A "full spectrum" conversion removes the low pass IR filter/AA filter sandwich that sits in front of your camera's sensor. It is replaced with a clear "window" (the quality of which is normally what makes the real price difference between conversions). Once that is done, your sensor is open to whatever filter you put in the optical path. That filter could be on the front of the lens (as we normally think of photographic filters) or it could be behind the lens, in the body.
They can be used for Infrared Photography. Depending upon the wavelengths you let through, you can get various looks of IR imagery: http://procamerarepair.3dcartstores.com/Infrared-Sample-Photos_ep_69.html They can be used for UV Photography: http://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/ Or they can be used for "narrowband" photography, which is the main thing I want one for. As you guessed, that involves astrophotography. Moonlight and city lights/street lights can interfere with ordinary imaging. But with a full spectrum camera you can put a narrowband filter (like a Hydrogen Alpha filter) in the light path and photograph very faint objects (that emit Ha) even in (what would otherwise be) the glare of the moon or light pollution. http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/DSLR_HA.HTM This is a beautiful and educational video, if you are interested in a good explaination of narrowband astrophotography: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E842Rs-iB2I It is still possible to use a full spectrum camera for regular photography of one puts the UV/IR low pass filter (that was in front of the sensor) in front of the lens again. I also read that this can be done (without a filter) with a custom white balance, but I'm more interested in using the full spectrum camera for the "weird" stuff and using an unmodified camera for photography as God intended. :) On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 7:21 PM, Richard Womer <[email protected]> wrote: > Stupid Question Department: What's a full spectrum camera? Is it for > astrophotography? > http://photo.net/photos/RickW > > > On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 1:00 AM, Larry Colen <[email protected]> wrote: >> I had mine done at pro camera repair in San Diego. I don't think that they >> removed the AA filter, you could ask them yourself: >> http://www.procamerarepair.com/ >> >> >> Darren Addy wrote: >>> >>> Greetings, >>> I'm considering saving my nickels to get my K-01 converted to a full >>> spectrum camera. If I'm not mistaken there are a few on the PDML that >>> have gone this route. >>> >>> I'm not clear on whether BOTH IR-Cut filter and the AA filter is >>> removed as part of the process. With a Canon these are essentially >>> sandwiched together (at least the Canon Digital Rebel XSi (450D), XS >>> (1000D), T1i (500D)& T2i (550D) according to this page: >>> http://dslrmodifications.com/rebelmod450d4.html >>> This page has an illustration (a ways down) of a similar look at the >>> K-5 II and I'm assuming that is similar to the K-01 >>> http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k5-ii/pentax-k5-iiA.HTM >>> >>> Those of you that have had Full Spectrum conversion done, do you know >>> what material was used as the clear window in your conversion? >>> >>> If your converted camera has Live View, I'm curious as to whether >>> there is enough light to focus with an IR filter (or some such) in the >>> optical path and using Live View. If that is possible, then I think >>> that the K-01 is an excellent candidate for putting a filter inside >>> the body (no mirror to worry about). >>> >>> I also *just* discovered that you can use the PC/AV OUT on the K-01 like >>> this: >>> >>> http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/138-pentax-k-01/227354-probs-med-k-01-life-view-ext-tv.html#post2420487 >>> That example is using video recording to make its point and I've just >>> sent the poster a question to see if it works with Focus Peaking on >>> still shots as well. If so, I'd like to get an external LCD monitor to >>> aid in focusing for astrophotography. Or maybe just figure out how to >>> hook it up to a laptop? I'm sorta dumb about these adapter questions. >>> >> >> -- >> Larry Colen [email protected] (postbox on min4est) >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- Life is too short to put up with bad bokeh. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
