What Makes Fluorescent Pigment So Damn Bright? Kyle Clements 2017-04-25 | How is fluorescent paint so bright?It's magic! Well, really, it's physics, but sometimes, physics is so cool it can seem like magic.Fluorescent pigments absorb ultraviolet light, convert it into visible light, which bounces back at you, with the visible light.In this video, I demonstrate how the pigments work by using my photo editing software, Darktable, to show you where each colour falls on the image's tone curve.Neon colours are amazing._http://kyleclements.com
7 Artisans 35mm f/0.95: Usage Notes and Sample Footage: Kyle Clements 2023-07-05 | This is my 4th (and probably final) video review about my 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 lens.The first few minutes are general notes about the lens, the rest of the video is sample footage of me walking around, making note of camera settings and light conditions for later use. (This works better for me than writing it down.)Overall: This is not a bad lens, but it is a one-trick-pony. It is good for shooting central objects that are close by, maybe 0.5 - 3 metres away or so.It is not good for edge sharpness or shooting distant objects.The Nikon Z5 and Z6 have focus peaking that generally works very well, but for distant objects, it's difficult to get enough sharpness or contrast out of this lens to trigger the peaking into showing itself. At the highest sensitivity level, the peaking goes too far and shows soft edges as being in-focus. There is a strong green/magenta cast to high contrast out-of-focus areas, and it seems stronger when those areas are far away.This might sound like a long list of cons, but it's a $200 USD lens, that's about $250 CAD, for something that goes to f/0.95. I wasn't expecting it to be a noct competitor. The 35mm is small and light, the noct is big and heavy.If you are a fan of lens flare, this lens has quite a bit, and it's very different looking from any of my other lenses.Despite being a DX format lens, it almost covers a full frame sensor, so it's great for square format shooting or full frame video, but for best image quality, shooting in crop mode makes a big difference. Some really weird stuff starts happening right outside of the edges of the DX image circle, with a 'ring of sharpness' running around the edges, Shooting wide open with the camera set to mostly automatic, I need to set the exposure compensation between -2 ev or -3 ev to have the camera match the way my eye perceives the scene.In low light situations, the camera is able to see far more colour than the human eye, so I always enjoy the surprize of shooting with high ISO bodies and ultra fast lenses and seeing the night in a whole new way. When I go on camping or backpacking trips, my usual setup now includes my 24-200 /4-6.3 and my 35mm /0.95, one lens covers all my daytime shooting, the other covers nighttime, and neither is too large or too heavy._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Testing a 35mm f/0.95 At Night. Kyle Clements 2023-06-08 | I wanted to test out the low light performance of my night time video kit - a Nikon Z6 and the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 DX lens.Despite being a DX format lens, it *almost* covers a full frame sensor, and the 16:9 format crops off enough of the edges that you can get full coverage, if you don't mind some terrible edge sharpness and heavy vignettes.One big weakness with this lens is how it renders highlights. All detail is blown out and lost in the bloom. I'm not entirely sure if the gain in dynamic range from dropping the ISO is worth the loss of highlight detail for shots with prominent lights directly in the frame vs. shooting with a /1.8 lens. But the mids and shadows definitely look better._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
950nm Infrared Filter on a Full Spectrum Converted Full Frame Camera. Kyle Clements 2023-06-01 | Note: All the useful info is in the first 2 minutes. The rest is just footage of High Park in 950nm infrared.Last time I tested my 950nm infrared filter was in late fall, and it was fairly late in the day when the sun is low in the sky. I had rather poor results, with the range of light from brightest bright to darkest dark taking up only a thin sliver of the histogram. Imagine an image only going from 75%-50% grey.I wanted to test it again closer to June 21st, and closer to noon, when the sun is highest in the sky and the daylight is the brightest.This time around, the filter performed much better. My blacks still look lifted, but the range of tones is much wider now, going from about 90% grey to white. There is some brightness and loss of contrast towards the center of the frame with the 14-30mm/4 S lens at f/5.6 and smaller apertures. This isn't noticeable on the video from the Nikon Z5, as the 1.7X crop factor cutes off the edges, the result is an entire image that just looks a bit soft.I used a custom white balance setting for the video, and this is straight out of the camera, no curves correction or saturation adjustments. Background noise composed by me in FL Studio 11. Glorious 8-bit chip tune patterns!