The Canon 60D, a beloved DSLR among photography enthusiasts, continues to hold its own even years after its release. A common question that arises concerning this camera is whether it possesses infrared (IR) capabilities. This article delves deep into the Canon 60D’s infrared functionality, exploring its limitations, modifications, and how you can capture captivating infrared images.
Understanding Infrared Photography
Infrared photography involves capturing light from the infrared spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye. This spectrum lies beyond the red end of the visible light spectrum. When captured by a camera, infrared light can create surreal and dreamlike images, characterized by bright foliage, dark skies, and often a unique ethereal glow. Normal cameras block most infrared light. Specialized equipment or modifications are needed to truly capture infrared light effectively.
The Allure Of The Invisible
What makes infrared photography so appealing? It’s the ability to reveal a world unseen. Foliage reflects infrared light strongly, appearing almost white in IR photographs. Skies often turn a dramatic dark hue, contrasting beautifully with the bright vegetation. The results can be strikingly different from typical visible light photography, opening up creative possibilities.
Applications Of Infrared Photography
Beyond artistic expression, infrared photography has practical applications. It’s used in:
- Aerial surveys: Detecting plant health and stress.
- Medical imaging: Thermography.
- Forensics: Detecting altered documents.
- Art authentication: Revealing underdrawings.
- Security systems: Night vision.
The Canon 60D’s Native Infrared Sensitivity
The Canon 60D, like most standard digital cameras, has a built-in hot mirror filter (also called an IR cut filter) positioned in front of the sensor. This filter is designed to block most of the infrared light from reaching the sensor. The purpose is to ensure accurate color reproduction in normal photography. Without this filter, images would have a reddish cast and inaccurate color balance.
The Hot Mirror Filter: A Necessary Evil?
While essential for standard photography, the hot mirror filter prevents the 60D from capturing significant infrared light natively. This means that the Canon 60D, in its stock configuration, cannot capture true infrared images. Some very faint infrared light may still bleed through, but it’s insufficient for creating the dramatic effects associated with infrared photography.
Testing The 60D’s Limited Infrared Capabilities
Even with the hot mirror filter, a very small amount of infrared light can still reach the sensor. To test this, you can try shooting in bright sunlight with a strong infrared-passing filter attached to the lens.
- Use a tripod for stability.
- Set the camera to manual mode.
- Set a wide aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or f/4).
- Increase the ISO to a high value (e.g., 1600 or 3200).
- Use a long exposure (several seconds or even minutes).
Even with these settings and a dedicated infrared filter, you’ll likely find that the resulting image has a strong red cast and requires significant post-processing to resemble an infrared photograph. The results will be far from ideal compared to a dedicated infrared camera or a modified 60D.
Modifying The Canon 60D For Infrared Photography
To truly unlock the infrared capabilities of the Canon 60D, you need to modify the camera. This involves removing or replacing the hot mirror filter. This modification is not for the faint of heart and should only be attempted by experienced individuals or professionals. Incorrect modification can permanently damage your camera.
Types Of Infrared Modifications
There are several types of infrared modifications you can perform on a Canon 60D:
- Full Spectrum Conversion: Replacing the hot mirror filter with a clear glass filter. This allows the camera to capture ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared light. You then use lens filters to selectively block certain wavelengths.
- Infrared-Only Conversion: Replacing the hot mirror filter with an infrared-passing filter that blocks all visible light. This creates a dedicated infrared camera that only captures infrared light. Common filter cutoffs include 720nm, 850nm, and 590nm.
- IR Blocking Filter: Replacing the hot mirror filter with a custom filter that allows a very narrow band of light in the IR spectrum. This approach is less common but can be used to get specific effects.
The Conversion Process: A Delicate Operation
The conversion process involves carefully disassembling the camera, locating the hot mirror filter, and replacing it with the desired filter. This requires precision tools, a clean workspace, and a thorough understanding of the camera’s internal components. Dust contamination is a major concern during the conversion process. Even a tiny speck of dust on the sensor can ruin your images. Many professional services offer this conversion process.
Choosing The Right Infrared Filter
The type of infrared filter you choose will significantly affect the look of your infrared photographs.
- 720nm Filter: This is a popular choice for beginners as it allows some visible light to pass through, resulting in images with a reddish hue that can be converted to black and white or color infrared in post-processing.
- 850nm Filter: This filter blocks almost all visible light, resulting in more intense infrared effects and darker skies. Images are typically converted to black and white.
