Customer Reviews

Opteka HD² 72mm R72 720nm Infrared X-Ray IR Filter

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Having looked at articles and opinions about using infra red filters on a DSLR camera, I was put off from buying one. It seemed that it was highly recommended to only use them on a modified camera that had the internal infra red filter removed by a technician. This is not only very expensive but leaves the camera suitable only for taking infra red photos. Another camera would then be necessary for regular shots. On top of this, prices quoted for infra red filters were beyond the range of my wallet.

Then I read an article in which an infra red filter could be successfully used on an unmodified DSLR. I also found an infra red filter for less than thirty dollars. I figured it wouldn't break the bank if it didn't work. To my surprise it works very well. In all cases a tripod is a must, and either the self-timer used or a remote cord.

My camera is a Nikon D80 and the lens is a Sigma 18-250 zoom. I see no reason why the filter would not also work on the kit lens that comes with the camera. I highly recommend this filter for the enthusiast who wants to create artistic photos that almost appear like black and white negatives. And, of course, one should remember to set their camera on Black and White when taking photos with the filter.

Sorry for posting this again. I actually bought this 72mm but not 58mm filter; whereas I do believe that the funtionality should be the same.

Beside all suggested technical reminding and feeling about this filter. There is something more I need to point out:

This is a true R72 720mm filter. In ohter words, it rules out all visible spectrum completely and keep only near infrared specturm. It has be classified as a classical IR filter. In this standpoint you may not see those pretty white leaves but still blue sky, skin tone people, and some other possible color. You can say that Opteka make a high quality of real IR filter. On the other hand, with the "leaking" of visible light spectrum of Hoya R72 you have a chance to make those "colorful" IR images.

I admits that I misjudged this IR filter. I do want to produce some "colorful" IR images but with blue sky and skin tone people. However, I still like the pure IR image; thus I keep this filter and may buy another from Hoya R72 or B+W 093. Please keep in mind what kind of IR images you are interesting in. They are different and do more research!

This is a nice filter. The things I can see with it are really interesting, and shooting with it is fun... to an extent.

For a Sony Nightshot camera IT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR OUTDOORS! It is as advertized indoors under less-intense light. This 720 nanometer filter is adequate for lighting in an office or home, but outdoors in full sun, it's takes shots almost as bright as a Nightshot without any filter.

Apparently, a 1000nm or 1100nm filter would work best for outdoors (like in sunny Denver or at a beach) in bright sun, but I can't seem to find anything but the 720nm on Optek's site.

For what it is, it's great. I can see though tinted windows, sunglasses and spandex (indoors or in weak or diffuse sun). However, I would have put off this purchase until getting a 1000nm first, because I think I could use it more. Bottom line: I still like it.


...I just REALLY wanted to shoot the mountains through all that Denver haze...

This filter is a tremendous value. Compared with the prices of other filters and the cost of converting a DSLR to take Infrared images, this is the best way to fly! Worth taking the effort to shoot with it for the cost factor!

I believe a lot of the negative reviews on here are because people do not understand how this filter works. It requires a lot of visible light (ex: daytime shooting) with long exposures if you do not have an infrared camera. Most digital SLRs have a filter on the sensor that blocks IR light. What this filter does is block out most of the visible light, and allow infrared to enter your camera. Since most cameras are not sensitive to IR light, this takes a long time to produce sharp, quality, well exposed photographs. This can take anywhere from 10 seconds to 10 minutes, depending on the amount of light available. But the results are amazing, if you know how to use it.

This is a quality filter. It has good weight for it, and so far I have yet to damage it. It is very comparable to the Hoya filter. I plan on getting another one of these for my 50mm 1.8.

Was unsure which filter to buy, due to the price I took a chance and it worked very well with my Nikon D50.

I tried this filter at all sorts of extreme settings with Canon 40D, and found that the gap between what this lens passes, and the cutoff of the internal 40D IR filter leaves very little light left over even at 60 seconds or more exposure.
Bright sunlit scene at 15 seconds is recognizable. I was planning to have the IR filter removed from my 40D, for astrophotography, we'll see how much more I get after that. With those exposure levels in sunlight, taking pictures of stars would have been multiple hour exposures on a telescope, for multiple nights, to see something. Pointing the camera directly into the sun got exposure times in the 1/100 range for 50% saturation, but had glare all over the place.
I calculated that we lost about 11-12 f-stops with the two lenses together.
There is no graph provided with the lens, to see what the start and stop band, and how much the passband has.
I don't know what the pass band is for the Canon, but as this camera is designed for visible light, I didn't expect a specification.
I also tried holding the lens in front of SD1200is, and actually got some slightly better exposures. Probably a cheaper IR filter in that camera.

Good company. I'm UK based so it was vital they took the order and dispatched while I was still on vacation in the US. No problems.

Very handy infra red filter (hot mirror).It fits perfectly the new sony H9.Very well made, high quality lense.Worth the money.

Well the service from 47th Street Photo Was Great. But item which i receive is not so good as i expected.
First of all to make a picture like you can see on the link is very hard as the model will have to be a really dead and not to move for like 20 seconds. which is not possible.
and if its inside of the building it will not show anything just blank black screen.also to create any kind of nature picture you will need a really sunny day otherwise it will be absolutely black.
So if you expect to see a naked Woman's on the street -Forget it.