_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Blossom Petals Falling Out of a Tree in 5X Slow Motion Kyle Clements 2023-05-28 | A light beam cutting though a cherry tree was highlighting the blossom petals as they fell to the ground. I filmed it in 5X slow mo. Watching the footage playback in real time just doesn't match the experience of watching the petals fall in-person.Shot vertically on a Nikon Z6 with the 105mm/2.8 S Macro.Background noise composed by me in FL Studio 11, based on a composition used in a previous video.Video wallpaper._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Full Spectrum Full Frame Camera with an F/0.95 Lens Kyle Clements 2023-05-27 | I was curious to see just how low light of a situation I can record in, so I thought I'd pair my full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 with my 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 lens. I waited for astronomical dusk, which starts about one hour after the end of blue hour, before heading out on my walk. The streetlights and full spectrum sensor react in interesting ways, making some of the leaves look a dull purple, while others are a bright vibrant green.I stood outside with my screens off, enjoying the park and letting my eyes adjust to the dark for about 20 minutes. The camera could see better than my eyes. In very dark situations, like towards the end when I was inside the forest and the entire area was low contrast, the Z5 mistook the sensor noise for "high contrast therefore in-focus" areas, and it just covered the entire frame in the focus peaking indicator colour. But as the results show, the camera was still able to capture an image though all that noise.The lens shows stronger lens flare in full spectrum than in visible light, but it also shows a lot of flare in visible light.This lens shows no signs of hotspots or discolouration or loss of contrast in the centre. It's not shown or mentioned in the video, but with a 720nm filter attached, it is an excellent infrared performer wide open. I didn't test it stopped down, because why would anyone use this lens for anything other than extreme apertures? For everything else, there's better options out there. This video wasn't sponsored by either the camera maker or the lens maker; I paid for both with my own money. Although I did wait for both to go on sale before buying. I don't pay full price. I'm not made of money._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Kyle Paints 2023: Goodbye Merek! Kyle Clements 2023-05-19 | My living space is a mess. My studio is a mess. Everything's a mess! And I'm behind schedule! After 3 months of caring for an ailing pet, it is now time to move on. The first step is taking care of all the little tasks I've been letting slip. Hopefully this change can help me kick my productivity into high gear.This video is dedicated to Merek the Hedgehog. I miss you, little buddy._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Image Stacking Quick Overview Kyle Clements 2023-05-16 | I've been playing around with image stacking lately, combining multiple high ISO images of the same scene into one clean, low-noise image.Some notes: The relationship between stacked images and the noise reduction effect seems to be squared, not doublings, so you must combine: Four images for a one stop ISO improvement, not two. Eight images for a two stop improvement.16 images for a three stop improvement.I've been using Affinity Photo 2 to do my image stacking, but I imagine there are other free and open source programs out there as well. Happy shooting!_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Elastic Band vs. Vampire Survivors Kyle Clements 2023-04-19 | I was playing Vampire Survivors. Then my elastic band started played Vampire Survivors. How can a game so simple be so addictive? What kind of game is this anyway? A rogue-lite? Reverse bullet hell? Either way, it hits all the right nostalgia points for me, and I think it feels best when played on a SNES-style controller.I've dumped about 1000 golden eggs into Trouser, and I'm using him as a gold farmer in The Bone Zone. This was before I had unlocked Sammy, a new character who seems designed for gold farming. If you need to do a gold run, but you don't have the gold to burn to dump 1000 eggs into a character just yet, you can achieve similar results with Queen Sigma, who has no eggs. I left the game running overnight and came back with about 25 million.Shot on a Z6 with a 105mm/2.8. Background noise by Kyle, created in FL Studio 11.Game running on an 11th gen i5 Framework laptop._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Hanging Out with Bunnies at High Park Kyle Clements 2023-04-17 | It was unusually warm, so I took my hedgehog to the park. But he was grumpy and just wanted to sleep instead of playing and exploring, so I hung out with the bunnies instead.This area is a communal garden located inside Toronto's High Park, and the wild rabbits seem very used to people being around. I was able to set surprisingly close with my 105mm /2.8 lens._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Hanging Out With Ducks at High Park Kyle Clements 2023-04-14 | The normal part of the park where I hang out and get up to no good was on fire today, so I went to the pond and hung out with the ducks instead.People must be feeding these birds even though they shouldn't be. They wouldn't get close to me, but they were quick to run to an area I had just been, seemingly looking for dropped snacks.Shot with the Nikon Z6 and 105mm /2.8 S Macro. Sorry about the awful shutter speeds, I didn't have an ND and blurry backgrounds are more important than pleasing motion._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Weird Stuff: A Walk Through High Park in Full Spectrum Overdrive Kyle Clements 2023-03-30 | I was thinking about how weird IBIS stabilization looks on ultra wide angle lenses.I was also thinking about how weird