IR filter and Tamron 28-75

[dds]

Anybody has direct experience of using an IT filter and Tamron 28-75? Is this lens really supposed to be a "bad" one from this point of view?
Thank You,
DDS

[mattchase]

I have the Tamron 28-75 2.8 XR DI lens, and tested it using an R72 filter with bad results. This was a year or so ago, I can't remember exactly what the image looked like. I don't remember it having a hotspot like a number of lenses cause, I just remember it didn't deliver an image that would work for IR shooting. Here is a list compiled from other photographers results with a given lens and IR filter (lenses with an * I have personally tested). I am pretty sure most of these were tried with an R72 filter (generally considered the most compatible filter), and there are a couple of other types of IR filters, but I'm not sure they would make a difference with the lenses in the Bad section.

============
Good

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L
Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8 L *
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 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
Sigma 20mm f1.8


=========
Bad

Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 L
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8
Canon EF 35mm f/2
Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5
Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8L
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5
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
Sigma 70-200 2.8 ex *
Tamron 28-75 2.8 xr di *
Tamron 19-35mm f3.5-4.5

[dds]

Thank You Matt.
I will see if I can find one to try.
DDS

[SeanH]

If your just trying out some IR I would just use (or possibly rent) a wide angle fixed focal length lens with a small filter size. This will cut the cost of the IR filter, and most zoom lenses do not have the IR focusing mark for all of the focal lengths of the zoom. I spent a good amount of money for a 77mm Hoya R72 and never really got the results I had been seeing. You will get good B&W results but I have found unless your very good with Photoshop, good color results are a challenge. So my point is: before you invest in gear for IR think about rentals until you get the results you what.......then invest. And BTW in my research the Hoya R72 seems to be the best, but like I said stick with the small filters that way you can try different ones at a low cost.

[mattchase]

I agree with Sean. I started out with a 67mm IR filter for me E-10, which I used on with D-60 a few times before the filter got damaged. Instead of replacing it with another larger, expensive IR filter, I bought a 52mm sized R72 for (I think) $35, and now use it exclusively with my 50mm 1.8 lens. The lens doesn't have an IR focus mark, so focusing can be hard, but the results are great when you get it right, and you can't beat the total cost of about $105 for the lens and filter. Sure, it's not a zoom, but it's kind of refreshing to have to actually make a composition work with such a limitation.

And sometimes it's just frustrating! ;)