lenses for infrared

[msvadi]

I found this list on dpreview forums: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=5429735
I thought that some people here might be interested.

Good
Canon EF 17-40mm L f/?
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L
Canon EF 28-135mm/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8
Canon EF 35mm f/2
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MKI
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MKII
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L
Canon EF 75-300mm/4.0-5.6 IS
Canon EF 135mm f/2L
Canon EF 100-400mm4.0-5.6 IS L
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro


Bad
Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 L
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8
Canon EF 24-85mm f/?
Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8L
Canon EF 28-105mm f/?
Canon EF 35-80/4.0-5.6
Canon EF 50mm/f1.4
Canon EF 50mm/f2.5 Macro
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8
Tamron 70-300mm f3.x-xxx Macro


17-40 is in the good category, but some people noticed the hot spot. In addition to the list, there are reports that Tamron 28-75 XR DI f/2.8 also suffers from hot spot problem, so it goes into the bad category. I wonder if all lenses designed for digital get some IR blocking coating, which seems to cause the hot spot problem.

[polloloco81]

That's just great :( The only lense that I own that's on the good list is the 50mm, and it's a 52mm thread. And I have a 58mm Hoya R72 filter. Woe be me! Such divine irony!

[msvadi]

That's just great :( The only lense that I own that's on the good list is the 50mm, and it's a 52mm thread. And I have a 58mm Hoya R72 filter. Woe be me! Such divine irony!

you can get a step down ring, so it's not a big problem. personally, I think it's better to get a Cokin set-up. One can use same filters on all lenses. Cokin now has an IR filter 007. It's similar to Hoya R72.

by the way, this list may be not very accurate. I mention that some people had problems with 17-40. I also saw reports that 28-135 had a hot spot.

anyway, I think that cheaper lenses are better for IR - less chances that some IR coating was applied to it. Now, I'm actually seriously thinking about that Russian fisheye lens that was discussed some time ago. I'm sure it should be okay for IR.

[Conk]

Looking at the list I have to wonder where IS comes to play with IR photography. Is it that these just happen to be the lenses tested and used. Wouldn't a 75-300mm lens be just as good as the IS lens for IR purposes?

[msvadi]

Looking at the list I have to wonder where IS comes to play with IR photography. Is it that these just happen to be the lenses tested and used. Wouldn't a 75-300mm lens be just as good as the IS lens for IR purposes?

I understand that IS and non-IS versions have similar optics, so, the non-IS should be good too. The lens goes into the Good category if it does not show "hot spot" in IR shots.

There is another important factor - IR index. I wonder what Canon lenses have it. The only lens with the IR index that I know of is 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus.

[Calis]

You can ad the kit EF-S 18-55 to the 'bad' list.

That being said a bit of photoshopping gets rid of the hot spot fairly easily. See my recent post

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=38146

The first pic was with the kit lens and it worked out ok with a bit of post processing.

[Aschlaman@comcast.net]

I was wondering if anyone had experience with the 17-85mm IS lens and the R72 Infra red filter. I bought this filter for this lens but my results are not that great. Perhaps it's just that the lens is not suitable. Anyway any enlightenment will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Art Schlaman
Canon 20D, 35mm f 1.4L, 50mm F1.4. 85mm F1.8,85mm f1.2L, 135mm f2.0L 18-85mm IS, 17-40MM f4L,
300mm IS F4L, 70-200MM f2.8L IS, 100-400mm L, 75-300mm IS,135mm soft focus
Tamron 28mm-75mm f 2.8, Tamron 180mm f2.8 macro, 580 EX flash, EOS3
Canon G6, EOS3
Hasselblad Xpan w/ 30mm and 45mm
Contax Aria, 21mm, 25mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm
Fuji GA645i, GA670III
Epson RD-1 with Zeiss ZM 35mm f 2 and lots of Leica's
Epson P2000 storage device

[leonsteber]

Hi everyone,
I've looked everywhere for info on the following but it doesn't seem to turn up on any of these good/not good for IR lists:

EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

Does anyone have any experience with these? Just want to know if they experience hot spots before I invest in a IR filter...

Cheers
Leon
-------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.geocities.com/leon_maurice_and_tyrone
-------------------------------------------------------------------

[argyle]

Is this list for lenses that are good/not good for use on cameras that have been converted for IR, or for use with an IR filter? I'm looking to get into IR, and I suspect that there would be a difference. With a camera that's been converted, the lens will see the actual light and the conversion is done on the sensor. With an IR filter in front of the lens, the lens is seeing the IR spectrum. Is this correct? If so, what the list apply to? I've seen on the lifepixel site that their standard conversion is calibrated to the 50/1.8 lens (as far as Canon equipment).