electronic digital stabilization applied in post can look. This got me thinking: How can I use the two together to maximum effect?I had the idea to go for a walk through the park. I would start with a slow pace, holding the camera nice and steady and increasing my speed throughout the walk so by the end I would be in full powerwalk mode.The mix of low-light noise, hot pixels, and distant moving lights can mess with the stabilization when things get rough, causing the image to jump erratically.To cover up the wonderful sound of my congested breathing, I thought I would go with something very shoegazy with loads of overdrive. I was thinking about how pitch correction software mirrors stabilization software in how it can take some of the sloppiness out of real life and enforce some corrections, but these corrections can also be affected and confused by the harmonics introduced by loads of overdrive which will cause the pitch to jump and snap around in stark, abrupt ways - especially if you enforce a new key.Recorded on a Full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 with a 7Artisans 7.5mm /2.8 Fisheye lens. The Z5 introduces a 1.7X crop in 4K video, and the video stabilization effect introduced another 20-30% crop of the image. Saturation was increased by about 70%, and I gave a slight lift to the gamma.Background noise created in FLStudio 11, making ample use of Izotope Trash 2. _________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
A Walk Through the Park Before The Fire Kyle Clements 2023-03-25 | When I moved to this area many years ago, there was a controlled burn in the park. Ever since then, I've used it as a regular rest stop while I'm out on a walk through the park, watching life slowly return to the area as plants regrow. The change over the years has been remarkable.And it looks like there is going to be another controlled burn in this spring! The adventure starts again! Many of the plants in Toronto's high Park need fire as part of their lifecycle, and it also burns away invasive plants, so this can really help the local flora. Shot on a Nikon Z5 (Full spectrum converted)50mm /1.8 S lens with 720nm Infrared filter.Background soundscape created by me in FL Studio 11._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Hedgehog vs. Sand (part 2) Kyle Clements 2023-03-14 | While my hedgehog was free roaming one evening, he knocked over a house plant with a good headbutt, then started rolling around and playing in the tiny but of dirt that had spilled out. His reaction was so strong I just had to get him some sand.I wasn't sure what to use, so I purchased some "play sand", then microwaved it to kill any potential bugs that might be in there. I let it cool overnight, then put it in my hedgie's running wheel box. If you are using construction grade sand, be careful. Make sure it is washed and coarse grained and not dusty. It should look like coarse sugar, not fine flour. Silica dust is very bad your lungs, and even worse for a hedgie's.This was his reaction to his sand encounter.Part one is available here: youtu.be/NX5jMxACtnM_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Hedgehog vs. Sand (part 1) Kyle Clements 2023-03-13 | While my hedgehog was free roaming one evening, he knocked over a house plant with a good headbutt, then began rolling around and playing in the spoonful dirt that had spilled out. His reaction was so strong I just had to get him some sand.I wasn't sure what to use, so I purchased some "play sand", then microwaved it to kill any potential bugs that might be in there. I let it cool overnight, then put it in my hedgie's running wheel box. This was his reaction to his sand encounter.Will there be a part 2, or is this title just an attempt to build anticip..._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Luring a Hedgehog out From Under the Couch Kyle Clements 2023-03-09 | My Hedgehog would run around the floor for hours, then burrow under the couch and fall asleep on the cold dusty tiles. I don't like him being under there, but I'm tired of picking up the whole couch every night to get him out. Can I lure my little buddy out from under there though the power of snacks? Can I encourage him to leave by blasting light under the couch?Filmed on a Nikon Z6, 50mm/1.8 S. Aperture MC used as under couch light source.The snacks are just his regular food, lightly crushed to release some fresher aromas into the air, and placed in a different bowl. _________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Free Running Hedgehog Chooses His Wheel Over the Entire Room Kyle Clements 2023-03-06 | Merek the Hedgehog loves running on his wheel.Sometimes I worry he might be getting bored without a change of scenery, so I let him run free in my living room. He usually ends up finding his wheel on the floor and running on it anyway.You have the entire room little buddy. Roam free!