IR ability in P&S?

[rowlandw]

Does anyone know if any point-and-shoot has IR capabiliity (as an option or IR-only)? 

[Bob Atkins]

I don't believe so. You can, of course, use an IR-pass/visible-block filter in front of any P&S camera capable of taking filters, but results may not be great since exposure times may be long and auto exposure may not work well. If you wanted to try this you'd be best off with a camera that offered manual control of shutter speed and aperture.

The other alternative is to have a camera converted. There are quite a few places that offer conversions on both DSLRs and P&S cameras. For example see http://www.lifepixel.com/IR.htm and http://spencerscamera.com/default.aspx

[rowlandw]

Thanks, Bob, for the links.  I have a Canon XT in addition to my 40D and 5D so now I'm thinking of converting it for IR!

[KeithB]

If you have (or can find) a Sony camcorder with Night shot it will do that for you.  The still resolution is not good, and you will need a neutral density filter for sunlit shots, but it is IR.

[Bob Atkins]

I do remember that the effectiveness of the IR blocking filter varies a lot from P&S to P&S. I seem to remember reading something a few years ago which listed the older P&S cameras with the weakest IR blocking filters. Of course these make the best IR cameras with a visible light blocking filter over the lens since they let the most IR through.

I don't remember which P&S models they recommended, but a Google search might dig up some information.

[jamisan]

I have a Kodak P850, I bought an adapter so my 58mm Hoya #72 IR filter will fit. I am getting pretty good results so far

[KeithB]

Certainly not a *cheap* point and shoot, but by coincidence, there is an article at Luminous Landscape about using an M8 for IR:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/m8-infrared.shtml