OnePlus 8 Pro (8GB)
128 GB, Onyx Black, 6.78", Dual SIM, 48 Mpx, 5G
Can you see through clothes with an infrared camera?
2.6.2020
Translation: machine translated
This article does not contain Dick Pics. The reason for this is not so much my self-censorship. It's because I didn't get it right.
The OnePlus 8 Pro smartphone has been the subject of much discussion in recent weeks, including in my article on infrared photography. Although that wasn't the topic there. What is it about? Allegedly, one of the three cameras built into the OnePlus 8 makes it possible to see through clothes. The media gratefully picked up on the topic and spoke of an "X-ray camera", although the technology has nothing to do with X-rays.
It has to do with infrared light. Cameras normally have a blocking filter that blocks infrared waves. In a normal photo, this light only interferes. To build an infrared camera, all you need to do is remove this blocking filter. I tried this out on an old Nikon D90 ..
OnePlus will deliver an update with which the "X-ray view" is no longer possible. OnePlus has even temporarily deactivated the infrared feature for the Chinese market.
Old problem, reheated
The topic is older than digital photography. Sony introduced a technology called Nightshot back in 1998, which made infrared photography possible. There were very similar discussions at the time. Nightshot quickly disappeared again. As a result, the ancient Sony F828 is still one of the few digicams today that can take infrared pictures without modification.
A news clip from 1998 shows footage that makes swimming costumes look transparent. It is therefore possible that infrared images actually affect privacy and are not just an exaggeration by hyperventilating moralisers.
A few self-experiments
Is an infrared camera a voyeur's wet dream? I try out whether I can take photos through fabric with my converted Nikon D90. It immediately becomes clear: there's no chance with thick clothes like jeans or jumpers. Even T-shirts cover everything. Here is a photo with the thinnest T-shirt I have.
Even with these very thin swimming trunks, I can safely expose myself to the infrared waves.
I would still like to be able to show off a transparency effect - and therefore resort to unusual means. I dig out the very thin head stocking from go-karting. The stocking is so thin that I can even see through it with the naked eye.
As expected, the T-shirt is tight, the stocking shows a bit of the nose. It stands out under the stocking and is more visible thanks to the light colour. Given the thin fabric, this is not surprising.
I go one step further: a face mask. This is by no means opaque. When held up to the sun, I can see through it without any problems.
The image is problematic. But not because of the transparency, but because I look like I've just had an autopsy and because I'm wearing the mask incorrectly. But you can't see through the textiles here either.
After all, infrared should also be able to shine through plastic. But only very thin plastic. I haven't found anything suitable in my case, as very thin plastic is usually transparent anyway. I have seen examples of remote controls on the web. But it's not particularly surprising that an infrared remote control is made from material that lets infrared through, is it?
In my case, even the remote controls were opaque.
Conclusion: half as wild
The risk of an infrared camera revealing something under your clothes that shouldn't be visible is extremely low. The problem probably only occurs with very thin clothes, which are actually semi-transparent anyway. However, this is only noticeable in the infrared image because dark clothes often appear light there. <p
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.