_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Stepper Rings for Sharing Filters: Getting Started With Infrared Photography Kyle Clements 2023-03-05 | I recently picked up a full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 full frame mirrorless camera.I'm trying to find a way to make my kit as versatile as possible. I have a bunch of different lenses with different sized filter threads. But I don't want to buy a set of dedicated filters for every lens. I'd rather buy just one set of filters for the biggest sized filter thread I have, then use step up rings to make them fit on all my other lenses.My 24-200mm/4-6.3 has terrible IR performance, so I got a 67mm hot mirror filter just for it. That makes sense to me, as the superzoom covers such a wide range, I can use it for any visible light photography I need.Step up rings can cost $15-$20 each to buy locally, so I thought it was a smart idea to just buy a set of nearly every sized stepper ring from aliexpress. Of course, it didn't include the one size I needed...If you are interested in Infrared photography, and you shoot Nikon, I find this website maintains a reliable list of lenses and their IR performance:http://luminescentphoto.com/blog/nikon-z-infrared-lens-performance-chart_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Dealing With Filter Cases: Getting Started with Full Spectrum Photography Kyle Clements 2023-03-01 | I recently purchased a full spectrum converted Nikon Z5. I opted for a full spectrum conversion over an infrared because I want versatility; I want to be able to choose any filter for any lens. I bought a set of 82mm filters which I can use on any of my lenses thanks to stepper rings.But these filters are big. How do I store them? How do I transport them? How do I protect them? In this video, I go through a few different options that I've tried out and describe what works for me and what doesn't.Note: All of these items were purchased by me. Sometimes even at full price, although I do try to wait for a good sale where I can.If you've found a good solution for carrying filters, please let me know.Thanks._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Dealing with Lens Caps: Getting Started with Full Spectrum Photography Kyle Clements 2023-02-28 | I got myself a full spectrum converted camera not too long ago - a Nikon Z5. I opted for full spectrum for the versatility - I can use any filter to get whatever kind if infrared I want. And for filters, I decided to go for all 82mm, since that's the biggest lens filter size I have. But how do I deal with the front of my camera when I have a filter on? Lens caps pop off. A popped cap can slide around and scratch. Should I take a walk on the wild side and go cap less? Will silicone "once size fits all" caps work? (no.) How about the cheapest 82mm cap I can find online with next day delivery? Yeah...that actually works!Note: None of this is sponsored, I bought all this myself. Sometimes at full price, although I usually wait for a sale or favourable exchange rates._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Kyles First VLOG of 2023 - Too Many Podcasts! Kyle Clements 2023-02-27 | I've been feeling a bit down the last few weeks as my 5 year old hedgehog has been sick, and I've been having to syringe feed him every few hours to keep his eight up. He is losing control of his real limbs, and his front limbs are starting to wobble as well. Sad times for my little buddy. He had meant a lot to me during these last few years as regular socializing has been impacted.I've also bee going through a lot of old photos and videos lately, reliving some memories and rediscovering old ideas I never fully developed. It got me thinking about why I do all this vlogging stuff in the first place.I took my full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 out to Toronto's High Park during blue hour to record some footage of me rambling on about this kinda stuff. _________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Admiring Mereks Cuteness Kyle Clements 2023-02-26 | My little hedgehog was just lying there on the couch doing nothing in particular, and I just had to grab my camera and record his doing nothing so the world can admire his cuteness! This is what a hedgehog looks like a minute before it falls asleep.I used a modified version of the background noise from the "Rubber Duckies" video to cover up the sounds of my friend's snacking while this was being recorded. Composed by me in FL Studio 11 in 2023. _________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Handheld Focus Stacking with the Nikon 105mm/2.8 S Macro and Affinity Photo 2. Kyle Clements 2023-02-20 | I made a stacked macro photo of a spider. After years of being frustrated with manual techniques and open source focus stacking software, I finally bit the bullet and purchased some software to do the photo stacking for me.But before I start using this lens and this software for any serious macro work, I want to push it too far to see what doesn't work. I have a number of questions about this macro setup and how it would all work. Is handheld photo stacking possible? Do the small movements of a live creature ruin the shots, or is it more forgiving than I expect? Is indoor lighting enough for an acceptable shot? Will ISO noise throw things off?I noticed a spider crawling on my camera bag, so I grabbed my Nikon Z6 and my Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, and I took a stack of 300 shots, then loaded those photos into Affinity Photo 2 through it's "focus stack" import option, and these are the results.Other than cropping, no edits were made in post, what you see is purely the results of the software's auto stacking. There are a number of areas that would require touching up if I wanted to make a serious photo for print, but I am still pretty impressed by these results. _________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Testing an F-Mount to Z-Mount TILT Adapter for Nikon Mirrorless Cameras. Kyle Clements 2023-02-13 | The price on the Kipon F to Z tilt adapter dropped by $50, so I figured now's the time to hit 'purchase' and see what I can do with it.I tested the adapter on both my Nikon Z5 and Z6 cameras, shooting in visible light as well as full spectrum and 680nm and 720nm.Lenses used were the Nikon 50mm 1.8D, 85mm 1.8D, and the Tokina 28-80mm /2.8 AT-X Pro. Lenses were kept wide open. Adapter was set to maximum downward tilt._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