- 590nm Filter: Often referred to as a “Super Color IR” filter, it allows more visible light to pass through than the 720nm. This can result in very unique color infrared images with interesting color swaps.
The decision depends on the kind of look you want for your final image.
Shooting Infrared With A Modified Canon 60D
Once your Canon 60D is modified for infrared photography, you’ll need to adjust your shooting techniques to get the best results.
White Balance Is Crucial
Setting the correct white balance is essential for infrared photography. Since you’re capturing light outside the visible spectrum, the camera’s auto white balance will likely produce inaccurate and undesirable results.
- Custom White Balance: The best approach is to set a custom white balance. Point the camera at a piece of green foliage (grass or leaves) under the same lighting conditions as your subject and use that as your white balance reference. This will help neutralize the red cast typically associated with infrared photography.
- Preset White Balance: If you can’t set a custom white balance, try using the “Cloudy” or “Shade” preset. These presets tend to produce warmer tones, which can be a good starting point for infrared photography.
Focusing Challenges
Infrared light has a slightly longer wavelength than visible light, which can cause focusing issues. The focus point for infrared light may be slightly different from the focus point for visible light.
- Live View Focusing: Using Live View and manual focus can help achieve sharper results. Zoom in on your subject and carefully adjust the focus until it appears sharp on the LCD screen.
- Focus Calibration: Some lenses may require calibration to achieve accurate focus with infrared light.
Exposure Considerations
Infrared photography often requires longer exposures than standard photography. This is because infrared light is less intense than visible light.
- Use a Tripod: A tripod is essential for capturing sharp infrared images, especially with long exposures.
- Experiment with ISO: Start with a low ISO (e.g., 100 or 200) and increase it as needed to achieve a proper exposure.
- Aperture Settings: Choose an aperture that provides sufficient depth of field for your subject.
Post-Processing Techniques
Post-processing is a crucial part of infrared photography. You’ll likely need to adjust the white balance, contrast, and color channels to achieve your desired look.
- Channel Swapping: A common technique is to swap the red and blue channels in Photoshop or other image editing software. This can create dramatic color effects and turn foliage bright blue.
- Black and White Conversion: Many infrared photographers prefer to convert their images to black and white, which can enhance the surreal and ethereal qualities of infrared photography.
- Contrast and Clarity Adjustments: Adjusting the contrast and clarity can help bring out the details in your infrared images.
Alternatives To Modifying The Canon 60D
If you’re not comfortable modifying your Canon 60D, there are alternative ways to experiment with infrared photography.
Using Infrared Filters On Your Lens
You can attach an infrared-passing filter to the front of your lens. While this won’t produce the same results as a modified camera, it can still allow you to capture some infrared light. This requires long exposures and is best done in bright sunlight.
- This is the least invasive method to try IR photography with your 60D.
- Requires a very strong IR filter to block most of the visible light.
- Extremely long exposures are a necessity.
Buying A Dedicated Infrared Camera
Another option is to purchase a dedicated infrared camera. These cameras are specifically designed to capture infrared light and typically have a much higher sensitivity than modified cameras.
- This is the most expensive option.
- Provides the best image quality and performance for IR photography.
- No need to modify your existing camera.
The Verdict: Canon 60D And Infrared
The Canon 60D, in its stock configuration, has limited infrared capabilities due to its built-in hot mirror filter. While you can experiment with infrared filters on your lens, the results will be far from ideal. To truly unlock the infrared potential of the Canon 60D, you’ll need to modify the camera by removing or replacing the hot mirror filter. This is a complex procedure that should only be attempted by experienced individuals or professionals. If you’re not comfortable with modification, you can consider purchasing a dedicated infrared camera. While not natively equipped for strong infrared capture, the Canon 60D can be adapted through modification to become a capable tool for infrared photography. The journey into infrared photography with a Canon 60D, whether modified or not, opens up a world of creative exploration.
What Infrared Wavelength Is Ideal For The Canon 60D?
The ideal infrared wavelength for the Canon 60D largely depends on the desired effect and the level of modification applied to the camera. Generally, a 720nm filter is a good starting point for beginners, providing a noticeable infrared effect while still retaining some visible light, resulting in color infrared images. This allows for a balance between surreal tones and familiar colors, making it easier to learn and experiment with post-processing.
