Removed IR filter in USB webcam

[Killer-Kris]

I followed these directions on removing the IR filter from my cheap USB web cam, the only difference was that I did not add the black film from a negative because I want to capture as much light as possible visible or otherwise

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

While playing with the camera in the house under normal lighting situations it had mostly correct colors, and if you looked at your hands or feet with out an intense light on it you can see the veins under the skin much like those on the web page linked to above.

Only problem was when I took it outside at night a minute ago it is still just as completely worthless with the IR filter out as it was with it in. I can't imagine that adding a visible spectrum filter would improve the situation but I'd be willing to humor the idea if someone can lend supporting evidence to the idea.


If I can't make this camera work can anyone suggest an inexpensive alternative I might be able to pick up at a local store which might work better for a night vision camera?

 

[Davros]

you need an ir light source if you want to shoot in darkness

 

[Killer-Kris]

you need an ir light source if you want to shoot in darkness

I'm trying to use it in the parking lot at my apartment complex which does have a number of lights, but being such a large area is still fairly dark.

That's part of why I didn't add a visible spectrum filter, my reasoning was that I was simply going to expand the amount of usable light by removing the IR filter, but that still wasn't enough.

I'm humoring stringing together some IR LEDs and a 9v battery to illuminate the areas I'm interested in, but I'm concerned that they won't be enough (and likely costly in the long run). Is there a better way to get a wide area coverage from some sort of wall plug-able light?

 

[Davros]

you know with the amount of pron available on the net is it really worth going to all that trouble just to spy on couples making out in the back seat of their cars ?

 

[Killer-Kris]

If you didn't have anything to contribute why bother posting?

 

[Captain Chickenpants]

The link that you posted up has a list of web-cams that work. Perhaps try one of them?

Also as has already been mentioned, you will need an IR light source.

My own experiment with IR can be seen here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/captain_chickenpants/472346976/in/set-402237/

Basically just an IR pass filter on my digital camera.

CC

 

[Simon F]

Basically just an IR pass filter on my digital camera.

CC

So there is no IR filter built-in to your digital camera?

 

[Captain Chickenpants]

This was with my old Olympus C2020, I think my DSLR has got one built in. I should probably check.

CC

 

[Davros]

I did that was quality advice

 

[zsouthboy]

I have a webcam that specifically does not have an IR filter built in, and includes IR LEDs for a "night-vision" mode, which seems to work pretty well (I just barely tested it)

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=618&maincat_no=132&cat2_no=262

Odd looking thing, but it works.

 

[{Sniping}Waste]

This is not full IR but only the upper spectrum of IR called near IR. My father works for L3 that make the IR equipment for the military and you can see with out any IR light source and can see in the lower spectrum of IR. The L3 cameras can see different air temps and you can see the 2 different air temps colliding.

 

[poopypoo]

If you didn't have anything to contribute why bother posting?

He did, tho. If your camera doesn't let enough light in, it's going to need more light.