My Friends Pet Whiptail Scorpion Kyle Clements 2023-02-10 | My friend has a pet whiptail scorpion.I brought over my fancy new 105mm/2.8 S Macro lens to capture her up close. I can see more detail on Mrs. Bug in this footage than I could see in person. Cool!Whiptail scorpions can not sting; instead they shoot acid at their prey or an aggressor. For an insect covered in a hard shell this acid is deadly. For a human it's mostly just an irritant, but make sure not to let your face get to close, just in case.I hope I get a chance to visit and film Mrs. Bug again. Next time, I'll use a tripod. Handheld macro is tricky._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Weird Stuff: Pelican Lid Kyle Clements 2023-02-10 | I found these everchanging geometric patterns created by pulsating RGB LEDs on a piece of foam insert interesting. I decided to create an audio component to accompany the visuals. I wanted something that sounded geometric and stable throughout, but like the patterns of light and dancing shadows, I also wanted a bit of constant change throughout. The melody loops out-of-phase with itself as arpeggios play off the main notes, and what passes for the lead is buried by all the rest of it. Visuals: Nikon Z6, 105mm /2.8 S, Aperture MC x 2Sounds: FL Studio 11(c) 2023 Kyle Clements_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Bald Eagles Nest at Algonquin (Timelapse) Kyle Clements 2023-01-06 | Back in the summer I went camping at Algonquin Park. Without realizing it, I had set up my tent not too far from a large bird's nest. I wasn't sure what kind of bird it was, so I set up my Z6 and my 105mm/2.8 for a timelapse, hoping to get a shot with the bird visible. I went for a walk around the island, collecting firewood and doing all that camping stuff for a while. It was dinner time. I was back at camp trying to set up my camp stove when I saw Mamma bird soar in, and I realized she was a Bald Eagle!Needles to say, I was very happy I had opted to take my 105mm/2.8 instead of the 14-30mm/4 for this trip._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Rubber Duckies. Kyle Clements 2022-12-24 | My friend started collecting isopods.I used my 105mm/2.8 S macro lens to try to grab some quick footage, but these things are very shy and don't seem to like light, or movement. It took a while, but I finally found one lovely little ducky willing to pose for me for a moment!_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Sunlight Created a Contact-Print of a Leaf on Another Leaf. Kyle Clements 2022-12-06 | One leaf blocked the sunlight landing on another leaf. This is pretty neat. A natural contact print.A contact print is a method of printing photos in a darkroom without an enlarger. The object is placed directly onto the photo paper, then the paper is exposed to light. In this case, sunlight must have an effect on the pigmentation in the changing autumn colours. One leaf was on top of the other. This allowed for the creation of a sharp edge along where one leaf blocked the light falling on the leaf below it. A natural contact print on a leaf. Neat! _________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Full Spectrum Converted Z5 - Shooting Sunny vs. Overcast Days and Some General Notes Kyle Clements 2022-11-27 | I recently got a full-spectrum converted camera for infrared photography, and I'm trying to get an idea for what kind of exposure settings to expect in different situations.I've already learned that the common advice about 850 and 950 filters requiring a tripod is wrong, and the warning that IR video is impractical is also wrong. Handheld IR shooting is no problem at all on a modern converted camera, imaging sensors are more than capable of capturing enough light for good-looking video. How about the advice that IR photography needs bright full sunlight to be effective? Lets see what a cloudy overcast day vs. a bright sunny day looks like.I went to the park, and conducted some crude and completely non-scientific tests recording some video with each of my IR filters. Shutter was locked at 1/50, it just makes sense for video. Aperture was set to something that made sense for the exposure I needed, and ISO was left to float on auto. I used exposure compensation to avoid blown highlights and too many shadows, aiming to have the hump as close to center as possible.Full spectrum really makes the fall colours look flat and washed out. On an overcast day it takes 3 1/3 to 3 2/3 stops more light to get your exposure, and the end result is a blown out sky that makes it look like it was shot on a cell phone. Shooting in sunlight gives me an image wash washed out foliage, but an almost cartoonishly bright blue sky.680nm is where I've seen the biggest difference between different lighting conditions. On an overcast day, It takes 3 stops more light, and it creates a dream-like pink sky with cool, greenish-white foliage. Bright sunlight creates an almost alien-looking red sky with foliage with some slight variation in colour. This was the only setting where my Z5 couldn't create a custom white balance setting, so I use the 'full spectrum' setting, since it gives the coolest looking result.720nm is what I think of as the standard IR look. Both