I bought a 72 IR LED array thinking I could use it as a light source for night pictures. I have tried many different cameras and they all see the lights as I look at the array, but if I try pointing the array outward to take a picture, I can see maybe 3 or 4 feet. The description on the array said the beamwidth was 8 feet at 24 feet away. That to me implies it should be a much stronger light source. It is 940nm...not sure if the 850nm would be any better. I have seen several cameras that either use a smaller array (27 LEDs for example, or a circle of arrays around the lens. Any ideas on my situation?
To test the LED array I have tried multiple cameras from Canon to sony to Kodak. I also tried the actual trail camera I am trying to modify (a bushnell trail sentry). With the first three cameras I can see the IR from the LEDs in the display, it is just low. Because I can see the IR from the LEDs I assume there is no IR blocking filter in these cameras. If there were, I would not expect to be able to see the lights (just as I cannot see it with the naked eye).
Does anyone have cameras with IR LEDs?
If I cannot get this to work I guess I will have to get another IR source.
My guess is that , yes, there is an ir blocking filter in your camera between the lens and the ccd chip. It is my basic understanding, that all the digital cameras are sensitive to IR. Some more so then other, but that they all have IR blocking filters in them. Then again, I could really be full of it. Hee Hee. How about a real expert telling us how it is ??
When you convert a camera over to IR, that is what your doing is removing the filter and replacing it with clear glass. I would assume all digital cameras have an IR filter over the ccd.
Perhaps the filter simply degrades the intensity. I tried looking at the LED array with a nikon coolpix camera in both black and white mode and normal color (thinking perhaps b&w mode would be analagous to a "night mode" of sorts). There seemed to be a little change in the intensity of the IR but not much.
Assuming I need to remove and replace an IR blocking filter, can someone tell me where they think it might be on this camera circuit. The only place I think it can be is beneath the two capacitors (marked with a "100"). I do not see a way to remove that component if it is the filter.
I thought you were talking about a homebrew setup, not a commercial cam. Was the setup an IR unit to begin with? If it was, then it probably doesn't have the IR filter in place. If it wasn't, the IR filter should be sandwiched between the lens assembly and the board. Not real sure if that cam has one to begin with or not.
I want to know if anyone has tried using an LED array. If they have, I'd like to know what their experiences were with it. If it works well and matches the kind I have, I will continue trying to find a way to integrate it into my camera. If it doesn't, I won't waste anymore time on it; I'll try another flash option.
I think I have found out that most people use IR pass filters on flashes and slave flashes for still pics and LED arrays for video.
On another great note...in putting that little board in the picture back together I plugged it in backwards without paying attention that the batteries were in. It seems to have messed something up now it wont take pictures at all. Time to send it back to China!
I have not put mine in the woods yet as having trouble with my board. but getting help with that now. I did test it manually and can not see any light from the unit at all. No red glow.
What are you using to try and see the "red glow"? Maybe on lower wavelength LEDs you can see some red but I believe just about anything above 700nm is invisible to the nake eye.
I tried the same board you have. I tried it on an Olympus d-360 ir converted camera and an Olympus d-380 ir converted camera. I just could not get enough lisht out of it. I could see it, but it was not bright enough for me in the woods. So, I went with the ir pass filter in front of the flash. Much Much better for me on both types of cameras.
Yea...that is what I am coming to realize. I think I'll keep the board and save it for a camcorder project. Perhaps I'll get an identical board and put it in parallel.
What kind of IR filter did you put over the flash? Can you see any visible light with the naked eye once the filter was on?
I USED THE IR PASS FILTER THEY SELL ON PIXCONTROLLER.COM . YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE RED BLINK WHEN THE FLASH GOES OFF. DOES NOT BOTHER THE ANIMALS AT ALL AND WILL NOT ATTRACT ATTENTION AT NIGHT IN THE WOODS BY OTHERS. ANOTHER THING YOU COULD DO THAT IS BETTER, BUT OF COURSE NOT AS BRIGHT AS A FLASH, IS TO USE THE 6 VOLT QUARTS LIGHT BOARD THEY SELL AND USE THE IR FILTER IN FRONT OF THAT. THEY SELL THAT LIGHT BOARD AS THE VIDEO LIGHT BOARD ON PIXCONTROLLER.COM UNDER CAMERA BUILDING ACCESSORIES.
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