Bob Israel
Well-Known Member
Every spring, I get excited to fire off some infrared images with my 'ancient' Sony a6000. This time, mounted with the Sony 12-24GM.
It's Infrared Season!
- Thread starter Bob Israel
- Start date
Looks like a good season for IR
AlanLichty
Moderator
Still takes some worthwhile images - nice choice on the color palette.
Awesome Bob! I am glad you have dusted off the IR camera. I like #1 the best in color as I like the blue sky with the white foliage look a lot. But then #2, the lens flare adds a lot I think.
What's interesting about the whole A6xxx series of camera's is that even though the A6000 is ancient, they are still producing it.... so crazy. But that's because 95% of what's in the A6000 is still what's in the A6600 even. It's a crazy series of cameras with very minute changes from one release to the next. I have actually looked into getting an A6000 to convert to full spectrum since I have the A6400 also.
What's interesting about the whole A6xxx series of camera's is that even though the A6000 is ancient, they are still producing it.... so crazy. But that's because 95% of what's in the A6000 is still what's in the A6600 even. It's a crazy series of cameras with very minute changes from one release to the next. I have actually looked into getting an A6000 to convert to full spectrum since I have the A6400 also.
Bob Israel
Well-Known Member
Thank you all for you comments.
@JimFox - That is crazy that they still sell the a6000. It works well for the conversion although I do have a hot spot center that I sometimes have to correct. It appears as an area with more magenta than the rest of the frame. Most times, it easy to correct in post. I don't know if later sensors would work any better. I'm really enjoying what this little camera can produce with Sony GM lenses (24GM, 12-24GM and 35GM).
@JimFox - That is crazy that they still sell the a6000. It works well for the conversion although I do have a hot spot center that I sometimes have to correct. It appears as an area with more magenta than the rest of the frame. Most times, it easy to correct in post. I don't know if later sensors would work any better. I'm really enjoying what this little camera can produce with Sony GM lenses (24GM, 12-24GM and 35GM).
Yep, it's crazy. I was about to buy a used A6400 as I had seen some nice used ones for about $300 at the local monthly camera swap meet here in SoCal. But it closed due to the pandemic and hasn't reopened yet, though their website says they will still open back up at some point. But even looking online, the pandemic caused all the prices of used cameras to rise up, in some cases the difference between a used camera and the same one brand new is only $100-200, so it's not even worth buying used.
As to hot spots with IR, they don't come from the cameras sensor, they come from the lens. If you go to Life Pixel, the have a list of lenses they recommend that have shown minimal hot spots. And then they have a list of lenses that have proven to be really bad with IR and produce bad hot spots.
In case you aren't aware, the first tip with IR is to shoot always wide open, or close to it. The lens I use on my Nikon is a f3.5 lens, and I shoot it at f5.6 always. Doesn't matter the scene, I never change it. What's nice with Crop sensors is they have more DoF anyway, so it's easier to get away with it. Also watch shooting towards the sun. It's best to shoot with the sun at your back, but if you can't, try to shade the sun as much as possible with your hand (a Lens shade isn't enough). One of my friends, she sometimes will use an umbrella to shade the sun from hitting the lens at all.
So I use my IR camera always in Aperture mode, so that the aperture stays at f5.6 and it's pretty rare for me to get a hot spot.
Bob Israel
Well-Known Member
I didn't realize that it is recommended to shoot close to wide open. I generally don't and usually set aperture to f/5.8 or f/8 as I am usually shooting landscapes. I will go to the life pixel site and do some reading. I haven't visited that site since they converted my a6000 many years ago. I also shoot in aperture mode when shooting IR. Thanks!
You aren't too far off then if you normally shoot at f5.6 or f8 anyway. My normal aperture for landscape is f13. For my lenses it gives me good sharpness, I don't notice any difraction and it gives me tons of DoF.
I have heard good things about that 12-24 you have, so hopefully it will work good for you for IR. And it's really great to know you shoot IR too! We have a growing number people here that do. For my landscape IR, I will alternate between posting them in Landscape and the Infrared Section. Trying to share the IR love around you know.
I loved these 2, so I hope you are able to use your IR camera now that the trees are coming to life more often.