overcast and sunny have a similar overall look, but overcast feels more soft, surreal and dream-like, while sunny looks like classic contrasty punchy IR. It takes 2 stops more light on an overcast day. With this setting, the sky takes on a warm brownish tone, and the foliage takes on a cool blueish tone. You can swap these channels for a more natural look if you want.850nm leaves no colour in the image, it's all black and white here. Exposure was the same for both overcast and sunny, but overcast looks flat and washed out, sunny gives me that bold dark sky. 950nm has me back to needing 3 stops more light to get an exposure on an overcast day. This filter gives me shots with very little contrast. I think I might have to limit this filter to high noon on the sunniest of days. I'm not getting much with this.Some observations: Taking full spectrum as the baseline, shooting 680 needed about 1/2 stop more light.720 needed about 1 stop more light, and 850 needed 2 more stops than full spectrum. 950 needed 7 stops more light.The histogram drawn on my camera viewfinder while I'm shooting is quite different from the one in my video editor as I'm editing.In camera, shooting full spectrum looks like a bug U shape, with tons of blown highlights and buried shadows and not much in the middle. As I go deeper into infrared, the histogram gets increasingly narrow. 680 and 720 both give me a lot of nice data. At 850, that histogram is starting to narrow, and I won't have the full range from light to dark to play with in post. By the time I reach 950nm, the histogram bump is only taking up 1/4 of the entire space; I'm not getting much tonal data to work with at all.The coatings they use to reduce lens flare in visible light aren't nearly as effective as stopping flare in infrared. And the deeper into infrared you go, the worse the lens flare is going to be.Thank you._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Testing Out IR Filters on My Full Spectrum Converted Nikon Z5 on a Sunny Day Kyle Clements 2022-11-05 | I've had my full-spectrum converted Z5 for nearly 3 weeks, and it's nearly always been overcast. Infrared photography shine the most on clear, sunny days. Well, I finally had a sunny day, so I went out to get an idea for what kind of camera settings I can expect to punch in in these lighting situations. The good news: Both 850nm and 950nm are perfectly hand-holdable. No problem at all for video work in bright sunlight.I still can't get the camera to make a custom white balance preset for 680nm, but the full spectrum setting seems to work well for that one._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
A Walk Through the Park in 680nm Infrared. Kyle Clements 2022-11-01 | I took my full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 back to East Point Park in Scarborough this weekend for another round of test photos. This time, I brought my 680nm and 720nm filters, along with my old Tokina 11-16mm /2.8 DX lens, which works well on the Z5 with it's 1.7x video crop. The deep warm colour of the sky at 680nm is something I wanted to capture, and East Point Park offers a number of hiking trails that are rarely crowded. When I saw the clear sunny day, I knew it was my chance!In general, it seems like in infrared, the flaws in a lens increase at higher apertures, so at f/8 and larger I can be OK, but at f/11 or smaller, I'll get a hot spot in the center. I wanted to push the Tokina a bit, and it performed very well. I didn't notice the bright, low contrast spot in the center until I was editing the video. With this much lens flare at 680nm, I wonder how the Tokina would look at 950nm.My Nikon 14-30mm /4 has about the same level of hotspot at f/8. I didn't notice until after the render just how poorly the digital stabilization was performing.Camera: Nikon Z5, full spectrum convertedLens: Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 with FTZMode: ManualShutter: 1/60th of a secondAperture: f/11ISO: Auto (100-360)Filter: 680nm ZomeiStabilization: MagicX Vegas Pro 19________________________________http://kyleclements.com
A Walk in the Park in 680nm Infrared During Sunset. Kyle Clements 2022-10-28 | I was curious how my full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 camera would render sunset colours, so I went for a walk in the park.14-30mm/4 lens at 14mm recording 4K with 1.7 crop gives about a 24mm equivalent field of view.Since I was headed into a low-light situation, I opted for the 680nm infrared filter, which doesn't cut too much light.1/50, f/5.6, Auto ISO, I think exposure compensation was set to somewhere between +1 and +2.Background noise created by me in FL Studio 11. Wanted to give it a less electronic sound this time._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
A Walk In The Park in InfraRed (Full Spectrum Converted Nikon Z5 with 950nm filter) Kyle Clements 2022-10-25 | I'm still trying to figure out what works and what doesn't with my new full-spectrum converted Nikon Z5. This is yet another 950nm deep infrared walk, this time using a custom white balance (one created for 850nm, but it works just fine for 950nm as well)I'm still not all that happy with the low-contrast images I'm getting from the 950nm filter, this will likely be the one I use the least going forward.Using the 14-30mm/4 at 14mm with the Z5's 1.7 crop in 4K video, I'm getting the equivalent of a 24-50mm. 24mm isn't quite wide enough to do any digital stabilization in post, which crops off another 15% or so of my edges. I may have to bust out my old Tokina 11-16mm to get the equivalent of a 20mm lens for video next time.Background music generated in FL Studio 11._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
