On Sat, 06 Oct 2001 17:19:27 GMT, tinkerman@nospam.com (tinkerman) wrote:

>1. I've got a Sony TRV330 D8 handicam with nightshot. I want to
>capture video 30-50 meters away at night. I've seen the sony IR lights
>that promise 100ft range, but before I'd spend the money I'd like to
>see what can be done with these. ANyone got sample pictures or willing
>to take a shot or two?
>
>2. I'm not sure the sony IR light is powerfull enough for what I
>need, although they claim 100ft range. It has just 8 LEDs. I'm looking
>for a powerfull infrared torch/spotlight. The problem is that these
>are either unavailable or highly expensive. So I'm looking for a
>lowcost source for such a beast, or an IR filter for a standard
>searchlight. From experience, a 50W spotlight is more than enough for
>visible lighting, but I've heard that the IR spectrum percentage in
>those lights is rather small, leaving marginal output after filtering.
>I'm open to ideas/suggestions, folks...

Not definitive info, but....
The on-camera IR lights are rather directional
(tele zoom is needed for acceptably even light,
and the light source is under the lens, producing
ugly shadows); the Sony 4-LED IR light is stronger,
but is also uneven - though better (attempts to
even the light with various diffusers redudes
the output level considerably); a 30-watt tungsten
light with a no.87 gel filter works, but it is hard
to keep all visible light concealed, the gel deforms
with heat, and the output is greatly reduced...
Most likely to work, especially if narrow-angle
illumination is OK, is the 8-LED Sony light.
BTW, there are frame-grabs of daylight IR video
(what I prefer to use IR for...) at:
http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/ir.htm