Forensic science is a more tedious and low-tech affair than CSI and 24 would have us believe. Infrared and ultraviolet photography, for example, can reveal residual ink on charred documents, or present juries with a clear image of blood on dark clothing. But shooting in IR and UV is a trial-and-error process, in which technicians take days or weeks to cycle through lens filters and to develop film. By removing a sensor filter that maintains color accuracy in its existing FinePix S3 Pro camera, Fujifilm has created a variant that takes IR and UV photos. Features such as previewing before shooting, old hat for point-and-shoot models, are revolutionary in the S3 Pro UVIR, allowing technicians to find the right wavelength and exposure in minutes. Fujifilm expects the $1800 camera to be used by forensic scientists as well as investigators conducting nighttime surveillance.
Fujifilm's FinePix S3 Pro UVIR, a modified version of a digital SLR, takes photos in both the infrared and ultraviolet spectra. Above, an IR exposure reveals blood spots on a black sock.