Olympus E-330 IR-sensitivity

Exposure metering doesn't work with IR-filters, so I guessed the exposure time in manual mode. With some experience it should work fine. (Through the very good file quality some underexposure isn't a problem at all, at least when shooting in RAW mode.)

There is no alternative to a tripod when shooting with an unmodified E-330. Due the very long exposure times I don't see a that big potential for getting good infrared images despite some very special circumstances (non moving subject, zero wind).

 How to use it:
There are 2 really big problems when using DSLRs for taking infrared pictures. First you have an optical viewfinder, isn't that nice if your eye behind it can't see any infrared light.
The second big problem are the big sensors that require thick low pass filters. Thick low pass filters tend to be better infrared absorbers than thin filters from little compact camera sensors. Therefore using Live-View isn't a way to get noise free live picture  for focusing and so on.

The E-330 (and maybe the Sony A300 and A350) is unique design, using a second small and infrared sensitive sensor in the viewfinder chamber. With that sensor you get your live image on the LCD. The second problem is solved with the autofocus sensors that also work in the infrared part of the spectrum. At least if you own auto focus lenses.
The only problem left is exposure metering. Using the automatic exposure metering will result in heavily underexposured black pictures, you have to guess the exposure manually. 

 Colors:
without filter (WB: cloudy (I think)):

with RG715 (WB manual in RAWShooter):

 comment: Colours are nice in a way, but nothing special. Noise isn't a problem at all, non that I expected some.

 Sharpness:
I didn't get the manual focusing right. Despite that there is a lot of blurring caused by wind and the very long exposure time. Cause of this I'm not able to present any serious results.

 Conclusion:
Taking infrared pictures with DSLRs is a ... . On the one hand you get high quality pictures. Little noise, fantastic resolution with the right lenses.
But there are some weighty disadvantages. You have to work with very long exposure times requiring a tripod and in most situations will result in wind blurred pictures.
The other big point is automatic exposure metering, it doesn't work.

I don't think that image quality isn't all about, therefore I prefer to use compact cameras for infrared pictures. (At least the better ones).s

The softness disappear if you take USM in Photoshop, but do this after post processing and after the noise filter.

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