Reflected UV photography + videography using a MCP Amplified Camera System III

Today more about an experiment I have done, using a light amplification device in front of a normal visible light camera for recording reflected UV footage. This device uses a MCP (multi channel plate) with UV sensitive photocathode (approx. 190nm - 650nm), amplifies light by approx. 20-50.000 and shows the resulting image on a green phosphor screen. 

Using a suitable optical system, I relayed this image to my normal, visible light camera. UV filter used was a fully IR blocked (OD6) UV transmission filter (peak at 250nm). Target was a tea candle.

Using a f3.5/50mm quartz fluorite lens and an extension tube to get higher magnification.

1) Visible / IR light recorded w/o filter on full spectrum camera:

 

2) UV light recorded with a (fully blocked to 1100nm) 311nm filter on full spectrum camera: 

It gets rather obvious that the 311nm line is - as expected - quite intense on the visible left and right outsides of the candle, where the UV emission of the OH (hydroxyl) radicals happens.

3) UV light recorded with a (fully blocked to 1100nm) Baader-U (320-395nm) filter on full spectrum camera:

The reaction of the CH (hydrocarbon) radicals however emit UV around 385-395nm mostly on the top, which can be shown using the Baader-U UV transmitting filter (320-395nm).

I have written about this system doing still UV photography HERE.

I have done similar with a different amplified camera system before which did not allow to have an external camera attached, with just a TV output HERE

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Reflected UV photography + videography using a MCP Amplified Camera System II

Today about an experiment I have done, using a light amplification device in front of a normal visible light camera for recording reflected UV footage. This device uses a MCP (multi channel plate) with UV sensitive photocathode (approx. 190nm - 650nm), amplifies light by approx. 20-50.000 and shows the resulting image on a green phosphor screen. 

Using a suitable optical system, I relayed this image to my normal, visible light camera. UV filter used was a fully IR blocked (OD6) UV transmission filter (peak at 250nm). Taget was a tea candle.

 Using a f3.5/50mm quartz fluorite lens:

 

This system shows quite some usefulness, especially under low light conditions, or when it is about recording deeper in UV where a normal full spectrum camera is not sensitive anymore.

I have written about this system doing still UV photography HERE.

I have done similar with a different amplified camera system before which did not allow to have an external camera attached, with just a TV output HERE

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Apache beggarticks - Bidens ferulifolia in deeper reflected ultraviolet photography, simulated bee and butterfly vision XVI

Today in 2020 more shots of that long blooming spring flower Apache beggarticks - Bidens ferulifolia in reflected ultraviolet photography. All shots were done at f8 in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter, as well as my deeper UV filters and the IDAS 330nm filter. Lens was a UV-Nikkor 105mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was my UV enhanced Xenon flash.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Human vision:
 

Reflected UV:
 

Reflected deep UV with IDAS fiter (300-380nm, peak 330nm):
 

Reflected deeper UV (290-340nm, peak approx. 320nm):
 

Quadriptych (details) of human vision, UV, deep and deeper UV (left to right, top to bottom):
 

Bidens has a strong visible UV pattern, its petal tips are UV bright around 365nm, its center is quite UV dark, so this gets quite nicely visible, also in deep and deeper reflected UV photography.

I have written about Bidens previously HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Reflected UV photography using a MCP Amplified Camera System

Today about an experiment I have done, using a light amplification device in front of a normal visible light camera for recording reflected UV images. This device uses a MCP (multi channel plate) with UV sensitive photocathode (approx. 190nm - 650nm), amplifies the light by approx. 20-50.000 and shows that image then on a green phosphor screen. Using a suitable optical system, I relayed this image to my normal, visible light camera. UV filter used was a fully IR blocked (OD6) UV transmission filter (peak 350nm).

[click on image gets you a larger image]

Some of the UV images which I recorded just for a few tests...

Using a 50mm quartz fluorite lens:

Using a 300mm catadioptric lens:

Rudbeckia close-up showing its prominent UV pattern:

 

Sedum close-up:

Tea candle inside showing how sensitive this system is:

It took a bit of experimenting to get this right, but now I have a range of useful lenses for this, working from far away up to close-up.

