DIY infrared digicam filter on the cheap

If you're looking to get in touch with your artsy side, check out Instructables' DIY infrared filter project, which not only involves crafting the hack, but also adds some new flavor to your digital photography routine. With some cardboard tubes, old negatives, electrical tape, and a few other minor tools, you can whip up one of these in a jiffy. You're good to go as long as your camera's sensitive to infrared light -- something you can test using an IR remote. We suggest experimenting with subject matter like nature scenes or architecture, but if you decide to perv it up, good luck trying to peep those Japanese Olympic swimmers.

[Mike @ Mar 21st 2007 7:15AM]

Great idea. The only problem is that it will only work if your camera lense is smaller than a 35mm negative.

[Mikey @ Mar 21st 2007 9:22AM]

I seem to remember something about this long ago. The guy had even taken a LED flashlight and converted it to IR LEDs to make a "flash". I wish I could find the link.

[Fabs @ Mar 21st 2007 10:27AM]

The film works very bad.
True IR filters are available in optical quality gelatin, in the Kodak Wratten gamma; you may find them here:
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/b3akic/b3akic.jhtml

You need to dig somewhere for info, as one of those filters let pass through also a little visible light, others not (I used them some 30 years ago, so I don't remember details...)

Quality is absolute but they are soft and scratchable.

[Jonathan @ Mar 21st 2007 11:19AM]

Did this a long time ago and it was OK... until I bought my DSLR and the film was way too small for my lenses. Not to mention most nice DSLR's have really thick IR filters, so no visible light and no IR light = pitch black. :)

[Jeff @ Mar 21st 2007 11:40AM]

what is engadget now like "lifehacker 3 days later" or something? this is like the 5th article i've noticed come straight off of lifehacker, only days later.


i'm sure there's bound to be some overlap, but it's like my RSS feed reader has some sort of echoing feedback problem.