M8 IR Black & Whites

[AusDLK]

IR sensitivity of the M8 is a sore spot, I know.

But maybe to some it works to their advantage.

Here are three sample black & white IR images taken with a handheld M8 through an 89B filter, processed through Capture One and PS, and saved a JPGs for display here.

This was an overcast day. The ISO was set at 1250. A tripod would helped with sharpness as shutter speeds where ~30th.

 

[halabar]

As I said somewhere else, Bjorn will love this camera. It has the highest IR sensitivity I have seen of any camera that was not dedicated to IR.

The M8 could make a very nice dedicated B&W camera, but there are still other issues..

 

[AShearer]

IR sensitivity of the M8 is a sore spot, I know.

But maybe to some it works to their advantage.

Here are three sample black & white IR images taken with a handheld M8 through an 89B filter, processed through Capture One and PS, and saved a JPGs for display here.

This was an overcast day. The ISO was set at 1250. A tripod would helped with sharpness as shutter speeds where ~30th.

Dave

This might be a dumb question, but what is the effect of that filter? I can't find it in the B+W catalog? Is it to block normal light and permit IR?

 

[AusDLK]

Alan --

IR filters such as the 89B are essentially opaque to the human eye. That is they only pass light beginning at the low end of the infrared spectrum so the sensor (or IR film) records using light that our eyes cannot see.

 

[DaveSee]

Alan --

IR filters such as the 89B are essentially opaque to the human eye. That is they only pass light beginning at the low end of the infrared spectrum so the sensor (or IR film) records using light that our eyes cannot see.

Like Dave said--and thanks Dave/AusDLK for sharing your new use of the M8 IR sensitivity!--and here's a LINK to one of a few resources. I have a couple that I use with my Nikon Coolpix 950(which has a very weak IR filter on the CCD): the #87, and #87A.

rgds,
Dave

 

[Trius]

Nice photos but highlights are blown beyond, I think, "conventional" film/IR shots. Is this due to exposure, post processing, etc.? Can it be adjusted.

 

[newyorkone]

Like Dave said--and thanks Dave/AusDLK for sharing your new use of the M8 IR sensitivity!--and here's a LINK to one of a few resources. I have a couple that I use with my Nikon Coolpix 950(which has a very weak IR filter on the CCD): the #87, and #87A.

rgds,
Dave

Dave,

I've got the 950 too. 2.1 MP...

Back in the day, it was an awesome IR camera. Still is fun to play with from time to time.

 

[dcsang]

nice IR images!!!!

Now... do you think it's worth $5000 USD just for an IR camera?

I don't doubt that some folks will definitely drool and lust after such beautiful IR images out of a camera but you can't use IR all the time.................... can you ?

Curious,
Dave

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

It's flawed! Flawed! Canon, Nikon! $5000!

OK, said it all; the bashers will elaborate. 😀

I like the first one best, Dave.

 

[Bryce]

Cool images!
When all this is sorted out we'll see what the beastie is really capable of. In the mean time, its good to see someone using it for what it already excels at.

 

[AusDLK]

The highlights are definitely blown on the second one. This was a mix of shade and open not quite sunlight -- a tough exposure situation under the best of circumstances. I didn't spend a lot of time in post-processing so I might have been able to do something to recover some detail but with these I didn't have the time or inclination. The others don't bother me so much as they are.

 

[AShearer]

Alan --

IR filters such as the 89B are essentially opaque to the human eye. That is they only pass light beginning at the low end of the infrared spectrum so the sensor (or IR film) records using light that our eyes cannot see.

Thanks. That's what I thought ,but as I mentioned I can't find a reference to that filter? Is it B+W?

 

[AShearer]

Like Dave said--and thanks Dave/AusDLK for sharing your new use of the M8 IR sensitivity!--and here's a LINK to one of a few resources. I have a couple that I use with my Nikon Coolpix 950(which has a very weak IR filter on the CCD): the #87, and #87A.

rgds,
Dave

Thanks I will check it out.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I would definitely take that IR filter out again and trying the ev at -0.7 ... see how those results turn out

 

[AusDLK]

The 89B designation is of a Kodak/Wratten origin.

The filter I use is a Hoya R72.

B+W has their own designation which is 092.

 

[neatertone]

Dave

This might be a dumb question, but what is the effect of that filter? I can't find it in the B+W catalog? Is it to block normal light and permit IR?

You couldn't find 89B filters listed in B+W catalog because this is a Kodak wratten filter number. B+W calls it a 093. It blocks all visible light so that only IR light is transmitted.

I hope this helps.

Don

 

[neatertone]

The 89B designation is of a Kodak/Wratten origin.

The filter I use is a Hoya R72.

B+W has their own designation which is 092.

The B+W 092 allows some visible light to be transmitted. If you want to block all visible light use the 093.

 

[neatertone]

nice IR images!!!!

Now... do you think it's worth $5000 USD just for an IR camera?

I don't doubt that some folks will definitely drool and lust after such beautiful IR images out of a camera but you can't use IR all the time.................... can you ?

Curious,
Dave

Dave,

You can continue beyond the $5000 mark and buy B+W 486 filters for each of your lenses. This filter blocks all IR and UV allowing the camera to see only visible light -- something the camera should have designed to do. Maybe in the M8.2.

Cheers,
Don

 

[HenningW]

When I had the camera to try in August I noticed its IR sensitivity immediately, and tried it with a Leica IR filter (89b equiv) and a B+W 093 (87 equiv), as well as true 89b and 87 series gel filters. The camera works well as an IR camera, allowing handheld exposures with various filters (ISO 640 1/50sec at f/8-11 with the Leica IR), and amazingly even metering correctly. I shot a couple of hundred pictures in B&W IR, and asked Leica to make sure to keep the IR sensitivity. I'm glad they did! 🙂

I'm not going to post a lot of images, as this was the pre-production camera, but this is one of them:

http://www.archiphoto.com/Various/IRs.jpg

I'm holding out buying an M8 because of the apparent likelihood of a dedicated B&W M8 coming out. That one would not have the skewed colour gamut problems, and could have high IR sensitivity with lesser penalties. I sure hope that works out.

Henning

 

[Xmas]

Trius

It is normally necessary to bracket real wide when using IR. You dont need an M8 or other digcam, a cassette of Ilford or Rolli and a deep red or black filter will do. The advantage of the digcams is one only needs to swap the red cut for the red pass and you are in bus. Although you can get some effect with the normal overly red sensitive films. You may need to off focus your lens off for the IR focus.

So the extended red sensitive will be an opp for some people...

noel