infrared photography with converted Canon Rebel XT

Anyone else exploring the IR world with a Rebel XT or other DSLR?

I dabbled with Kodak BW IR film as a teenager many years ago, but never
really got into it due to many issues that led me to lose the drive and eye
for not only the IR but visible light as well.

I've had a converted Rebel XT for 10 months but have only put a few hours on
it due to the job I do to pay for my bills. The experience this time it is
far better, and has revived my interest in and ability to see the world I
want to present. I had the focusing calibrated to the stock lens it ships
with and I'm very unhappy with the lens. It has a definite hotspot that
rears it's ugly head quite often.

Experiences from others and maybe even a suggestion for a better standard
lens would be greatly appreciated.

Carl

 

You should be able to GOOGLE for tens or hundreds of thousands of hits.

 

I used to shoot Kodak HIE film (which I hear they were trying to eliminate).
Now I shoot IR in digital exclusively. I shoot with a Nikon D1x, using both
stock Nikon and Tamron lenses. I also use an 87 filter, which is quite
annoying with an SLR, 'cause you have to compose and then put the filter on
to shoot each time. I don't own a rangefinder, which would solve this
problem.

I usually get good results with f11 at 20-30 seconds (the Nikon does have
some anit-IR filtration built-in). I then desaturate the magenta-looking
image in PhotoShop to render a B&W image, and sometimes increase the
contrast in PhotoShop as well. I haven't experienced any hotspots with
these lenses, but you do have to watch for lens flare of course... So you
may want to try a Tamron or even Phoenix lens. They're not top of the
shelf, but with IR it doesn't seem to show.

Hope this helps,
Theo