How-To: Night Vision Camera

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By Becky Stern
Posted 2011/07/06 @ 10:00 am
Category Art & Design, Photography & Video

Randy Sarafan shows you how to mod your digicam to take infrared pics, then solder up a big ol’ infrared LED light that mounts to your cameras tripod threading. Randy writes, “this special camera captures even the most difficult shots in low-to-no light photographic brilliance.”

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3 Responses to How-To: Night Vision Camera

Dave Brunker on July 6th, 2011 at 8:43 pm said:

One thing that didn’t get mentioned, there may be no need to modify your camera. Turn your camera on and aim a TV/DVD/whatever remote at it. Push some of the buttons on the remote and see if the front of the remote lights up as you look in the camera’s LCD. Odds are it will. Now all you need to do is add a IR flashlight and you’ve got instant night vision!

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Bill H on July 6th, 2011 at 9:10 pm said:

adding the infrared filter will allow you to only capture light in the infrared portion of the spectrum. Another form of IR filter is the inside of a floppy disk, or a roll of developed film (with no pictures taken with the camera). In some places this can be easier to get than the professional lighting filters. I have used the floppy disk and it works great for my multi-touch setup.

Also you could probably get a way with a giant 3-5 watt led that will light a larger area will consuming close to the same power. However your enclosure would be much smaller.

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Anonymous on July 7th, 2011 at 1:49 pm said:

the cheaper the camera the more chances are it doesn’t have an IR-cut filter built in. Mobile phones work like a charm without modifications!

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