In this video I show you how to convert Panasonic Lumix travel zoom camera ( the TZ6 – TZ10 or ZS3 – ZS7 or any camera with at least a 35mm lens flange diameter) to shoot infrared only. By removing the infrared blocking filter from the camera we increase the overall sensitivity of the camera to infrared and then to prevent visible light from affecting the display we install a infrared pass filter which blocks all wavelengths of light below 720nm (all visible light). I show the step by step procedures to do this and show the type of results to be expected after the conversion.
Please don’t attempt this if you aren’t competent with precision tools and small equipment as it is possible that you may damage your camera and render it useless.
Part 2 will show fitting the infrared pass filter, picture taking and post-processing
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I know this is now an old video, but thanks for this. I've just converted an old TZ4 which I bought on EBay for £7.30. Impressed with the results. Thank you so much.
This i really hard to do without a proper screwdriver set.
Hi Graham, informative video. It inspired me to take out of retirement two Panasonic Lumix cameras today and remove the IR filter. Once I bought a small enough Phillips head screwdriver it was easy. Now I have a DMC-FS15 and a DMC-TZ4K working as full spectrum cameras. I put an IR band-pass filter in from of the lens and have an IR camera.
I am surprised that both focus easily and well, even at infinity, without the IR internal filter and without replacing it with clear glass, like cut from a microscope slide.
Thank you,
Steve
This camera has tiny six sided screws inside 🙁 Any idea which screwdriver it might be?
Really wish i could do this, but I can't even replace the batteries in a tv remote without screwing it up!
…don't know if that magnetic driver helps…or hinders…
I would try this with a cheap ass web cam first.
Mr Graham thank you for this video
i have a question form you
i bought a modified camera "Sony 990x " it can see things underground and behind walls
i hope that you can explain this
and i have videos prove that and i can upload them on YouTube so you can see them
i hope that you can replay soon
MY Best regards
But can we still record normal videos.
camera wont focus after removing IR filter???????????
What are the advantages of taking pictures with infrared light?
Unless the screwdriver you're using is non-ferrous, you can magnetise any tip by simply letting a small neodymium magnet adhere to the tip's shaft.
Could of linked the part 2 tho?
I have taken apart and removed the blocking filter on three different cameras. The same result… the images are now fuzzy and not focused well.
Very, very bad advice to clean sensor with cotton if there is no dirt on a sensor in a closed camera body. Interfere as little as possible is my experience. Also stupid to put a piece of film before the sensor.
can you convert pansonic fz300 or fz1000 infrared
I tried this some time ago on a sony nex 3 apsc sensor camera, not easy to get to the sensor as these cameras have a lot of ribbon cables going all across the back.
the plastic connectors holding the ribbons are fragile, break one and you may as well hit your camera with a 10lb sledge hammer.
I was lucky and the results were astounding, this camera already worked well in extremely low light due to the huge sensor.
I've always heard that removing the ir filter was a permanent process but I don't see how it couldn't be placed back again. Anyone tried going back to normal after this?
hi are all the panasonic cameras easy to do. or it just the 4 you have listed
What happened to part 2😟?
You sir are a gentleman, Thanks for the vid!
to shoot infrared just put the infrared filter in front of the lens without taking it apart
So what about the color filters on the sensor?
I have a Sony Powershot camera and curious to know if it can also records Infrared videos other than just taking pictures, thanks.
tks. for you video. asking i bought one camara the same, but i tried to take photos for one painting looking, the sketches or drawing, dont obtain nothing, quest, how i have to made?
I had a question about focus. I have heard that autofocus systems will be off when photographing in infrared. Can you manually focus this camera or is that a problem or not. Thanks for info, great video.
Thx man my hassleblad takes great ir photos now!
Thanks for the great video! I converted my Panasonic TZ10 without any problems. There were some additional clips holding the back in place, apart from that it's exactly the same procedure. Thanks a lot for the instructions!
Hi,
Excellent video. I recently tried my first IR conversion, on an Olympus C5050Z. The work re. the IR blocking filter went well, but I ruined a ribbon cable (there were 8 of them on the way to the sensor!) and that was the end of it. The Lumix model you converted seems to have a shorter, easier path. My question concerns removing the IR blocker but not replacing it with another piece of glass (same dimensions). I've seen comments in other articles that the auto focus does not work without a replacement (clear glass e.g. cut from a microscope slide). Other comments are that it is tricky to find the exact thickness (the Olympus had a 3mm thick IR blocker), and cutting the glass to the proper dimensions. Any thoughts? BTW, in my ill-fated attempt, I followed an alternative procedure I'd seen, which was to "sand" off the IR blocking filter from the surface of the glass substrate, rubbing the face on a flat sheet of acrylic, using a lightly abrasive cream (auto paint refinisher). Took about 20 minutes.
Cheers,
So why does allowing IR light getting through allow you to see in the dark, cus its a lower freqency?
Thanks for share it. I want to share my IR images with you. See it on my channel.