This system shows quite some usefulness, especially under low light conditions, or when it is about recording deeper in UV where a normal full spectrum camera is not sensitive anymore.

I have done similar with a different amplified camera system before which did not allow to have an external camera attached, with just a TV output HERE

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

[UV, VIS, IR] Lyman Alpha deep UV lenses V - Oncostele orchid

Today shots of a Orchid hybride (Oncostele Wildcat 'Golden Red Star') in reflected ultraviolet photography with a NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha I f2.8/100mm UV-VIS-NIR lens. UV filters used was the Baader-U filter for the Lyman Alpha 100mm, rear mounted. All shots were done at f2.8 as the Lyman Alpha lens has no iris. Light source used was two different Nichia 365nm UV-LEDs, one a cheap Convoy S2 UV mini torch.

[click on image to see a larger one]

For reference, visible light shot (UV-Nikkor 105mm):
 

Lyman Alpha I lens UV using Baader-U filter and Convoy S2 UV LED:
 

Lyman Alpha I lens UV using Baader-U filter and Convoy S2 UV LED:
 

Lyman Alpha I lens UV using Baader-U filter and strong Nichia UV LED:
 

This orchid has a very specific UV pattern, its petals are very UV dark, but its lower petal lip has on the lower center a very UV bright spot as well as on its center "nose" formation an UV reflecting spot and all this gets nicely visible, also with this Lyman Alpha I f2.8/200mm mirror only lens.

I have written about the Nye Lyman-Alpha lenses previously HERE and about this Orchid HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

[UV, VIS, IR] Lyman Alpha deep UV lenses IV - Oncostele orchid

Today tests shots of a Orchid hybride (Oncostele Wildcat 'Golden Red Star') in reflected ultraviolet photography with a NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha II f1.1/90mm UV-VIS-NIR lens in comparisoon with my UV-Nikkor 105mm lens. UV filters used was the Baader-U and the IDAS 340nm filter for the UV-Nikkor and a UV transmitting stack of UG11+S8612 as well as a 340nm filter for the Lyman Alpha 90mm, both rear mounted. All shots were done at f4.5 for the UV-Nikkor resp. f1.1 as the Lyman Alpha lens has no iris. Light source used was Xenon flash.

[click on image to see a larger one]

UV-Nikkor 105mm Visible Light:
 

UV-Nikkor 105mm Baader-U filter:
 

UV-Nikkor 105mm Baader-U filter (whitebalanced):
 

UV-Nikkor 105mm 340nm IDAS filter:
 

Lyman Alpha II 90mm UG11+S8612 filter:
 

Lyman Alpha II 90mm UG11+S8612 filter (whitebalanced):
 

Lyman Alpha II 90mm 340nm filter:
 

UV-Nikkor vs Lyman Alpha II 90mm in UV:
 

UV-Nikkor vs Lyman Alpha II 90mm in UV (whitebalanced):
 

UV-Nikkor vs Lyman Alpha II 90mm in UV (340nm):
 
This orchid has a very specific UV pattern, its petals are very UV dark, but its lower petal lip has on the lower center a very UV bright spot as well as on its center "nose" formation an UV reflecting spot and all this gets nicely visible.

Both lenses are very different animals so to speak, that Lyman Alpha II f1.1/90mm has extremely shallow DOF as compared to the f4.5 / 105mm UV-Nikkor lens, as well as some bent field, but it shows a very useful UV transmission. That rear mounted 340nm seems not to be the clearest filter, as the resulting image was a bit cloudy, not the fault of the lens.

I have written about the Nye Lyman-Alpha lenses previously HERE and about this Orchid HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

[UV, VIS, IR] Lyman Alpha deep UV lenses III

Today tests shots in reflected ultraviolet photography with a NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha I f2.8/200mm UV-VIS-NIR lens. UV filter used was my work horse UV transmission filter, the Baader-U, rear mounted. All shots were done at f2.8 as this lens has no iris. Light source used was daylight at a dull and rainy day.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Roof detail approx. 30ft/10m away:
 

Window detail approx. 30ft/10m away:
 

Absence of CA, easily seen on the stainless steel exhaust tubes approx. 60ft/20m away:
 

Closeup shot of an African Violet, approx. 3ft/1m away, using Nichia UV LED (365nm):
 

This lens has a UV transmission in the 190-400nm range of 85-88% and a resolution of 25lpm at infinity and 60lpm at 300mm distance and covers full format (maker data).The test images certainly confirm its usefulness.

