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The following table is a reference list (collected from the internet) of lenses for Infrared. Some lenses give a 'hot spot' in the center of the picture that appears as a soft, or 'smeared' area directly in the middle of the shot. These lenses do not work well for infrared photography, and should be avoided. If you would like to add a lens (that you have knowledge of) to this list, please e-mail me, and I will get it added. Lenses marked with an (*) have been personally tested/used by me.
| FIXED FOCAL LENGTH LENSES | |
| LENS | Hot Spot in IR |
| Asahi Super-Takumar 55 mm f/1.8 MF | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 28 mm f/2.8 | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 35 mm f/2.0 | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 MKI | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 MKII* | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4* | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 macro* | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 135 mm f/2.0 L | None - Good for IR |
| Lensbaby 50 mm f/2.8 | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 20 mm f/2.8 D | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 20 mm f/3.5 AI-S | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 28 mm f/3.5 PC AI-S | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 85 mm f/1.8 Pre-AI MF | None - Good for IR |
| Peleng 8 mm fisheye | None - Good for IR |
| Phoenix 100 mm f/3.5 macro | None - Good for IR |
| Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 EX DG macro | None - Good for IR |
| Vivitar 24 mm f/2.8 MF | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 85 mm f/1.8 | Possible |
| Canon EF 200 mm f/2.8 L | Possible |
| Canon EF 20 mm f/2.8 | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Canon EF 24 mm f/2.8 | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Canon EF 50 mm f/2.5 macro | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50 mm f/1.4 (for Contax) | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Nikon AF 50 mm f/1.8 D | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Sigma 30 mm f/1.4 | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| ZOOM LENSES | |
| LENS | Hot Spot in IR |
| Canon EF-S 10-22 mm f/3.5-4.5 USM* | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 17-40 mm f/4 L* | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF-S 17-85 f/3.5-4 IS USM* | DO NOT USE! (see below) |
| Canon EF 24-70 mm f/2.8 L | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 28-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS* | Rarely |
| Canon EF 70-200 mm f/4.0 L | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 75-300 mm f/4.0-5.6 IS | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.0-5.6 IS L* | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 G AF-S ED DX | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 24-70 mm f/2.8 ED G AF-S | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 24-70 mm f/3.5-5.6 UC | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 35-70 mm f/2.8 AF-D | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 35-70 mm f/3.3-4.5 AF (1986) | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 35-135 mm f/3.5-4.5 AF | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 70-210 mm f/4.0-5.6 AF-D | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF ED AF-S VR | None - Good for IR |
| Sigma 12-24 mm f/4.5-5.6 EX | None - Good for IR |
| Sigma 18-50 mm f/3.5-5.6 DC | None - Good for IR |
| Sigma 55-200 mm f/4.0.5.6 DC | None - Good for IR |
| Nikon 18-70 mm f/3.5-4.5 AF-S G ED DX | Possible |
| Sigma 10-20 mm f/4.0-5.6 EX DC HSM | Possible |
| Sigma 70-200 mm f/2.8 | Possible |
| Canon EF 16-35 mm f/2.8 L | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Canon EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Canon EF 24-85 mm f/3.5-4.5 USM | None - Good for IR |
| Canon EF 28-70 mm f/2.8 L | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Canon EF 35-80 f/4.0-5.6 | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8 L IS | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Nikon 12-24 mm f/4.0 G IF ED AF-S DX | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Sigma 18-50 mm f/2.8 EX | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Tamron 17-35 mm f/2.8-4.0 SP AF Di | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Tamron 17-50 mm f/2.8 SP AF XR Di | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Tamron 18-200 mm f/3.5-6.3 AF XR (IF) Di-II | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Tamron 70-300 mm f/4.0-5.6 AF LD macro | YES! - Avoid for IR |
| Tokina 12-24 mm f/4.0 | YES! - Avoid for IR |
Note for Canon EF-S 17-85 f/3.5-4 IS USM > This is without a doubt
the WORST lens I have ever used. It has *TERRIBLE* chromatic aberration when
shooting visible light, and is so soft everywhere but dead center when shooting
IR, that it looks like you have a soft focus attachment on your lens. I strongly
recommend that you avoid this lens AT ALL COSTS. Canon should be ASHAMED of
letting a piece of junk like this thing onto the market with their name on it.
BAD! BAD! BAD!