FIREFLYR 0 #1 February 28, 2006 I have been looking into purchasing an infrared spotlight to aid in filming Jumps at night. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which brand, configuration...whatever? I am also curious how well a spotlight, say 1,000,000 candlewatts will iluminate a 400ft object from 200feet away. I am filming with a Sony camera,with nightshot. Thanks. ~J"One flew East,and one flew West..............one flew over the cuckoo's nest" "There's absolutely no excuse for the way I'm about to act" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #2 February 28, 2006 Do a search this forum, my username, this subject. I covered several commercial means to do it as well as poor man methods."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FIREFLYR 0 #3 March 1, 2006 Can't seem to find it. ~J"One flew East,and one flew West..............one flew over the cuckoo's nest" "There's absolutely no excuse for the way I'm about to act" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #4 March 1, 2006 Here is one that will start you in the right direction of how to do it yourself."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lifewithoutanet 0 #5 March 1, 2006 Jamie, what's up? I experimented quite a bit w/ my camera, a Sony PC109. I bought a Surefire M1 Infrared Illuminator, but quickly discovered that the camera was the actual shortfall. There are different types of IR light (far, mid, near) and most cameras fall into the 'near' IR category. 'Near' refers to distance, but is also nearly visible, similar to LouDiamond's linked post referring to red plastic. Now, when you engage Nightshot on a Sony camera (and this is true for most cameras), two things happen: 1.) the camera's IR light is enabled to light the subject 2.) the switch moves a lens in place to filter enhance IR-illuminated subject Some research I did suggested finding a midpoint between on and off with the Nightshot switch that would put the lens in place, but not turn on the camera's IR light. Using my Surefire M1, my camera was relatively effective at picking up the M1's spotlight at further distances than the camera's IR light, but only barely. Super-Nightshot (essentially a software enhancement on the camera) gives a bit more range, but with a decrease in video quality both in image quality and 'shutterspeed'. Long story short, my M1 Illuminator ended up being an expensive gadget. I've been looking at two other options. I picked up a 15M candlepower spotlight at Costco for $30 last weekend and as soon as I get my camera back, I'll start experimenting with other filters. The other, pricier option, but with potential for actually working is a Meade NV monocular with a video-out port. I might end up trying that out. Will let you know if I do. -C. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brabzzz 0 #6 March 1, 2006 Some 2+ gen nv units can be mounted onto an slr with an appropriate adapter. I assume there might be some way to attach them to whatever camera thread you have... ...though all that's getting into silly money territory, and not really answering the questions you were asking! --------------------------------------- Ex-University of Bristol Skydiving Club www.skydivebristoluni.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #7 March 1, 2006 HERE is an explanation in a bit more detail about how night shot works."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zoter 0 #8 March 1, 2006 Lou and LifeWithout a net......... Outstanding posts with really good info..... Thankyou... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FIREFLYR 0 #9 March 2, 2006 So it looks like I want a light that is within the 750 -900nm range to be most effective? I have been looking on Ebay and found some 1mil. candle power 12v halogen IR lights for about $75 but I think I would be better buying a filter for $15 and finding a much brighter light. ~J"One flew East,and one flew West..............one flew over the cuckoo's nest" "There's absolutely no excuse for the way I'm about to act" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FIREFLYR 0 #10 March 2, 2006 Im looking for something Big! I mean REAL BIG! like something they would have strapped to the bottom of a ghetto bird (all you SoCal and Auburn kids know what I'm talking about) Maybe something like this in front of a 500watt halogen light? http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=33681&TabID=1&C=SEO&U=SEOsearchPages&doy=search ~J"One flew East,and one flew West..............one flew over the cuckoo's nest" "There's absolutely no excuse for the way I'm about to act" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lifewithoutanet 0 #11 March 2, 2006 QuoteIm looking for something Big! I mean REAL BIG! Cyclops Thor Platinum "Want to bring down satellites from space? You NEED this much power." This is what I was talking about before. Turn this thing on and see what you're having for dinner tomorrow. Costco has 'em for $30. I dare anyone to mount this on their camera helmet, though. -C. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FIREFLYR 0 #12 March 2, 2006 NICE! Finding the right filter that size is the tricky part. let me know if you find something. so how bright is it? have you lit up a Building from 200 feet away? how did it look? ~J"One flew East,and one flew West..............one flew over the cuckoo's nest" "There's absolutely no excuse for the way I'm about to act" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean621 0 #13 March 2, 2006 http://www.eyespyvideo.com/infrared/irspotnote.htm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean621 0 #14 March 2, 2006 http://www.alanaecology.com/acatalog/Infrared_Filter_Sheets.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lifewithoutanet 0 #15 March 2, 2006 Quotehow did it look? Let's see...how did you put it? "like something they would have strapped to the bottom of a ghetto bird" This sucker is bright and powerful. I stood in my street, turned it on and pointed it down the block, then turned it off because I was actually concerned about scaring the shit out of my neighbors. Abbie compared it to a helicopter spotlight when I lit up a valley at a friend's house. I'll do a little test with it tonight and report in more detail. -C. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lifewithoutanet 0 #16 March 2, 2006 Oh...one thing to consider when using an IR spotlight of this magnitude to film jumps... Many law enforcement officers are equipped with IR capabilities these days. They're not out there combing the streets w/ FLIR (Forward Looking IR), but it would suck to have an area "lit-up" (without really being "lit-up" in the true sense) and draw attention to yourself. -C. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
base689 0 #17 March 2, 2006 > Cyclops Thor Platinum I bought from eBay an infrared lamp that looks very similar to that one (it came from UK (but China made), about 40€ or so). Mine has already got the infrared filter on (it's rechargeable, got a 6V Pb battery, a couple of big hanldes etc). We did one night a very nice video using my infrared lamp, but, honestly speaking, it's jolly awkward and clumsy to be operated. We were jumping a 46 m - 150 ft A, I had just bought this infrared lamp and I wanted to shoot a good video using it. #726 went first, SLed, landed (good PLF indeed!!!), sticked parachute and rig into stash bag, went to our cars (very close), grabbed infrared lamp and my PC105E and shoot a very good video of myself and of #854. But. The awkwardness and clumsyness of the whole operation is that you must hold the infrared lamp and someway somehow you have got to clinch videocamera onto infrared lamp frame with your other hand and pointing THE infrared lamp (which the videocamera is clinched to): you aim the infrared lamp and videocamera will follow. My infrared lamp has got a powerful and quite concentrated beam, you can shoot videos from 40-50-60 m - 131-164-197 ft and still be capable of seeing a good illumination of target. The problem is: if your target is far away, it is nearly impossible that you got to see it = you shoot in the dark and unless the beam hits "something", you don't know where it is and which direction to move in order to light up your target. A shortcut to this problem is to start shooting few meters off of you, you see the spot, and from there you move along towards your target and get to the trget following it by sight then YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOSE IT!!!!!!!! Otherwise you have got to search again for your target starting from few meters off of you and move along... A good thing is that upper frame of infrared lamp is neat and flat, and if videocamera is placed overthere, it is automatically aligned (still, it remains NOT easy to find the far away target). Next time we are going to use it, I was thinking of duct taping videocamera to infrared lamp, so (once recording is started) both hands can be dedicated to chasing and aiming to the target (it's jolly heavy and after few seconds you try to have some rest). Just my 0.02€.Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
