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#1 08-18-2005 21:20:00
CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
The following topic is to comment and discuss the article CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video posted by mike
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#2 08-22-2005 17:41:02
- ThePete
- Guest
Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
Hey, just curious if you know of a type of gel or other thin (cuttable) plastic that could replace that IR filter in the original lens housing. I managed to break mine too and thought there might be a cheap way to replace it.
#3 08-22-2005 22:21:59
Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
Unfortunately, I haven't found a replacement. There has to be some kind of IR filter that could work as a replacement, but I haven't really looked yet. My guess is that a local camera shop would have filters for normal cameras, but I'm not sure how well those would cut up and they're probably expensive. Let me know if you find anything, and I'll update the page if I find something (probably within this next week I'll go out and look)
After some searching, I think what we want is called a "hot mirror." I've only done a little searching, but here's a forum post http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread/t-36976.html that has a link to cheap hot mirrors at http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/m2110.html but this is 4 mm thick and way too big width and height wise. I've only done about 10 minutes of searching so far, but I think a low quality hot mirror would work.
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#4 08-23-2005 01:42:30
- ThePete
- Guest
Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
Hm, I'll have to check those out. Aren't those filters made of glass, though? I'm guessing anything made of glass would have to be specifically cut for the tiny lens housing of the CVS camcorder--I mean, what are the odds of finding one that size? Well, I'll keep a look out and let you know what I find. I'll also check back here to keep track of your progress. Thanks for sharing all of this great info! It's helped me a lot.
Good luck with everything!
#5 08-23-2005 19:28:29
Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
Yeah, it looks like most are glass... I doubt there will be any filter that will fit into the lens housing, unless it's some sort of cuttable plastic. I think the best bet is to try and fit it between the lens and the case of the camera which would give a little more room to work with. I called up a local Ritz Camera and the guy didn't have any clue where to find an IR filter and was sure I meant UV filter. The search continues...
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#6 08-24-2005 23:49:47
Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
Well, I may have found something. I've ordered two of these in hopes that they will work. I don't even know what the things look like. My only guess is it's one of the filters pictured in this pdf. I think 13.6mm is a size that will work, it might even fit between the shiny plastic around the outside of the lens and the actual camera casing. Fingers are crossed.
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#7 08-25-2005 04:22:39
- Robert
- Guest
Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
Mike,
I have a question about lens focus on the CVS camcorder...
I've seen several macro videos now and it looks to me like they are all a lot sharper then I can ever get with my unmodified (lens) camcorder.
I was wondering if it might be worth cracking off the locktite on the lens and playing with my lens focus just to see if a person could achieve better focus at normal shooting distances than with the factory preset. It occurs to me that maybe they didn't finely tweak them all that well.
Have you ever played with this??
Thanks,
Robert
#8 08-25-2005 18:54:08
Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
Robert wrote:
I was wondering if it might be worth cracking off the locktite on the lens and playing with my lens focus just to see if a person could achieve better focus at normal shooting distances than with the factory preset. It occurs to me that maybe they didn't finely tweak them all that well.
If you're not comfortable with taking apart sensitive electronics, I'd say it's not worth it. Messing with the lens can damage the imager. Right now I have a couple gray spots on one of my camcorders because I wasn't careful enough, but this was from doing the IR mod and not unscrewwing the lens for doing macros.
If you're comfortable with the risk of screwwing up your camcorder, I'd say go for it. I've done this myself for some of my macros. My closest shots were done by unscrewwing the lens until it's almost falling out, then putting two extra lenses (half of the viewfinder and the normal lens from a disposable film camera) on the outside of the camera. Adjusting the lens could also improve your normal videos if the lens wasn't set correctly in the factory like you said.
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#9 12-28-2005 11:33:20
- ::christofleeze::
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- Registered: 12-28-2005
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Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
so...I followed the tutorial, and made my infrared night vision camera! I also went the extra mile and cut out the leader from some old color negatives to put in where the ir filter used to be. Just thought I would save some of you some trouble with this part by suggesting that you use a hole puncher to make the circular "rgb filters" for use in daytime Infrared videography. It was exactly the right size for the camera, and after trying like 30 or so times to cut a perfect circle w/ my x-acto knife, I was looking for something easier. plus, it helped me keep my lil fingerprints off the "filters". lemme know if this helps anyone!
::christofleeze::
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#10 07-24-2006 14:34:20
- AC
- Guest
Re: CVS camcorder hacking: infrared video
hey, sorry haven't read posts so may be redundant, but the magnetic disk in a floppy disk acts as a visible light filter, and will allow near infra-red and infra-red as well as some ultraviolet light.
peace
--will