IR capable video cameras?

[dvxnoobie55]

What I am really looking for is a camera that will film IR HD video in some form. The closer to professional film quality the better at every level. I know there are some lens attachments like astro scopes but I am looking for something cheaper. The idea is to get HD video camera with IR mode like night shot or something and then add more light and other features to a camera with existing IR mode. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the great topics here I am now a DVX junkie!
JRW

 

[Zissou]

i cannot say for sure, but from my experience the CMOS based cameras either have stronger IR cut filters or are not as sensitive to IR spectrum.

I can tell you any CMOS based camera with a Sony sensor from Nikon (d3s/D300s/D90) are in NO WAY appropriate for IR capture, at least without removal and replacement of the IR cut filter, which costs $500 and up. I still shoot every IR still with a circa 2004 model Nikon D50.

A D50, which is CCD based, ended up being much more IR sensitive with a standard Hoya R72 IR filter, in an old IR test i did a while back. In my own experience the CCD cams tend to pick up IR better than their CMOS alternatives, although i am primarily talking about older Sony CCD based 'Night Shot' enabled camcorders.

Excerpt posted below with pics. Nikon D300 (stills cam, D300s performs IDENTICALLY in terms of IR). All below pics were taken by me a while back, EXIF data available. All shots taken with a 35-70 f3.3-4.5 and a 52mm Hoya R72 IR cut filter.


Nikon D50, 1/2 second, EV 0.0, ISO 1600, WB was FLASH with no flash fired, f3.3


Nikon D300, 1/2 second, EV 0.0, ISO 1600, WB was FLASH with no flash fired, f3.3



...as you can clearly see, same values here means NOTHING to the final image. in fact, i had to run it out to an 8 second exposure at the same (MAX values for EV compensation and ISO on the D50) ISO, f-stop and EV's. I found this 16:1 difference in exposure time for IR to be generally the same, assuming f-stop/ISO/EV. It is still nowhere near the same image, the D50 image is softer and more attuned to IR spectrum on film, whereas the D300 is grainy and still dark and dim.


Nikon D300, 8 seconds, EV 0.0, ISO 1600, WB was FLASH with no flash fired, f3.3



Nikon D300, 1/2 second, EV +5.0, ISO HI 1 (6400) , WB was FLASH with no flash fired, f3.3