For more dramatic and purer infrared images, filters with higher wavelengths like 830nm or even 850nm are preferred. These filters block out more visible light, creating striking black and white infrared photos with stark contrasts and ethereal skies. However, these higher wavelengths require longer exposure times and may necessitate more intensive post-processing to achieve the desired result.
Does The Canon 60D Require Full Spectrum Conversion For Infrared Photography?
While you can use infrared filters with an unmodified Canon 60D, the results will be limited. The camera’s hot mirror filter, designed to block infrared light, significantly reduces the amount of infrared radiation reaching the sensor. This necessitates extremely long exposure times, often several seconds or even minutes, making handheld shooting impossible and limiting the possibilities.
For serious infrared photography, a full spectrum conversion is highly recommended. This involves removing the hot mirror filter and replacing it with a clear glass filter. This allows the sensor to capture a much wider range of light wavelengths, including infrared, resulting in shorter exposure times, greater flexibility, and ultimately, better image quality. The camera becomes dedicated to infrared and full-spectrum photography after this conversion.
What Kind Of Lens Is Best For Infrared Photography With The 60D?
Many lenses work well for infrared photography with the Canon 60D, but certain characteristics can enhance your results. Look for lenses that are known for their sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration. Single-coated lenses, or older lenses, are sometimes preferred because they may not have coatings that specifically block infrared light, although modern multi-coated lenses generally perform well.
Experiment with different lenses to see what works best for your shooting style and desired effect. Be aware that some lenses may exhibit hot spots, bright areas in the center of the image due to internal reflections of infrared light. Testing different lenses is the best way to identify and avoid these issues.
What Are Some Essential Post-Processing Techniques For Infrared Photos From The 60D?
Post-processing is crucial for bringing out the best in infrared photos from the Canon 60D. Start by adjusting the white balance. Because infrared light renders colors differently, setting a custom white balance using a gray card or a green leaf in the scene can help neutralize the overall color cast. Experiment with channel swapping in Photoshop (or similar software) to achieve the classic blue sky and white foliage look.
Further adjustments may include increasing contrast, sharpening, and tweaking color saturation. Consider converting the image to black and white for a classic infrared aesthetic, focusing on highlighting textures and creating dramatic contrasts. Dodging and burning can also enhance details and create a more surreal or artistic effect.
How Does The Canon 60D’s Live View Feature Aid In Infrared Photography?
The Canon 60D’s Live View feature is extremely helpful for infrared photography, especially when using a modified camera. It allows you to see a live preview of the image on the LCD screen, which is essential for focusing, framing, and judging exposure when using dense infrared filters. Because infrared light focuses differently than visible light, Live View’s magnification feature can help achieve critical focus.
Furthermore, the Live View histogram provides immediate feedback on the exposure, which is particularly useful when shooting with longer exposure times. You can adjust the settings in real-time to ensure that the image is properly exposed and avoid blowing out highlights or underexposing shadows. This is a significantly easier and more accurate method compared to relying on the camera’s metering system alone with infrared filters.
What Are The Common Challenges Faced In Infrared Photography With The Canon 60D?
One of the main challenges in infrared photography with the Canon 60D, especially without a full spectrum conversion, is long exposure times. The camera’s infrared blocking filter severely restricts the amount of infrared light reaching the sensor, requiring significantly longer exposures, which can lead to motion blur and limit shooting conditions. Another common issue is achieving accurate focus, as infrared light has a different focal point than visible light. This can be mitigated with Live View magnification.
Another frequent challenge is dealing with hot spots, which are bright areas in the center of the image caused by internal reflections within the lens. This phenomenon varies depending on the lens used and can be minimized by choosing lenses known to be less prone to hot spots. Finally, post-processing infrared images can be challenging, requiring experimentation and careful adjustment to achieve the desired look, particularly when dealing with color balance and contrast.
Can I Use My Existing Canon EF Or EF-S Lenses For Infrared Photography With A Modified 60D?
Yes, you can absolutely use your existing Canon EF and EF-S lenses for infrared photography with a modified Canon 60D. The lens mount remains the same after the conversion, so all of your compatible lenses will work. However, it’s important to remember that not all lenses perform equally well in the infrared spectrum.
As previously mentioned, some lenses may exhibit hot spots when used for infrared photography. It’s advisable to test your lenses to determine which ones produce the best results and avoid any potential issues. Remember to focus carefully, as infrared light may focus slightly differently than visible light, and consider using Live View’s magnification feature for critical focus.