# Cheap infrared spotlights?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-infrared-spotlights/550221>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 14, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-infrared-spotlights/550221 "2010-08-14T06:21:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-infrared-spotlights/550221/1 "2010-08-14T06:21:05Z")

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I want to do some nighttime recording with my camera outdoors, and it’s a Sony with a good nightshot plus mode, but the infrared bulbs built into the camera are only good for 20 feet or so. I’m hoping I can find a way to relatively cheaply buy or make something like an infrared flashlight or spotlight so that I can illuminate a larger area for recording. Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-infrared-spotlights/550221/2 "2010-08-14T08:26:32Z")

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Check Ebay. There’s some nice LED ones on there for cheap.

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**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-infrared-spotlights/550221/3 "2010-08-14T12:55:08Z")

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You can also find some pre-made “toilet seat” designs, which clip around the lens.

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**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-infrared-spotlights/550221/4 "2010-08-14T20:47:21Z")

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Ditto LED types. It is much easier to make an efficient high power LED in the near infrared than in the visible.