Fujifilm quietly released a special edition of the Fujifilm X-T4, and nobody noticed. Specifically, it’s the X-T4 ES (“Extended Spectrum”), which is a full-spectrum infrared camera. Digital camera sensors are sensitive to light outside of what humans can see, and a filter is added to the top of the sensor to block those wavelengths so that you get normal-looking colors. The Fujifilm X-T4 ES is an ordinary X-T4, just without the infrared filter over the sensor, allowing the camera to capture invisible light, which dramatically transforms an ordinary scene into something dreamlike.
I’ve wanted to try infrared photography for decades. A long time ago I shot one roll (I believe it was Ektachrome EIR, but I don’t remember for certain); however, none of the frames turned out—mostly because I really didn’t know what I was doing way back then. More recently, I learned that many Fujifilm cameras have some IR sensitivity, so I made several infrared photographs with a non-converted camera; however, that was only a tease.
The problem with modern infrared photography is that (with a few exceptions) it requires you to ship out your old gear to have an expensive and invasive procedure performed in order to remove the IR filter. There are a couple of places that will do it, and at a few different times I strongly considered sending out my old X-T1 to be converted to full-spectrum. You can also buy one that’s already done, but it will either be a used model with a roughly $500 premium, or a new model with that same premium and without a warranty. Two years ago I suggested that Fujifilm should offer an IR camera, and now they have, so I bought it!
The Fujifilm X-T4 ES is not the first infrared camera made by Fujifilm. The first was the S3 Pro UVIR in 2006, followed by the IS-1 (infrared version of the FinePix S9100) in 2007, then X-T1 IR in 2015, then GFX100 IR in 2020, and finally the X-T4 ES in 2024. However, the X-T4 ES is the first made available to the general public, as the others were specifically for “forensic, scientific, and cultural preservation applications.” Fujifilm very quietly released the X-T4 ES only on their website and with almost no promotion. Nobody even noticed it! Well, almost nobody—the camera was sold out within about a week. I’m not sure how many copies were produced—whatever the number, they were gone very quickly. I think it goes to show that there is a demand for such a camera, and Fujifilm should do something similar soon, but have more units available for purchase.
Yesterday a Fujifilm X-T4 ES arrived at my doorstep. I’m very underprepared, and excitedly waiting for some infrared filters to arrive in the mail (you need various filters to control the light to achieve different outcomes) within the coming week; however, I was surprised to learn that my old color filters for B&W film photography work for infrared. Also, unfiltered full-spectrum pictures can be quite interesting, too. I have so much to learn, and a ton of experiments to do, but so far I’m thrilled and amazed by the results—there’s a ton of potential!
I’ve only captured a small number of photographs with the new camera, and just right around the house—nothing even remotely series. The general rule of thumb that I have seen online is that IR pictures require significant editing (including color channel swaps) to get good results, particularly for color images. Of course—you know me—I’m interested in straight-out-of-camera pictures that don’t require editing, so my goal is to create Film Simulation Recipes for use with the full-spectrum Fujifilm X-T4 ES. I have a long ways to go, so it will likely be awhile before I publish anything. With that said, the pictures below are all unedited camera-made JPEGs that I’ve captured with my Fujifilm X-T4 ES, so maybe it won’t take so long afterall.
Beautiful! You are well on your way, right out of the gate. It took me a while to work out the channel-swapping needed on pic’s I got from a Nikon D200 converted to a 720nm IR camera. Then it was a whole new world with a full-spectrum Nikon Z-50, which let me use dual band-pass filters (like the Kolarivision IRchrome) to create IR + visible spectrum photos out of camera with no editing.
I have an IR Chrome filter on the way (among others), and I’m really looking forward to that. So far, a Yellow/Green XO filter and 80A filter are my favorites; neither are “intended” for IR, but they work really well.
Their (Kolari) Blue IR / NDVI filter is wonderful as well as the IR Crome you have on order. They also have a newly updated IR Chrome filter called Candy Chrome.
Here are my attempts with a full spectrum X100T
https://specialeditionartproject.com/the-special-edition-art/making-of-the-arts/fuji-x100t-uvir-full-spectr.html
– Eric
What I’ve found interesting is that ordinary color filters for B&W film and Color Correction Filters for color film also work on full-spectrum cameras. For example, an 80A Color Correction Filter isn’t all that different from the IR Chrome filter. You can also combine filters… an 80A or IR Chrome comes alive with a G (XO) (a.k.a. Yellow/Green) filter for B&W film photography.
Ritchie –
You’re hooked man! You’ve got full spectrum fever, and it’s a great thing! If you do find the magic combination of tweaks for simulations that work with IR on the X-T4, is there any chance you can make the simulations so they work with the X-T3 also? I love my X-T3 FS setup with the 23mm f/1.4. And that brings up something you’ll probably want to know:
Kolari Vision’s Lens Hotspot Charts
https://kolarivision.com/lens-hotspot-list/
There’s other sites out there that have compiled some hotspot data, but I found Kolari’s is the most complete I’ve seen so far.
