Cell Phone Night Vision - Under $10

Step 5 Replacing the IR Filter with the film gel, and YOUR DONE!

Now that you have the IR filter out, you need to replace it with a piece of the Congo Blue Film Gel. What this does is it blocks out any visible light, that is, between 380 nm (deep violet) to about 750 nm (deep red). This only lets the camera see anything below 380nm or above 750nm.

Cut out a a very small circle shape of the gel and place it where the IR filter used to be.

Then screw the lens back onto the camera assembly, put the faceplate back on, and your done!

Now all you need is an IR light source to test it out, such as a TV remote. Go into a dark room, turn your camera on, and press a button on the remote. The camera sees the IR light from the remote, but the human eye can't. You now have nightvision on your cell phone for under $10!

Comments

[chubby8]

if you didnt put the Congo Blue Film Gel in wouldent the camera see visible light in the day and infared in the dark although a slight mix. or would day time photos in visible light just mess up.

[dodo91]

I was watching a video on youtube, and when the guy pushed a button on the remote, you could see it. my point: you don't have to rip your phone apart. instead, attach the IR LED to something in the phone, then tape it next to your lens OUTSIDE the camera (Duh)

[JP128]

 Most/All cameras can see infrared light. In fact - most people can see in the dark. But just because you can see, or it can see doesn't mean that it can be seen well. The IR is a Filter, just as a coffee filter is a filter. With a coffee filter - it's purpose is to stop the grains from coming out, but what do you ALWAYS find at the bottom of the pot or your glass? Grains. Like the coffee filters, IR Filters aren't 100% IR Proof, meaning that you will still see it. Turning the remote away from the lens and trying to view it like say, on a white piece of paper, proves what I said. Without the IR filter alex is right - you can basically light a room with a remote.

[Fluffyjimmy]

i just tried this using my remote and phone. Yeah you can see the IR light on the phone camera without modifying it but all i can do is point the light at the camera, it doesn't show up on any surfaces or anything because it's so weak.

[dodo91]

thats because you need the black thing covering IR LED. you also might need a few.

[alex-sharetskiy]

it's not that weak, your IR filter is just blocking it.

[Fluffyjimmy]

Ok good, I'm probably going to get rid of the filter then.

[milsorgen]

 low light and more watts if you dont want to rip open anything. ive been using 16-32mw and ~1sec exposure times in a dark with my digital camera and getting results

[thelastonekills]

hold it, let me make sure i got this
in short ,
put filter on camera
put filter infront of realy bright light or ir led?

also could this be done some how more analoge, like just with the ir light and a
filter set up some how so you could see it?
this is cool 5/5

[msw100]

A mobile phone can already see the IR from a remote control without going to all that trouble and breaking your phone. Why not mount a few low power IR diodes around the lens, and you will see just as far in the dark.

[iSteam]

Not nearly as well as without an IR filter...

[lunchboxslayer27]

pretty well actually

[alex-sharetskiy]

without the filter, you can actually light up the room with a remote control

[JP128]

 Most/All cameras can see infrared light. In fact - most people can see in the dark. But just because you can see, or it can see doesn't mean that it can be seen well. The IR is a Filter, just as a coffee filter is a filter. With a coffee filter - it's purpose is to stop the grains from coming out, but what do you ALWAYS find at the bottom of the pot or your glass? Grains. Like the coffee filters, IR Filters aren't 100% IR Proof, meaning that you will still see it. Turning the remote away from the lens and trying to view it like say, on a white piece of paper, proves what I said. Without the IR filter alex is right - you can basically light a room with a remote.

[Jehar21]

This worked really well. I did it to one, about to do it to 3 other phones too.
Its gonna really help for our night paintball games.
Thanks

[mraspotcnc]

nice job ....thanks to share idea

[EaglesNestOne]

Nice IBLE but aren't infrared blocking filters usually blue? And msw100 is right, in fact most cameras can see infrared light.

[iSteam]

Depending on the manufacture and what products they order, it can either be blue or red. In the majority of cameras I've sacraficed to science, I believe only 1 I remember seeing a blue filter . It stood out, thats why I remember ;)