My Friend Came Over to Visit Our Hedgehog. I Think Hedgie Remembers Her. Kyle Clements 2022-10-20 | A while back, my ex came over to spend some time with our hedgehog. I think my hedgehog remembered her, as he chewed on and anointed on her hair. He sometimes does the same thing with my beard.Oh, my weird little spike potato, you are great._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Full-Spectrum Z5 Filter Tests On an Overcast Day Kyle Clements 2022-10-16 | In this video I test out four infrared filters on my full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 camera. When my full spectrum converted camera arrived from Life Pixel, it came with one custom white balance pre-set by them, so the camera could make usable jpegs right out of the box. It seems to be set for a 720nm IR filter, but it does an OK job with my other filters, too. My filters are all from the same company - Zomei. The four that I have are 680nm, 720nm, 850nm, and 950nm.I was getting some good results, but I wanted to see if I could do better by making a custom white balance preset for each filter, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. The Nikon Z5 does allow for up to 6 custom WB presets, so this should be possible.I left Pre1 as the Life Pixel preset. It works, I'm not going to mess with it.Pre2 was set for full spectrum. This was the biggest overall improvement I saw.Pre3 was going to be for 680nm, but I kept getting an error.Pre4 is a custom white balance for 720nmPre5 is a custom white balance for 850nmI didn't bother created a custom setting for 950, as the 850 worked just fine.The camera was in manual mode, but with auto ISO turned on, so I could record the changes in exposure levels across the filters.With a shutter speed of 1/50th of a second and an aperture set to f/5.6, full spectrum and 680nm both stayed at ISO 100. 850nm jumped to ISO 640, and 950 needed ISO 6,400.The biggest difference I noticed was a change in contrast or overall dynamic range. In full spectrum mode, the overall contrast is greater. The sky is much brighter than the shadows, so HDR work would be necessary, while the same image captured at 950nm only used about 1/3rd of the range the lens is capable of capturing, so some heavy curves adjustments is needed to have the full range from shadows to highlights.All of these videos were made with the Standard colour profile in overcast lighting. Active-D Lighting was turned OFF._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
A Walk through the Woods in Infrared (950nm IR filter on a full spectrum camera) Kyle Clements 2022-10-16 | I was out for a walk yesterday with my shiny new full-spectrum converted Nikon Z5 full frame mirrorless camera and my old trusty 14-30mm/4 S lens. I was testing out my Zomei 950nm deep infrared filter to see if it was possible to record video at all. I've read that the long exposure times of the deep IR 950nm filter would make video impossible, but I was able to get 4K QHD video at 1/30 sec shutter, f/4, with ISO between 360-800. The performance of this filter isn't too different from my 850nm by the same company, although the histogram feels more compressed with this filter. According to the live histogram, the dynamic range of a sunny day is about 1/3 what the sensor can handle. I am setting the exposure compensation to about -2.00 EV for proper exposure by eye (total subjective judgement), but the histogram on the camera still reads this as being underexposed. I'm still shooting straight jpegs though and seeing what I can do purely in-camera. I will start pushing RAW files in post on my computer after I learn what my full spectrum Z5 can do on it's own.I used FL Studio 11 to create some ambient background noise to replace the howling wind.I thought the weird IR black and white long-take had a weird surreal, dream-like, Lynchian quality to it.Desaturation and curves adjustment added in post._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
A Walk Through the Woods in Infrared. (950nm IR Infrared video) Kyle Clements 2022-10-16 | I was out for a walk today with my full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 full frame mirrorless camera and 14-30mm/4 lens. I was testing out my Zomei 950nm deep infrared filter to see if it was possible to record video at all. I've read that the long exposure times of the deep IR 950nm filter would make video impossible, but I was able to get 4K QHD video at 1/30 sec shutter, f/4, with ISO between 360-800. I used FL Studio 11 to create some ambient background noise to replace the howling wind.I thought the weird IR black and white long take had a surreal, dream-like, Lynchian quality to it._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Full Moon Timelapse with Full Spectrum Converted Camera (2 of 2) Kyle Clements 2022-10-10 | I made another full-spectrum timelapse of the night sky with my converted Nikon Z5.14-30mm /4 lens10 second exposure with 4 second pause between shots.f/4ISO 200October 9th-10th, 8:57pm - 12:18amNo IR or bandpass filters, just pure full spectrum goodness. Using a custom preset white balance setting. No curves adjustment or colour grading in post.It's curious how much more lens flare is present in a full spectrum shot than in a visible light only shot. This lens is incredibly flare-resistant on my visible light Z6. Take a close look at Jupiter (the bright "star" to the