On Mon, 14 Aug 2000 11:55:46 -0400, D. Zimmer wrote:

>Apparently Sony makes one for their NightShot feature to extend it's
>range up to 100 feet. I'm looking into creating my own night-shot
>capability for my Canon ZR10.
>
>If the IR light is available, would you then just have to get an IR
>filter for the front of the camcorder?

No - the Sony nightshot works by switching out the
IR-blocking filter installed in camcorders to reduce
the high IR sensitivity of the CCDs. Without the filter
in place, good IR visual effects (not heat-sensitivity,
though...) can be had without additional filtering,
though adding a red (25), or even an 87 in front of
the lens improves the effect somewhat. Unfortunately,
Sony in their prudishness defeated the IR capability
in daylight by making their camcorders overexpose in
bright light. For examples of video IR landscapes
shot with an IR-enabled camcorder, see the TRV-9
review in my camcorder comparison article on my web
page (listed under the "I babble" index). Without being
able to switch out the filter, the IR sensitivity is
low and IR exposures (using an 87 filter) even in
bright light are marginal.