Camera Labs

Gordon's post in another thread reminded me yet again I still haven't got a conversion done on the 450D. My intent is to have the standard IR block filter replaced with a clear filter, so I maintain visible light usage as well as "astro" and IR usage, all with requiring a suitable filter in place.

I know Bob linked somewhere in the past but I have no idea who or where that was now. There's ACS but I know of one dissatisfied former customer of theirs. In a quick search I found www.dslrastromod.co.uk which sounds ideal, so I'll be in touch and might give them a try.

I do have a quick question on the practical side though, if I go for a clear filter and use it for astro use, will near IR give any issues? I have tried using my IR modified 300D before and that didn't seem to pick up much of anything. Or is a sharp "astro friendly" IR cut filter still a requirement for optimal performance?

Edit: I just looked further down the search results... there's more possible converters I haven't looked at yet. This'll be a job for tomorrow I think...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I've practically agreed to doing the full spectrum conversion from the site I linked earlier. Will report back when it's done and take it from there, hopefully within a couple weeks or so. Now I just need to resolve my finder scope issue and I'm sorted for another season of imaging.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Hi popo,

I've not read the whole thread but maybe the link you've just mentioned was to Astronomiser? I've never used them so I can't say whether they are good or not.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Bob, that looks familiar. Now I remember why I didn't consider them previously, they didn't offer the full spectrum mod I'm after. An astro use DSLR is a bit too niche for me, so getting one that will double into IR increases the value significantly.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Just heard the camera is on its way back to me, so I should get it tomorrow

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Got the modified camera earlier today. Erm, technically yesterday?

Anyway, it looked pretty much as it did when it went out. I stuck any old lens on, pointed it randomly towards a window and took a shot. As expected everything was a bit red since the filter was no longer reducing red and IR like it was. Sticking a Hoya R72 filter on I gave it a try for IR. Seems to work, did even better once I did a manual white balance. So now the live view looks pretty much like an IR photo does. As I saw using the modified 300D, man made blue or black objects often look blue with the white balanced IR image. Almost everything else looks white-ish.

Now I have live view, I can make use of shallow DoF shooting, if I can just find a bit of inspiration. On that note I've ordered another R72 filter, this time in 72mm to natively fit most of my lenses. Currently I need adapt a 62mm with vignetting depending on the lens.

The other reason I got it was of course for detecting that H-alpha stuff. Sky was cloudy when I last looked out so it isn't happening tonight.

I did give it a dust check. There's one speck that's noticeable at f/16 still there after a wet clean, that must be between the filter and sensor so no practical chance of getting that out. Further minor specks can be detected at even smaller apertures. But in normal use the apertures will be much wider and the dust is not noticeable.

On the to do list - try it with light pollution filter. Rumour has it that might help normalise the white balance for normal use.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.