Hello is there any way that someone can convert a digital SLR camera to take infrared photos?

You need IR Filter for that.

IR light screws up the auto focus (because it refracts differently) therefore, digital SLRs actually have a device that blocks the IR light. Theoretically, one could remove the infrared blocker in front of the light sensor and replace it with a filter that removes visible light. Sony actually made a camera that had the so-called Night Shot facility, which physically moves the blocking filter away from the light path, which makes the cameras very sensitive to infrared light. It was later restricted because it could see through clothes! Fuji makes the S3 PRO UVIR digital camera for use in forensic criminology and medicine which have no infrared blocking filter. A Japanese company, Yamada Denshi, offers an IR camera attachment for some cellphones. But with this attachment, the cellphone camera can see through some types of clothing. For this reason, online retailers don't sell the attachment; it is available only from a few stores.

http://www.lifepixel.com/

They offer DIY tutorials and sell the replacement filters, or you can send them your camera and they'll do it. The prices are not bad and they seem to be quite popular, and have even been recommended by Ken Rockwell in this article:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ir.htm

If you've got an older SLR like a nikon D50 or D70, they make perfect candidates for conversion as they are simple to convert and not very expensive. The conversion is permanent, but reversable.

Yes, there are companies that can remove the IR filter from a digital camera. It is then IR only.

Fuji has a dedicated professional model IR DSLR, the S3 Pro UVIR and a consumer model, the IS 1 which is more of a digicam since it has an integral lens.

Sigma has recently released the SD14 DSLR which features a user removable IR filter.

You can read reviews of all 3 cameras at shutterbug.com. The Sigma is reviewed in the May 2008 issue.

In short, yes.

All DSLR sensors are sensitive to the entire range of light. So to keep the IR range from screwing with your photos, the manufacturers placed a small "IR blocker" over the sensor in your camera, and this piece does exactly what it sounds like it does. However, not all IR blockers are that good. Pentax cameras especially have a weak IR blocker.

The easiest way to tell how good your cameras IR blocker is is to take a remote control, point it at your camera, press and hold a button on the remote, and snap a pic. If the little bulb at the end of the remote is brightly lit up in your photo, your camera has a weak IR blocker, and you can now celebrate.

Once you've ascertained that your camera has a weak IR blocker, you need a way to photograph ONLY the IR light, because let's face it, visible light tends to overpower IR light. So! You need an IR filter!

There are two ways to get an IR filter:
1) Pay for one. They're ridiculously expensive, and I refused to pay so much for something so simple.

2) Make one. This is easier than you think. I made my own IR filter like so:
I went to the photo counter at the Wolf Camera down the street. I asked for one roll of medium format film. He sold it to me. I handed it back to him and asked him to develop it now. He looked at me very strangely, but he knows me, and he knows I always have a reason for asking the strange things that I do. So he did.
So I took my UNEXPOSED, DEVELOPED medium format negatives, and I walked to the camera counter, and asked them for two UV filters for the particular lens in question. UV filters are clear, and don't really do much except protect your lens. I cut out two circles from the negatives that would drop inside one of the UV filters. Then I screwed the other UV filter on top. So what I had now was two UV filters screwed together, with two circles of UNEXPOSED, DEVELOPED negatives sandwiched between them. In other words, I had a filter which blocked visible light, but let IR light through... my very own IR filter, made for very little $$.

Naturally I'd had to explain myself to about 6 different employees by now, and they were all skeptical, until I went outside to test my new IR filter, and came back in with beautiful results. (Side note: This camera store STILL will not hire me. Go figure)

As for removing the IR blocker, it isn't always necessary. But it's better without it. And if you want it gone, have it done professionally. I ruined my Pentax K-100D by taking it apart to remove the IR blocker and also, the flash capacitor is quite capable of stopping your heart if you touch it. Best let the pros do it.

If you have any questions on this technique, or I can be of any other help, let me know. xor-logic@hotmail.com

You have to find a camera shop that takes the IR filter in the camera off without destroying the camera. I dont even know which ones are capable. And the cost is prohibitive.

For alot less you could just get an old film camera and put IR film in it.

There is ... http://www.lifepixel.com/IR.htm

I had an old Nikon D100 converted about a year ago

The replaced the IR cutoff filter and replaced it with a IR filter, then they optimized my D100 to focus the IR light as it goes through my 24-85mm lens

Some good information on both filters and IR conversion for DSLR's here:

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-ms...

Yes, there are places on the internet that will convert your sensors for you usually costing $300 or so depending on the model.