11 replies to this topic

[nfoto]

Today I availed myself of unfamilar clear skies, my "new" D40X IR camera (actually, the old Vivek/D40X now reborn as a pure IR version), and a recently CPU-modified Nikon SE 50 mm f/1.8 to shooting along the historic Word War II Refugee Path between Norway and Sweden. As usual when clear skies arrive at wintertime, weather gets a little on the cold side. But aside from the -16 C outside, the positive effect is giving the forest a nice winter coat that enhances IR images.


Here are some of today's images. I shot concurrently with my old IR workhorse, the D200, and was surprised to see that output quality from the D40x was equal or better using the same filtration on both. Exposure times came out at least 1 stop faster as well. The 50/1.8 SE did hot-spot on the D200 but not on the D40x as far as I could see. Hmm. Food for thought.





When lakes freeze over, you can get the weirdest pattern at the surface. Here is an example with D40X and the 200/3.5 ED-IF.



The actual border between Norway and Sweden, 70 years ago swarming with heavily armed German soldiers, now is as laid-back peaceful as one can possibly imagine. Only the fresh trail of a migrating wolf indicates illegal passages going on, but the wolf probably is illiterate like most of his kin anyway.

(D200, 10-24)

[Andrew]

As usual-perfect!!
The third one doesn't look like IR at all....

[nfoto]

Well, snow not in sunshine does look a little dull in IR. The border sign is pale blue in visible light. Otherwise as one might expect from a snow landscape in IR at nightfall.

[Andrew]

Yes, my guess was blue or green sign...

[Krille]

Excuse an IR-novis!
But are the two dark trees in the foreground and the dark tree trunk part of the hotspot?


Krister

[nfoto]

No. The first image has no hot spot whatsoever.

The tree or part of it in shade will be rendered very dark compared to the directly sunlit sections.

An IR hotspot appears as a circular, bright spot in the exact centre of the frame.

[Erik Lund]

Very nice set Bjørn, the lake shot is indeed inspiring!

[Krille]

I understand!
Very nice set indeed and the lake/ice shot is particulary inspiring.

Krister

[Akira]

The lake shot is the classic Bjørnesque! I wonder how D40X has survived the relentlessly heavy duties!

[nfoto]

By being ensconced in a heavy-duty "L" bracket (RRS) and also being able to communicate electronically with all his CPU-enabled lens friends ... That's all it takes to get the camera into excellent shooting spirits..

Been a bumpy ride, though, and the body has survived a lot of beating over the last few years.

[stenrasmussen]

Been looking at these images a few times now Bjørn and yep, apart from their unique Rørslett look, I am now more inspired than I've been in a long time to visit the outside world with my "new" D300(IR). So thanks for that

[Akira]

Bjørn, thanks for the explanation. I'm pretty sure that the RRS bracket is sturdy enough to outlive D40X!

That said, my D40 (along with my current J1) has been the most trouble-free Nikon camera I have used. Both D2H and D7000 needed to be serviced by Nikon, but neither D40 or J1 have been in that situation, ironically. None of these cameras have gone through severe weather conditions, though.