On Sat, 15 Aug 1998 01:32:43 GMT, ablang@my-dejanews.com wrote:

>Is there such a thing as a Sony Infrared Digital Camera that will allow one
>to see through clothes in the daytime?

I have one of the Sony TRV-9 mini-DV (video...) camcorders, and
it takes rather nice B&W infrared video (white clouds, black sky,
white foliage) during the daytime (when in IR night-shooting mode
and with the B&W picture effect engaged). The effect can be
enhanced by adding a red or IR filter (and a polarizer, for darker
skies and/or for modifying water and other reflections).
I did notice that the black open-weave cloth on my stereo
speakers became nearly invisible when using the IR mode, but
the implications didn't dawn on me until I saw the article...;-)
After hearing about this "see-through" effect, for the heck of it,
I went downtown yesterday and videoed people with the Sony
TRV-9 camcorder (any of the Hi-8 camcorders with the IR
feature should also work) with the "night-shot" IR mode on, in
B&W mode, and with red and polarizing filters on the lens.
Not surprisingly, there was nothing unusual visible (beyond the
rather nice effects of B&W IR shooting...). Since this camcorder
can shoot through black speaker grille cloth, I suspect the
"see-through" effect requires that the cloth have a very open
weave, and possibly also a dark color - not a common occurance...
I trust that Sony does not move to remove a wonderful feature
from its camcorders (the daylight-IR capability is the main reason
for my keeping the TRV-9). (My guess is that Sony has found an
original way of clearing out its old stock of a camcorder [by
starting this "see-through" rumor...;-])