I have written about the Nye Lyman-Alpha lenses previously HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

[UV, VIS, IR] Lyman Alpha deep UV lenses II

Oh well, it has been five years, but now I finally infinity-converted these very special lenses...

Back a little in time: When in 2012 I was able to acquire three prototypes of those lenses, made 1992, which came from the estate of the inventor, Richard Nye and his company, Nye Optical of La Mesa CA, I was very excited to find such lenses able to record in deep UV. But they turned out to be a bit tricky to convert and adapt to digital cameras. Now with mirrorless ones, it looked rather promising...

So, these scientific lenses Mr Nye invented and custom made, were for deep UV recording (capable to even work beyond 200nm, especially made to record the 121nm Lyman alpha lines, hence the name). It is a catoptric (reflex) Cassegrain design, which came in f2.8/200mm and f1.1/90mm (and some other) versions for full format cameras, but also for intensifier tubes and video cameras (25mm image circle, like the f1.1/90mm), with focusing from 250mm to infinity and some adjustable 50mm resp.18mm back focal length. And now I have them working on my Panasonic GH4 camera....

[click on image to see a larger one]



Inside the aluminum housing resides an about 25mm (1") thick quartz (ZERODUR most likely) mirror block, front aluminized plus a secondary mirror (most likely made of the same material) held by an adjustable metal "spider" in front of that first one. Quite built like a small 90mm diameter Cassegrain astronomical telescope.

DOF at one (1) meter (3ft) is as thin as a razor blade when using the Lyman Alpha f1.1/90mm lens and that doughnut shaped bokeh etc. makes it fun to use.

Here now a few images in visible light, UV will follow, weather permitting...

The very thin DOF of course generates those doughnut shaped bokeh bubbles, but by chosing a proper i.e. less noisy background it can be "tamed".

I have written about those lenses before HERE


Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Deep UV Ultraviolet Reflected Light Photography at UV-B and UV-C recording with candle light

Today another proof that reflected UV photography is doable at UV-B and UV-C using several special, up to NIR blocked, narrowband filters and a very different UV camera, an amplified 190-650nm MCP equipped video camera. Lens used was a CERCO f1.8/45mm quartz flourite lens. Light source was a candle flame.

[click on image to see a larger one]

This reveals, that the deeper one looks into UV, the area where the candle flame emits that UV moves from the top of the flame down to the sides of the flame. Pretty amazing how sensitive this type of camera is, as the needed amplification was still just in the lower 30% of the total available range.

I have a newer system HERE with a normal camera attached to the MCP amplification device.

I have previously written more about combustion and UV HERE.

Btw. Michael Faraday has in 1848 given six famous lectures about the chemical history of the candle, which may be read about HERE

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

Deep UV Ultraviolet Reflected Light Photography at UV-B 313nm II

Today another proof that reflected UV photography is doable at UV-B using several special, up to NIR blocked, narrowband filters and a different than before UV camera. Lens used was my UV-Nikkor 105mm quartz flourite lens. All shots were done at f11. Light source was a gas torch flame.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Double hexaptych (top to bottom) of Visual light; emitted UV 320-390nm, 310-350nm, 290-340nm, 280-315nm, 304-322nm. Right side is morphological gradient filtering of left side:


This reveals, that the broadband UV image shows a much broader, but less detailed gas flame, the images shot with narrow(er) filters however, shows a much more detailed flame image and is useful to judge how efficient the gas combustion process is, 313nm being the emission peak wavelength of the OH radical.

I have previously written about that HERE.

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

Deep UV Ultraviolet Reflected Light Photography at UV-B 313nm

Today a proof that reflected UV photography is doable at UV-B using a special, up to NIR blocked, peak 313nm, FWHM 9nm narrowband filter and my special UV camera. Lens used was my UV-Nikkor 105mm quartz flourite lens. All shots were done at f4.5.

