'Lo all, guess it time I start doin a little more typing then readin' since I've joined the fold. My first question phases a bit more into the camera world though, so I don't know if I'm barking up the right tree...

Since so much of the action concerning the canyon runs that I do takes place at night, it's necessary to have a good camera to record it(you know....if thats your thing). Most, if not all of night shots that don't cause blurriness use infrared intake in order to get a good shot.

Two things then concerning that:

1. Will regular illumination from stars/moonlight provide enough of that wavelength of light to get a good camera shot?

or...

2. Will extra production of Infrared, via something like LED's be needed to get a visible light above the threshold needed for the camera to pick it up?


Thanks in advance guys.

 

I'm a bit confused as to what you call an "infrared intake". Are you talking about a camera using nightvision? If so, I wouldn't see the point of filming if all you're going to see is green. If that is the case, however, then yes, you can use IR spotlights to light the area around you. The area in question will determine how much IR amplification you need. The type of camera you're using will also determine how much extra IR is needed, as some are more sensitive than others. Honestly, I think it'd cost more than it's worth, not to mention a pain in the *** to set up properly.

 

Actually you shouldn't see green.. I thought the green colour was a hollywood thing becuase military night ops are usually green or red becuase it doesn't mess with the eye as bad. Anyway if it is green you could always mod the camera and take out the filter. In my experience infrared cams are black&white.

Webcams are cheap and the process can probably be carried over to a digital camcorder. Your headlights may give off enough IR light to do the job well enough. if not an IR spotlight moded to fit on the dash or hood should do the job no problems.

http://www.hoagieshouse.com/IR/

 

You guys are talking about two or three separate things :

in Order of Cost:

1 Infrared (IR) needs IR light just like a regular camera does, and most of the technology in movie cameras is based around the notion that you'll be close so a couple of IR LED's are generally enough

2 Starlight Scope, it can be green but doesn't need to be, it amplifies light that is given by the moon and stars, and amplifies it, it generally will give you shapes but it's difficult to see clear definitions due to the lack of contrast.

3 Thermal, Green / Red is a preference, the signal is monochrome and generally Red is used in the military due to the fact that your eyes adjust better from looking at something red to looking into the darkness and back, than most other colors.
Thermal is also not as most common misconception states, a heat detection system, it is a heat contrast system, thermal systems can be VERY difficult to use just after Sun-Up and after Sun-Down due to that the thermal contrast (what's hot and what's cold) is greatly reduced as the sky starts cooling in the evening and the ground retains the heat of the day, all of a sudden most things have a very similar temperature and things become soup...