** IF YOU WANT THE CAMERA 'YESTERDAY', USE THE ‘MAKE AN OFFER’ OPTION!  ONLY SENSIBLE OFFERS ABOVE THE STARTING BID WILL BE CONSIDERED!! BE QUICK THOUGH, BECAUSE THIS ONE WILL GO FAST!!!**



Up for auction is an extremely rare example of a BRAND NEW Canon PowerShot A490, 10.0 megapixel digital camera in silver! This camera has been modified and converted to take infrared pictures. It has a 750nm infrared filter installed internally, so you don't have to mess around screwing and unscrewing filters. Just pick up the camera and shoot amazing and magical results of the invisible world! 


The camera also has CHDK custom firmware installed on the 4gb SD card provided, which gives this camera the ability to shoot RAW file format!  Further information regarding CHDK custom firmware is detailed below.


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**IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  DON'T FALL FOR THE IR FAKES!**

Please let me point out the difference between this 'true' infrared converted camera, and a lot of the 'infrared converted' cameras that you see for sale on eBay and elsewhere today, which are actually full spectrum cameras.  With a full spectrum conversion, all that has been done is the camera has been opened, and the internal 'hot mirror' removed.  Whilst these cameras can 'see' infrared light, they also let in UV and visible light to the image sensor.  UV light creates image haze, which is why a lot of professional photographers use UV filters.  Also, the images shown on these listings would need 'true' IR filters to create, which would be an additional, unadvertised expense for the buyer.  What you also have to bear in mind is that you can't mount an infrared filter onto a compact camera, as there is no lens thread present.  Some have included a glued-on lens thread, but I believe that on a wide angle lens, such as ones present on a compact camera, this would cause a vignette.  This is where my infrared conversions differ from most.  Mine are 'true' infrared conversions, with no need to buy extra filters.  They have a custom cut filter installed internally, so they are literally pick up and shoot.  Also, the images present on my listings are actually achievable with this camera as it is, with very little editing.  OK, whinge over!

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As mentioned above, this camera is in brand new condition and doesn't have any signs of wear.  Please look at the listing pictures which clearly show the camera's condition. 


The camera comes with it's original batteries, but personally I wouldn't use these,  I would use 2 x AA size Energizer 2000mah rechargeable ones, which are better quality.  It also comes with it's data cables, getting started manual and wrist strap.  All are in their original packaging, unopened.  The original box is also included in new condition.


Why did I infrared convert a compact camera?  Well, I got interested in infrared photography and the wonderful artistic images achieved, but I didn't want to pay the crazy prices!  What I found was that to use a normal, 'off the shelf' camera with an infrared filter fitted on the front takes long exposure times, because the hot mirror inside the camera is filtering out the light you want to let it. You don't get good results this way, unless you have a tripod and a perfectly still subject. To achieve these long exposure times, you need a DSLR camera to do this. If you want the best results, you need an infrared converted DSLR camera, which are prohibitively expensive. I decided to convert compact cameras to make infrared photography affordable. I experiment with them for a while, and when I am ready to move on to my next project, I pass them on, but only when I am completely satisfied with the image quality that they produce and the camera functions as it should. You won't need a tripod to take excellent images either, just take pictures as you normally would, hand held, hassle free!  

 

A 750nm filter blocks out most visible light, and what is left in the picture is mostly the infrared part of the spectrum. The example pictures show shots which are red/purple in colour, these come out of the camera this way and have had basic editing.  There are also pictures which were taken with the custom white balance setting, these are monochrome / black and white in appearance and have had some basic editing e.g. contrast, exposure, highlights, shadows, etc.  You can also achieve those desirable 'false colour' images with a little more time spent editing, using free software such as Photoscape X and/or Gimp.


Some information about CHDK custom firmware (installed on the SD card): 


Please note that I have only installed and tested this on a Windows computer.  This firmware will work on a Mac computer, but there are some additional hoops to jump through.  I have never attempted this, as I don't own a Mac, so I can't advise you in any way on how to do this.  That being said, I have previously Googled this, and there was plenty of information available from people who have successfully done it.



With the SD card write protect switch in the write position, the standard Canon firmware will operate on your camera.  With the switch in the write protect / Lock position, the CHDK custom firmware will operate, and doesn't permanently load onto the camera.  When using the SD card in a card reader to copy your pictures onto your computer (recommended), the write protect switch operates as normal.


To access the CHDK menu on this particular model and firmware version, short press the record button, then the menu button.  Long presses of any button override these features, and the standard button functions will apply.

CHDK enhances the capabilities of your camera in a non-destructive, non-permanent way. 


After loading CHDK, your camera will have most, if not all of the following extra functionality:  





Any questions please ask me via eBay messages.



Please refer to my outstanding feedback and buy with confidence!



International bids welcome!



Happy bidding!


Note to international bidders:  Please note that the parcel will be delivered to the eBay Global Shipping Centre first, before being forwarded to you in your country.  I will send to the shipping centre via Evri parcel service, and their tracking will tell you it's been delivered!  If this happens, don't worry, the tracking details on eBay will eventually update, and you will be able to track the final leg of the parcel's journey, to your door!