Magenta cast = 0lux cam?

[Hiding_Pup]

After my success identifying hair dye with the Leica M8's unique IR abilities, it dawned on me - coupled with an IR torch, can the M8 become a night vision camera? I picked up a cheapy light that only throws IR about a metre or so, but the results are promising. You need a little light just to focus accurately but, after that - well, I'll let the results speak for themselves.

Settings: 1/15s, f1.4, ISO1250

My question now is: is it worth investing in a better IR flashlight for this kind of low-light work, and can anyone recommend a decent, relatively compact one? I've seen ones with 3v CREE IR bulbs - would these be significantly better?

 

[aniMal]

Hehe - that is using an M8 in a creative way!

It will really be like natural light - you will need a lot to illuminate a room, say...

The question is really, what for? If just for experimenting it should be easy, but to do real work with light would be somewhat cumbersome I fear...

Interesting anyway, keep us posted!

 

[Hiding_Pup]

Hmm, I'm thinking of getting a few IR-LED arrays (the same ones used for CCTV cameras) and mounting them to light stands - might be an interesting way of lighting a room without distracting the party... Need to find someone who already has an array installed though - and take a few test shots before buying my own. The trouble is, local business owners have been giving me funny looks when I say, 'Where exactly is your CCTV installed?'