You may have noticed the so called adjustable variable infrared filters that are popping up on Ebay and elsewhere online. Here is one example:
So how do these adjustable IR filters work and are the results any good?
Although the concept is intriguing in reality though the results are quite poor and it’s all due to physics. The way these filters are made is by taking a simple variable ND filter, which is a sandwich of 2 types of polarizers and adding a red longpass filter on top of the stack. At this point some of you may already have figured out the issues just from reading the previous sentence. That’s right, all the problems you experience with variable ND filters transfer over and are made worse with the capture of two different light spectrums, visible and infrared.
The dreaded cross pattern is just as bad here, gets progressively worse the stronger IR effect you dial in. Also, because of the qualities of stacked polarizing filters you also induce a lot of softness to the image, washing out fine detail considerably. I guess if these effects is what you are after then great, this is a perfect filter for you but for the general photographer who is seeking the finest image capture possible this filter just isn’t a good idea.
Don’t believe me? No problem, go buy one and try for yourself, heck they come from China so are cheap enough for a simple experiment right? Here is an Ebay listing full of them.
For those that still want to be able to adjust the IR effect in camera you’d be best served by using our external IR filters in front of the lens. Just remember this point: you can override your internal (in camera) IR filter by using a STRONGER external IR filter over your lens but not the other way around. So if you are starting with a Super Color IR Conversion (590nm) then placing any of these over your lens will work: Enhanced (665nm), Standard (720nm) and Deep BW (830nm). So as long as the wavelength outside is higher than inside it will work with great results. It’s like having multiple conversions all at the same time.
The only drawback is for people without Live View because IR filters are quite opaque you’d be blocking your viewfinder in your DSLR, of course cameras with Life View and all Mirrorless cameras don’t have this problem as the sensor sees through the filters just fine.
With our Full Spectrum Conversion you can use any external filter and they all will work because the internal filter is not doing any blocking. The same rule about viewfinder being blocked applies here too so this conversion works best with Mirrorless cameras and DSLRs with Live View.
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so say I have just a standard digital camera (that sees a remote ir control light) and I want to get pictures like what you show with super colour ir filter, can I just buy that filter for front of lens ,or do I have to go deeper ir to get super colour results?
thanks
steven
Hey Steven,
You can just use an external filter to get this effect without converting your camera but you will be forced to use incredibly long exposure times as the hot mirror filter inside of your camera is going to be fighting against you.
yes received my second one EBay today the red cross they are junk should of bought hoya
HI,
What is the difference between a “Full Spectrum” conversion and a “Supercolor 590” conversion?
Hi Jim, Full spectrum opens up the full sensitivity of the camera’s sensor to UV, IR, and visible light. With this conversion, you can use external filters to isolate whatever it is that you would like to capture. Our Super Color IR filter, on the other hand, is a dedicated IR conversion that allows both visible red and IR to pass simultaneously and is our most popular and versatile IR filter. The video in our Start Here guide shows you how you can make this filter replicate the other IR filters we offer through processing in Photoshop.
Thanks for the article I too was wondering if these worth spending money or time on.
I will now save both by not buying one. I use both a converted Canon d60 as well as the 720 – 950 screw on filters the Canon is easier but I like the look of the long exposures using the filters more.