FAQ
Common questions
Short answers, with links to the full guides (which carry the sources). If your question is not here, it probably has a whole guide instead.
Can any camera shoot infrared?
Almost. Every digital sensor can see infrared, but a filter inside the camera (the hot mirror) blocks most of it. You get past that either by screwing an IR filter onto the lens and using long exposures, or by having the camera converted.
What filter should I start with?
A 720nm filter, such as the Hoya R72. It gives the classic infrared look, still has enough color for a channel swap, and has more tutorials written about it than any other cutoff.
Why do my infrared photos come out all red?
That is what raw infrared looks like before white balance. Set a custom white balance off green grass, and swap the red and blue channels in editing for blue skies. Both steps are quick once you know them.
Do I need to convert my camera?
Not to try infrared. A lens filter and a tripod will get you real results on most unconverted cameras. Convert once you know you like it: conversion is what makes handheld, fast-shutter infrared possible.
What does "full spectrum" mean?
A conversion that replaces the sensor’s internal filter with clear glass, so the camera sees ultraviolet, visible, and infrared all at once. You then choose what to capture with a filter on the lens, which makes one body cover many looks.
What is a hotspot?
A bright or washed-out patch in the center of the frame that some lenses produce in infrared, usually worse at small apertures. It comes from the lens, not the camera, so check a lens before you buy it for IR work.
Will shooting infrared hurt my camera?
Shooting infrared is just photography and does not harm anything. The conversion itself is the invasive part: it opens the camera, usually voids the warranty, and dedicates the body. That is a cost decision, not a safety one.
Can I shoot infrared indoors or at night?
Only with the right light. Sunlight, incandescent and halogen bulbs, and xenon flash are rich in infrared. White LEDs and fluorescent tubes emit almost none, which is why indoor IR shots under modern lighting come out nearly black.
Why are my infrared shots soft or blurry?
Two usual suspects. Infrared focuses at a slightly different point than visible light, so focus through live view with the filter on. And with a lens filter on an unconverted camera, exposures run seconds long, so a tripod is not optional.
Can my phone see infrared?
A little. Point a TV remote at your phone camera and press a button: many phones show the invisible LED as a faint glow, because their IR blocking is imperfect. It is a fun proof of concept, but real infrared photography needs a camera you can filter or convert.
Is ultraviolet photography the same thing?
It is the other side of the same coin. UV sits past the opposite end of visible light, needs its own filters, lenses, and light sources, and comes with real eye-safety rules. Different technique, same "photograph the invisible" spirit.
Where should I start?
Read the basics, pick a filter, then decide about converting once you are hooked. The guides are ordered as a learning path, and the interactive tools let you feel out the concepts before spending anything.