right of the moon) how it has a ring of flare surrounding it during the start of the video.When shooting full-spectrum night sky time lapses seems, unfiltered seems the way to go.The camera shut itself down partway into the timelapse, despite more than half the battery remaining. I have pushed my Z6 harder than this making timelapses, so it seems the Z5 sensor needs more time to rest and cool down between shots. _________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Full Moon Timelapse with Full Spectrum Converted Camera Kyle Clements 2022-10-09 | Full Spectrum Converted Nikon Z5 with 14-30mm /4 lens15 second exposure with 5 second pause between shots.f/4Auto ISO (160 - 450)+.03 evOctober 8th-9th, 9:06pm - 11:15pmNo IR or bandpass filters, just pure full spectrum goodness. Using a custom preset white balance setting. No curves adjustment or colour grading in post.It's curious how under the moonlight the plants remain dark, and don't glow white like they do under sunlight._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Blue Hour and Stars Timelapse at Spider Lake Kyle Clements 2022-10-03 | It's always nice to get a chance to escape the city and see some stars. I drove up to Massasauga Provincial Park this weekend, then canoed across Spider Lake and set up camp at my spot. I missed sunset but I was able to get some timelapse footage of blue hour, then I was treated to a nice view of the Milky Way.Shot with the Nikon Z6 and the 24-200mm lens.Aperture priority mode, Auto ISO 100-10,000, -2.00 EV_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Full Moon Behind the Clouds (timelapse) Kyle Clements 2022-09-17 | Months ago I was visiting up north where there is less light pollution. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a midnight timelapse. The heavy clouds were rolling in fast and I didn't expect to get much of anything, especially with my 24-200mm which is hardly built for astro or low light work. But I was impressed by what I got!_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Merek the Hedgehog visits the Park Kyle Clements 2022-09-14 | It's not often that it's still 24 degrees outside an hour after sunset.That means I gotta take my hedgehog to the park!My little land urchin sure seems a lot braver and more willing to explore this time around. _________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Sunset/Moonset at Lake Opeongo, Algonquin Park Kyle Clements 2022-08-08 | While camping on a small island in Lake Opeongo in Algonquin provincial park, I set up my Nikon Z6 with the 14-30mm/4 for an evening sunset timelapse, hoping to capture a majestic sunset. While the clouds did not cooperate, I was lucky enough to have my batteries hold out long enough for a moonset as well.Sequence taken:8:01pm - 10:29pmJuly 31st, 2022Z6 set to Program automatic with auto ISO turned ON.EV -2.00_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
A Bald Eagle Nest Kyle Clements 2022-08-07 | During my last time camping up at Algonquin, I had a rather noisy neighbour not too far from my campsite. At first, I thought it was a baby Osprey, but then this majestic Bald Eagle would sweep in, land in the nest and feed the bird, and I started thinking, "maybe that's not an Osprey nest after all..."_________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Red Squirrel at Algonquin Park Kyle Clements 2022-08-03 | I saw a squirrel. It was going like this._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Macro Merek Munching Mealies Kyle Clements 2022-07-18 | My hedgehog is feeling better. Time to give my little buddy a little reward for surviving his medical ordeal.Some refrigerated mealworms!I shot with my Z6 and my new lens, the Nikon MC 105mm /2.8 VR S. This is my first-ever macro lens. Shooting macro is HARD. Especially video._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Isopod Terrarium Update #2 Kyle Clements 2022-07-18 | Hello. The isopods are multiplying and eating well. I've been misting the terrarium every few days to keep the plants alive, and feeding them lots of dried mealies, along with vegetable ends._________________________________________http://kyleclements.com
Hedgehog Eats a Snack, Then Anoints His Blanket Kyle Clements 2022-07-16 | I gave my hedgehog some freeze dried liver treats, which are his favourites, and nearly always trigger an anointing response from my prickle mouse. This time, however, instead of anointing himself, my little spike potato anointed his blanket. Such a weird little guy. I love him so much._________________________________________ http://kyleclements.com
Waking Merek From His Nap For a Snack Kyle Clements 2022-07-09 | My hedgehog has been napping far too long. Time for a snack, little biddy! _________________________________________ http://kyleclements.com
Astro Time Lapse - Big Dipper with Nikon Z 105mm /2.8 S lens on a Z6 Kyle Clements 2022-07-04 | 4 second exposure.F/2.8ISO 64002 seconds between shots.I'm trying to get used to the field of view provided by a 105mm lens.I tried to shoot the big dipper. I could only get half of it in the frame at a time.Most of my astro time lapses have been ultra-wide angle, I was surprised by how many more stars appear with a telephoto lens.Does anyone else notice a high number of hot pixels occurring on their Z6, or is it just me? I did a double sensor cleaning right before starting this sequence to remap the sensor, and you can see new hot pixels creeping in just seconds into this video._________________________________________ http://kyleclements.com
