Infrared camera

Turn a Digital Camera into an Infrared Camera

I have done some internet researches. The general steps for converting a digital camera into an infrared camera are:

1. Open the camera and remove the infrared cut filter.

2. Install an infrared pass filter at anywhere along the optical path.

3. Align the focus and reassemble the camera.

Choosing a camera

I chose Centrios DSC-314 3.1MP camera for the following reasons:

1. It is focus free and doesn't have optical zoom. It gets rid of the auto focusing issue which comes along with the removal of the infrared cut filter.

2. It has a knob for manual focusing just like most webcam does. It not only makes focusing easy but also provides a mount for the infrared pass filter.

3. It is cheap. I found it in a liquidation store for $20.

Making the infrared pass filter

I used an unexposed color negative as found at the end of those developed negative. I used one piece because I don't want too long exposure. Someone used the film from a floppy disc that I didn't try.

Doing the mod

Someone else already posted their tutorials so I am not going to repeat that. Besides, the mechanical construction varies from model to model. Mine is pretty close to that of the webcam mod. Please go to the following website: http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/10/04/how-to-turn-your-webcam-into-an-ir-night-vision-camera/

The hardest part is to pry the filter out. It has a plastic collar to hold the filter and the collar was glued to the lens housing. I was not successful in prying the filter out but I managed to cut the lens housing with a tiny tube cutting tool.

The last part is to align the focus. It is more or less a try-and-error process although the LCD monitor gives me a rough indication.

Finally the field test, the following pictures are taken with the IR camera.