A you tube channel I got a lot out of:
https://www.youtube.com/@robshea/videos
In the mean time, have FUN with it!
Barry
I am hooked! So far I’m using my 35mm f/2, but my other lenses are apparently not good for IR, so I will be looking for another at some point. Appreciate the links!
I wonder if this camera will work on astro photography?
I guess with a UV/IR Cut filter you can.
He didn’t mention astrophotography but that is the main reason people have the IR filters removed, and why astrophotography cameras don’t have them. I have the Atik Ex 490C.
Mike Milligan
Hooper Utah
– Astro-Physics EDT130 Oil Spaced Triplet
– Astro-Physics Mach2 Mount
– Atik EX490C Deep Sky
– ZWO ASI385C Planetary
Thanks for the tip! A trip up the Wasatch brings you to excellent dark skies… I’m not terribly far from some dark skies in AZ, but definitely need to travel a little bit for that, and get further from Phoenix.
Along similar lines, I feel like something that’d be interesting would be a camera with an Aerochrome Bayer (or XTrans) sensor. Roughly speaking, with Aerochrome film, the blue channel records real-world green, the green channel records real-world red, and the red channel records real-world infrared. So you could probably have a Bayer-like filter array with non-standard filters designed to measure the right kinds of light. Maybe too niche to make, but it’d be cool.
I think if Fujifilm could make it easy, like literally aerochrome-like results SOOC, that would be huge. Maybe instead of the standard film simulations, they have just a handful of IR film sims instead. I have a stack of filters in front of me, and it brings me back (not in a good way) to the film days of lugging filters for B&W film and/or color correction filter for color photography. I suppose once I figure out what I like, it will be just a few filters, but still, I’d prefer none if Fujifilm ever made that possible.
It’s a good idea. IR Chrome focuses the same as visible, but if you wanted infrared on the 1/4 pixel then it would be tricky as it focuses at different distances
Not IR related, but what film recipe did you use in the pictures of the x-t4? Which camera? It is really nice
All three are Pacific Blues… the top picture with an X-T50 & Fujinon 27mm f/2.8, and the other two with an X-T5 & 35mm f/2.
Let us know when you have a recipe for Aerochrome. https://youtu.be/NWl1HINQUao?si=Akv6Qg4geH_KwLoA
I have one! Well, I’m still working on it, hoping to make it better; however, it’s pretty good already. Will be sharing soon.
(Wrote on the 17/07)
“Well that’s a good start Ritchie 👍
As I extensively commented in your previous post on the subject, I wish you a lot of fun and experiment (like I do) with the filters you’ll soon receive.
Indeed their is a (huge) demand for this type of camera, and the conversion is expensive and no without risk possible damage.
The first conversion of my X-E1 IR did as advertised killed the sensor cleaning functionality. Being converted to 720nm, the replacing filter is too dark to be cleaned easily. I’ve stop doing trying too, and thus ‘glued’ my XC35/2. In this configuration, my X-E1 IR stop behaving like vacuum cleaner each time I was swapping lenses.
On the other hand, going through IRRECams.de for converting my X-A3 to Full Spectrum (280nm quartz filter), Sven expertively made the filter replacement without killing the sensor cleaning functionality.
And with the clear quartz filter it is very easy to clean.
So I would recommend for those wanting to do the conversion of their old Fujifilm camera (which give a real second birth to them), to specificaly ask how the conversion is done and it will happen to the sensor cleaning functionality.
I learned on second conversasion it can be kept if done properly.
The demand from the community for such camera is like for the monochrom!
Fujifilm could make a lot of extra money if they were willing to go that path. Niche one, but with dedicated and educated users…
And camera bodies will not be alone, tune without white spot lens could be produced. More easy here also as the good (formula) lenses already exist in the line like the Fujicron. Only less coating and less complex lens design will be necessary.
Not changing too much the existing production line.
To Fujifilm: Guys you can expend your market shares here also in IR and UV photography like your succeeding in the cinema world with your GFX100S II !
It appears that Fujifilm keeps doing only Extended Spectrum, not Full Spectrum, so not replacing the standard filter by a clear quartz one filtering only from 280nm (near UV) and above, this enabling UV photography too with an appropriate UV bandpass filter.
But I wonder. The X-T4 ES may be like the GFX100 IR, despite it’s official specs, the GFX100 IR is a bit sensitive to UV spectrum still.
Check the interesting Fujifilm X Exposure Center article (4 parts) from photographer Nate Rochefort who use the GFX100 IR loaned to him by Fujifilm:
https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/series/beyond-the-visible-spectrum/ultraviolet-flower-photography-guide/
His article on first 3 parts, talks about his IR experience with the GFX100 IR.
Will be very interesting for you Ritchie to read, as basically the X-T4 is working the same:
https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/series/beyond-the-visible-spectrum/infrared-photography-guide/”
Enjoy your trials with your new camera.”
Glad that your comment finally got through!
Very nice! Where did you manage to buy the camera? I don’t see it for sale anywhere in Europe
I found it in Fujifilm’s store on their website, but it was only there for a short time (less than a week), and I believe it was only available in North America.