What can you see if you remove the IR filter from a web camera?

The human eye does not see the entire spectrum of light radiation, and almost everyone knows this. As soon as you go beyond the limits of red or violet, the sensitivity of the eye immediately drops to zero. But not all creatures on our planet cannot see in infrared radiation. Many species of birds, reptiles, and insects use the infrared range hidden from us, both for hunting and for survival.
Thanks to electronics, you also have the opportunity to “look behind the scenes” and see what is visible in IR light.

Removing the infrared filter from the camera lens

We will need any web camera. The brand and other characteristics do not matter, as long as it works.

All cameras are sensitive to IR light, and to prevent it from exposing the matrix, a special IR filter is installed in the lenses, and we need to remove it.
Unscrew the lens.

The IR filter is very easy to identify - it has a distinct red glare.
We remove it by picking it out with a screwdriver.


Next, screw the lens in place.
This completes the modification and now our camera is sensitive to infrared radiation.

What can you see?

Next there will be photos from two simultaneously working web cameras, with the difference that one has the IR filter removed.
Knife heated on a gas stove:

It has cooled down and its redness is almost invisible, but not for the IR camera:

The knife is still hot, but it’s not visible to the eye:

A dark glass vial is perfectly translucent, as if it were transparent:

Some types of dark plastics are also translucent:


A flashing Light-emitting diode from the remote control is simply dazzling for the IR camera:

A heated resistor under voltage glows no worse than a light bulb, although this is not visible to the eye:

And that is not all! Therefore, I recommend repeating this experiment and exploring the world around again. I am sure that you will see many more interesting things.

Watch the video