Life Pixel – Nikon D3x DIY Digital Infrared Conversion Tutorial

Disclaimer: This tutorial is intended for experienced professionals and made available to you for informational purposes only. Tampering with your camera will void your manufacturer’s warranty. If you decide to perform the conversion you could damage your camera or be hurt or get killed from the high voltage present – you do so at your own risk, we are not responsible for camera damage or any harm you may suffer or any special or consequential damages. Also, by visiting this site you are legally bound by our Terms of Use Agreement, we highly recommend you read it.

Focus Warning:  Because of the complexity and requirement for specialized precision equipment, advanced training and experience, we do not provide any information regarding focus calibration whatsoever.

The mere act of removing the sensor from within the camera could potentially ruin the original factory calibration and render your camera completely incapable of achieving proper focus. If this happens we will be unable to help you and even the manufacturer may refuse to service your camera. This is very serious stuff folks.

Focus and dust are in fact the most difficult parts of the conversion process. We highly recommend you send your camera in for conversion instead of attempting to do this yourself.

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You will need these tools & supplies to follow the D1x infrared conversion tutorial:

– Infrared filter to replace the hot mirror
– Small philips type screwdriver
– Tweezers
– Canned air
– Lens cleaning solution & tissue
– Grounding strap /w current limit resistor

If you prefer not to risk damage to your camera, have us convert it to infrared for you here. It would be best to perform the conversion in a well lit area that is as clean and dust free as possible. Wearing a grounding strap will minimize the chance of zapping your camera with static and most likely rendering it dead.

Peel back the self adhesive rubber grip material and remove marked screws.

Remove marked screws.

Flip up the rear panel and disconnect marked ribbon cables.

Remove marked screws.

Lift out noise shield and set aside.

Remove marked screws.

Lift out metal shield and set aside.

Disconnect marked ribbon cable.

Disconnect cables marked with green arrows. Then disconnect cable marked with blue arrow. Remove screw marked with red arrow.

Remove marked screw.

Lift out circuit board and set aside.

Remove marked screws.

Lift out imaging sensor assembly.

Remove screws marked with red arrows, then remove retaining clips marked with blue arrows.

Lift out low pass filter retaining frame.

Take the glass infrared filter out of the packaging and remove any dust present by gently cleaning with lens tissue and solution and blowing with canned air, repeat until all traces of dust are gone. Very carefully lift out the low pass filter & set aside on a clean lens tissue. As soon as the lowpass filter is removed immediately replace it with the infrared filter to avoid any dust settling on the sensor.

Replace the filter frame, retaining clips and screws.

Follow the tutorial in reverse to reassemble the camera. Set a custom white balance per our instructions page and take some test shots to make sure there is no dust trapped between the sensor and infrared filter. If you find dust and find it objectionable disassemble the camera again, blow off the sensor with canned air (make sure only air and no liquid is coming out by purging and holding it upright) and re-cleaning the infrared filter.

If you prefer not to risk damage to your camera, have us convert it for you here.