Life Pixel – Canon DRebel XSi (450D) DIY Digital Infrared Conversion Tutorial

Disclaimer: This tutorial is intended for experienced professionals and made available to you for informational purposes only. Tampering with your camera will void your manufacturer’s warranty. If you decide to perform the conversion you could damage your camera or be hurt or get killed from the high voltage present – you do so at your own risk, we are not responsible for camera damage or any harm you may suffer or any special or consequential damages. Also, by visiting this site you are legally bound by our Terms of Use Agreement, we highly recommend you read it.

Focus Warning:  Because of the complexity and requirement for specialized precision equipment, advanced training and experience, we do not provide any information regarding focus calibration whatsoever.

The mere act of removing the sensor from within the camera could potentially ruin the original factory calibration and render your camera completely incapable of achieving proper focus. If this happens we will be unable to help you and even the manufacturer may refuse to service your camera. This is very serious stuff folks.

Focus and dust are in fact the most difficult parts of the conversion process. We highly recommend you send your camera in for conversion instead of attempting to do this yourself.

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You will need these tools & supplies to follow the Canon XSi infrared conversion tutorial:

- Our custom glass infrared filter to replace the hotmirror
- Soldering iron and desoldering wick or desoldering gun
- Small philips type screwdriver
- Tweezers
- Canned air
- Lens cleaning solution & tissue
- Grounding strap /w current limit resistor

If you prefer not to risk damage to your camera, have us convert it to infrared for you. It would be best to perform the conversion in a well lit area that is as clean and dust free as possible. Wearing a grounding strap will minimize the chance of zapping your camera with static and most likely rendering it dead.

Remove the rubber eye cup.

Remove marked screws and the diopter adjustment knob (blue arrow).

Remove marked screws.

Remove marked screws.

Remove marked screw.

Remove marked screws.

Remove marked screws.

Peel up a portion of the rubber grip material and remove the marked screw.

Flip over the rear cover assembly and disconnect the cable indicated with the arrow.

Disconnect all marked cables.

Remove the front cover.

Disconnect both marked cables.

Separate the top assembly from the rest of the body.

Remove marked screws.

Remove marked screw.

Flip over the PCB and remove all marked screws, including the one under the ribbon cabled as indicated by the blue arrow. Lift out the sensor unit.

Remove marked screw.

Remove the dust reduction filter spring.

Remove the dust reduction filter.

Cut the adhesive around the infrared blocking filter.

Remove the infrared blocking filter.

Install our infrared replacement filter  and follow the tutorial in reverse order starting with step 18 to reassemble your camera.