NEX 5N and infrared photography

[rcjensen]

I have two NEX 5N and one NEX 5R and I would like to remove the UV, IR and Anti Aliasing filters from the sensor on one of the NEX 5N.  The cameras were purchased new 3-4 month ago, but I'm not that worried about invalidating the Sony warranty ...

I don't seem to be able to contact Sony UK to get the answers, hence, does anyone on this forum knows where this work could be done? How long would it take and what would be the cost.  The NEX 5N is a nice camera, but as it is, it is a bit limiting and amateurish.

For most of the time, I'm using both NEX 5N cameras in Manual / Aperture priority mode with my old manual Nikon lenses, of which I have many.  The NEX 5R, I use with the 2 kit lenses, hoping to purchase SEL18200 soon to expand on that camera capabilities.

Removing the filters from NEX 5N sensor would allow me to produce better Raw images, shoot some decent infrared images ... and perhaps get more fun out of photography.  Perhaps as much fun as I used to get way back in sixties, when I bought my first Nikon camera.

[blaireau_photo]

Hello rcjensen - Welcome to the Sony Forums

You may have difficulty obtaining this information from an official Sony source as it is an action that would invalidate the warranty - something which I cannot imagine they would be too keen to encourage. At the same time, it must also be remembered that you do have the right to make modifications at your own risk.

If you cannot find anyone on these forums with the information, there may be other users in alternative photography forums that have tried to carry this out. There are some pretty large communities that can be found on Google - you may have better luck in one of these.

Thanks,

Simon

[rcjensen]

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your reply.

I have raised te issue on DPReview NEX forum earlier.  There are quite a few people based in US, who have had this conversion done and there are at least two US outfits, mentioned in NEX forum that are known to be doing this work.  But I rather hoped that there would be an outfit in UK that could do this work in a competent manner.  I find it strange, that Sony UK would refuse to do this conversion on account of breach of warranty terms "despite of customer willingness to forfeit any warranty cover". 

Rgds.

Richard     

[Mick2011]

If you're not concerned about warranty you should be able to get that sort of work done at any competent electronics servicing centre.

The best place to ask about that would be a local high street camera shop; they'll often have someone they use for repairs & servicing who should be able to do the job.

Cheers

Mick

[cmosse]

I know this service option, which is located in Germany. They have specialized in modification of DSC cameras (removing IR/UV/LowPass filter).

http://translate.google.de/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fw...

[rcjensen]

The "general" independent camera service centre would not take on this type of work. I have already contacted the outfit that services cameras sold through the Curry's / PC World. The removal of filtration and installation of quartz filter would necessitate in sensor recalibration.  Otherwise you might end up with perfectly useless camera.  I would only trust with this work either Sony cameras dedicated service [which in UK is only the Sony UK ?] or to a dedicated Ifrared Camera specialist, that provides assisstance to strictly professional users. 

[rcjensen]

I have now found an outfit in UK that does this kind of work for BBC News film crew amongs others. They have experience of cobverting Canon and Nikon DSLRs .... and do have the relevant parts and equipment to convert the NEX 5N and to guarantee their work for 6 month.  The only drawback is the price ... £300.00 GBP.  Still, I think that the camera's increased flexibility will outweigh the costs, so I am going to progress it.

[rcjensen]

This is the outfit in UK, near the Eastbourne.

http://www.protechrepairs.co.uk/infrared_conversion.html

I took my NEX 5N in today for the Full Spectrum conversion and as well, one of my old Nikons for service.

The company is called Protech Photographic ... and if you have access to UK photo magazines, there were a few reviews of their work recently, in Amateur Photographer and Digital SLR. 

Both cameras should be ready for collection in 10 days time ... and pending the converted NEX 5N results, I will take in the second NEX 5N for the IR conversion.