Re: Infrared lenses

["Rubem Amaral" <rubem@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> Mmm....you were member of the CD, right?
> Maybe the secret services are on our track?....;-))

Yeah, who knows...
 
> Mmm....could you be more specific? 
> Are you talking about night vision scopes? Aka infrared scopes?
> They do see *also* into the infrared spectrum, but as with infrared 
> film, you need an dark (opaque) infrared filter to block out the 
> visible part of the spectrum. But once you mount such a filter in 
> front of the scope, you indeed get the same unworldly effect as with 
> HIE.
> 
> Actually, I even use such a small night vision scope to provide some
> kind of IR-assessment tool before I take pictures, since this is the
> only way to get 'real time' vision (videocam(corder)'s, especially
> b&w ones, will do the same btw). 
> A cheap one too (1st Gen, not like modern 2nd or 3rd Gen), since it
> is not particularly good to use these things in broad daylight;
> luckily mine uses a M42 photo lens with diaphragm, and with both dark 
> IR filter and closing down I dim the light sufficiently.
> 
> Check my homepage for a story on how I discovered this trick:
> http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm
> 


Maybe you are right but I have the feeling that we are talking about
different things. What I saw in the US was indeed an "IR lens" and it
needed no filter. As a matter of fact, it had that inscription "infrared"
on the borders. It was made (apparently) in stainless steel and was
supposed to be placed upon a common lens, like a filter (but it was much
bigger than a filter). The lens was redish, but not as red as the filters
we normally use with Kodak HIE. I first saw it at Photo 47, in NY city. I
was looking for Kodak HIE and the seller said "I never heard about
infrared film (!) but I can offer you an IR lens". He used that expression
and they are supposed to know the meaning of the term "lens". I wish I had
bought it!

Well, nevermind, Willem. Maybe it was a dream of mine. 

Bye,

Rubem



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