How was the high-resolution SWIR portrait on Wikipedia captured?
Asked 6/3/2017
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2 answers
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Wikipedia shows a portrait comparison across visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared wavelengths. I’ve read that typical camera sensors are not sensitive far into the SWIR range, and that many SWIR cameras have relatively low resolution. The example image appears to be about 8 MP in the SWIR version. Was that SWIR image actually captured with a dedicated SWIR camera, or is it likely edited from another wavelength image? Are higher-resolution SWIR cameras available through newer sensor technologies?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
11
Well, I can tell you I definitely didn't take it with my Sony A7. I think Photoshop pulls the metadata when you lay the images side by side from what it can find.
The visible and NIR images were taken with my converted A7. The SWIR camera is from a company that is currently working on a gallium on silicon coating process so they can use somewhat traditional manufacturing processes and deliver a more affordable SWIR solution. They contracted me to take some images with it for their marketing campaign.
Definitely let me know if you have any more questions and I'd be glad to answer them! You can also find more information in this more detailed post.
Originally by user64144. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user64144
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
According to the photographer who created the comparison, the SWIR image was captured with a dedicated SWIR camera, not generated in Photoshop from another image. The visible and near-IR versions were shot with a converted Sony A7, but the SWIR shot came from a separate camera supplied by a company developing a gallium-on-silicon process intended to make higher-resolution, more affordable SWIR sensors possible.
So the key point is: the Wikipedia SWIR image was real SWIR capture from specialized hardware, not a simulated edit. In general, standard consumer camera sensors are useful into some near-IR wavelengths, but true SWIR imaging in the roughly 1500–1700 nm range usually requires dedicated sensor technology. Higher-resolution SWIR systems do exist, but they are specialized rather than typical consumer photo gear.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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