Ask Cameras

I use my Nikon F2, F4 and F5 to shoot Kodak Highspeed IR film.
For shooting IR with a digital camera, you will have to have it converted … permanently. http://www.maxmax.com/http://spencerscamera.com/default.aspxhttp://www.lifepixel.com/

Yes, you can shoot fairly good IR shots with a non-IR camera as long as you use a 87c or RM-90 type filter (Google them) as well as a tripod and a cable release.
Digital cameras have a IRUV cut off filter over their chip, and this allows for color shots to be a bit more truer because every chip IS – IR and UV sensitive, very.. However, if only IR light is getting into the camera, enuf will still get past the cut off filter and be captured as a image on the chip.
Having your camera in color mode may not be the most rewarding because your camera is not a true IR camera, but have it in the BW mode instead. Keep the ISO at 400 or even less because your exposures will be longer than normal and a high ISO # may induce more electronic noise.
Put the camera on a tripod, FOCUS and compose your shot. Have camera on M and put filter on. Set f/stop to at least 5.6 but 8 or 11 may be better because IR light focuses shorter than visible light (many Nikon lenses have a IR focus mark, a red or white dot, just to the left side of center but, you will find it only on the AF-D lenses where you actually have a focus AND a F/stop ring). Anyhow, set the camera’s exposure to 1/30th or 1/15th and do a test exposure.. If too light, set exposure higher, dark, set lower… Walk your exposure in till you get what you want…
For each and every shot you will have to take the filter off, focus, replace filter and walk your exposure in, keeping the best ones…
If you find you like IR photography you can have the camera modified, basically for ever, for they take this by pass filter off your chip or you could buy a Sigma Foveon camera and THEY have a user removable IR filter… Fuji cameras offer a few models that are IR friendly too. Their S-3 IRUV model, also called the Forensic Model can see in IR or UV by placing the right filter over it’s lens. This one is the most versatile. They have another model, with out removable lenses as well, and this is the IS-1http://lensmen2.smugmug.com/gallery/5321…
andhttp://lensmen2.smugmug.com/gallery/5321…
are 3 examples of the Fuji S-3 IR camera both in BW and color taken from my yard here in the desert west of Tucson, AZ.
A spotting scope is usually NOT a good choice for a camera’s telephoto lens, and if you spend enuf $$ to have one be good, you could have bought the cameras lens anyhow. Most spotting scopes when attached to a camera give dark viewing images and are hard to focus. In order to start getting some what good detail of the Moon you will need at least a 500mm and up towards 1000mm. After 1000mm the Moon will NOT be full screen but instead FILL your view screen with it’s image. Also, after this size the lens is becoming a telescope now, the image is BIG but even tho the moon is bright, the exposures may be blurry because of movement and tracking may be needed..
Links below are for cameras them selves..
Bob – Tucson