conversion
Yes, the GF5 works very well in IR as it continues to focus correctly with all lenses after it is converted to IR.
What is your feeling about the Samsung NX300 as a good model to convert?
We have only converted the NX300 once and while it is quite sensitive to IR, setting a custom white balance in camera did not yield results that would be expected of an IR camera.
I have one, but you think it’s good for IR, regarding the white balenc can we make a post-production
Regards
Hi Nuno,
What kind of camera were you thinking about converting to IR?
I’m looking to purchase a Panasonic Lumix GF6 KK (16MP) & would like your opinion regarding an IR enhanced color conversion. Also, is there another mirrorless camera, in this price range, that you would recommend over the GF6?? Thanks!
Stephen
The GF6 converts to IR very nicely. All of the mirrorless hybrid cameras work well in both IR and full spectrum as they offer contrast autofocusing off the imaging sensor. This translates to being able to focus with all of your lenses once it has been converted. The only other feature you might want that the GF6 does not offer is an electronic viewfinder as it can sometimes be difficult to focus in sunny conditions off of a camera’s rear LCD screen.
Stephen, I decided to go a related route: I sent in my older G3 for IR conversion and replaced it with a newer G5. The G3 should have all the advantages talked about on this page. The G5 (or, if you like, G6 or GF6) has newer technology that is perhaps best appreciated with visible light, and of course, the lenses are interchangeable between the two. I’m lurking here at the moment because I’m waiting for the G3 to come back from its recent conversion surgery!