properties of wavelengths

Hm. Maybe it was 365nm that I was thinking, at least I got the 3 and 5 right haha

Yeah...while I asked for it, I suppose 365nm would be VERY difficult to photograph.

I am guessing the visible cutoff will be the point where Near UV turns into Far UV....somewhere around 300nm.

As long as we're calculating factors, we should include:

Film: There are (were?) films available that included visible spectrum as well as invisible. Infrared film was pioneered by Kodak for science applications, but we photographic artists made beauty with it. Let's assume a standard 100 ISO color film. We have to know the wavelength response of the film used.

Digital: We all know that digital camera sensors can be customized to capture just about whatever the hell we want them to. So, for this example, let's assume a standard consumer-level DSLR camera sensor. We also have to know the WR of the sensor used.

But, that's all rather esoteric...

scumbagatheist said:

As long as we're calculating factors, we should include:

Film: There are (were?) films available that included visible spectrum as well as invisible. Infrared film was pioneered by Kodak for science applications, but we photographic artists made beauty with it. Let's assume a standard 100 ISO color film. We have to know the wavelength response of the film used.

Digital: We all know that digital camera sensors can be customized to capture just about whatever the hell we want them to. So, for this example, let's assume a standard consumer-level DSLR camera sensor. We also have to know the WR of the sensor used.

But, that's all rather esoteric...

Click to expand...

Yeah I remember the IR film, if not mistaken you also needed to put a red filter in front of the camera, now there are video cameras that do have IR capability, but UV? never seen one...
I will search on google and see....

With IR film, you do not use an IR filter. That would defeat the purpose. What we did use was #25 RED filters. The filters increase contrast and reduce exposure in the blue spectrum and increase exposure in the green spectrum. With B&W IR film, the end result is dark skies and bright white foliage and grasses.

That is exactly what I ment a red filter.... anyhow I am moding a web camera to see if it can pick up IR but UV is a hole different story...

I think 496.5nm is my favorite "mid spectrum" (470-570nm) line, with 465.8nm being my favorite blue line. If it wasn't so expensive I'd love a set of filters to allow just one of these lines to pass while blocking the rest from my argon.

ZRaffleticket said:

Having a 589nm/593.5nm is described as "holding the sun in your hands" or something like that.

Click to expand...

It truly is like having the sun in your hands, even with only a few mW at your disposal. Start getting above 20mW and it is truly something to behold.

Cyparagon said:

I can see 365nm (the mercury spectral line) just fine.

Click to expand...

Ditto, as well as the 337nm line, but only on very high intensity sources that I really should not look directly at, haha. Got a painful bout of arc-eye that day! (It was an old 100W full spectrum low pressure mercury lamp, with lines down to ~180nm (copious ozone production!), and I thought it a good idea to catalogue the lines using various filters and a very expensive spectrometer.) I had to block the 546nm and 578nm lines in order for the 337 to not be washed out in my vision. I miss the days when I had free reign in science labs!


Many people can see "extended" wavelengths, it really isn't as uncommon as one would believe. The issue is there had to be set limits delineated for the visible spectrum, and it truly does vary person to person. Just because I can see 337-848nm doesn't mean someone else can. So, they picked 400-700nm and went conservatively.

Right after I posted that I got to thinking there are probably people who can see more of the spectrum than others, just as some insects can

There are some people who can see deep UV light. Also check out the Mantis Shrimp. They can see what direction light waves are traveling in and are able to view circular light waves via a filter which changes the waveform to linear.

Ok I just finished modifying my unused webcam to see if it could capture IR and it works just fine, now on UV I don't know since I don't have a UV light source.Testing a IR modified camera - YouTube

These are things that are outside of my wheelhouse...

Here is another video in total darkness lighted just by the remote control leds you saw on the previous video.... it seems to work pretty fine for a 10 min mod. Modified web cam - YouTube

Standard cameras cannot see UV - modded or otherwise. The CCD simply doesn't respond.

Does anyone know if there is a way to shoot UV video? And I didn't know CCD's couldn't pick up IR, those wireless security cams have night vision available. Different tech maybe. sorry for going off-topic.

Night Vision is usually facilitated by Ir light if I remember correctly.