[click on image to see a larger one]

313nm FWHM 9nm Filter transmission spectra:


Reflected UV-B image at 313nm, 0.8 sec exposure:


This was just a proof of concept that reflected UV imaging can be successfully done even at such deep UV-B wavelengths (OH* 313nm) showing the stainless steel combustion emission valves of a central heating system.

In case you were wondering how a flame of a gas torch would look like in UV...

Triptych (top to bottom) Visual light, emitted UV (320-390nm, Baader-U), emitted UV-B (313nm):


Triptych (top to bottom) Visual light, emitted UV (320-390nm, Baader-U), emitted UV-B (313nm) - morph. Gradient:


Diptych (black/white, top to bottom) emitted UV (320-390nm, Baader-U) vs emitted UV-B (313nm):


This reveals, that the broadband UV image shows a much broader, but less detailed gas flame, the 313nm image however, 313nm being the emission peak wavelength of the OH radical, shows a much more detailed flame image and is useful to judge how efficient the gas combustion process is.


Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

Mexican Zinnia - Zinnia haagenea in (deep) reflected ultraviolet photography XXVII

Today shots of very decorative summer flowers, Mexican Zinnia - Zinnia haagenea in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter as well as a 340nm short pass filter for deep(er) UV photography. Lens was my CERCO 94mm quartz flourite lens. Light source was sunlight. All shots were done at about f5.6.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Triptych (left to right): Human vision, reflected UV (320-395nm), deep reflected UV (320-340nm):
 

Mexican Zinnia flowers have very specific UV patterns which reach quite deep into UV. Their petals are very UV dark in the middle and bottom, their petal tips, however, are very UV bright (here around 370nm outer tip, 365nm middle tip). Deeper UV photography reveals, that the outer tip part reaches even deeper into UV, deeper as any other flower I know of, and all this gets nicely visible.

I have previously written about those Zinnias HERE

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

Shikoko Cobra Lilly - Arisaema sikokianum in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated bee vision II

Today more shots of that rare early spring flower, common in Japan at Shikoko island, Shikoko Cobra Lilly - Arisaema sikokianum. in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated bee vision. All shots were done at about f5.6 in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter, as well as my XBV6 filter for simulated bee vision. Further for deeper UV, a 340nm short pass filter was used, stacked to the Baader-U filter. Lens was a CERCO 94mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was sunlight.

I had mentioned before that I noticed some UV lighting around 340nm which caught my attention and here it is about that.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Triptych of human vision, UV and simulated bee vision (left to right):
 
Triptych of human vision, UV and deep UV below 340nm (left to right):
Triptych of human vision, UV and simulated bee vision (left to right):
 
Triptych of human vision, UV and deep UV below 340nm (left to right):

This Cobra Lilly flower has are extremely UV bright cup around 370nm, with parts drifting towards 380nm. Further to that, deeper UV photography below 340nm reveals, that their cup, but also an area at the bottom of the spathe reflects UV strongly. All that gets nicely visible.

I have previously written about that flower HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Orange coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida in reflected deep ultraviolet photography and simulated butterfly and bee vision X

Today lab shots of a decorative summer flower which started to bloom on my balcony, Orange coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U, Jupiter-U, Saturn-U and Uranus-U deep UV filter, as well as in simulated butterfly and bee vision using my proprietary XBV filters. Lens was my CERCO 94mm quartz flourite lens. Light source was a modified Xenon flash. All shots were done at about f8.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Visible light image
 

UV image using Baader-U filter (approx. 320-395nm, effective peak approx. 375nm):  

UV image using Jupiter-U filter (approx. 280-385nm, effective peak approx. 365nm):
 

UV image using Saturn-U filter (approx. 300-350nm, effective peak approx. 325nm):
 

UV image using Uranus-U filter (approx. 270-320nm, effective peak approx. 315nm):
 

Simulated butterfly vision image using XBV3 filter:  

Simulated bee vision image using XBV6 filter:  

Quadriptych of the above (with bee/butterfly vision):
 

Quadriptych of the above (with deep UV):
 

This attractive flower shows its very prominent UV bullseye pattern, its petals have an UV dark bottom and very UV bright tips (around 365nm), invisible to us humans, and all this gets nicely visible.


Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...