Digital infrared photography can add an extra creative dimension to your photography – just add an IR filter, or, if you are a fanatic, get your camera converted so that it’s IR blocking filter is replaced.
One of the big issues though is central “hot spots” produced by flare of IR light within the lens – some lenses are very problematic, and thus it is handy to know which lenses are not problematic.
More information on digital infrared photography here.
Here is a list I have gleaned from users’ experiences as posted on forums on the net:
No or minimal hot spot:
Canon 15/2.8 Fisheye
Canon 28mm f/2.8
Canon 35mm f/2 – but flare can be a problem
Canon 50/1.8 (MI and Mark II)
Canon 100mm f/2.0
Canon 100/2.8 Macro
Canon 135/2L
Canon 500/4L IS
Canon 17-40/4L – but maybe some peripheral smearing
Canon 17-85mm EF-S
Canon 24-70/2.8L
Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS L
Canon 28-80/3.5-5.6
Canon 75-300/4-5.6
Canon 90mm TS-E
Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro
Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.7 (Contax)
Lensbaby 50mm f/2.8
Nikon 10.5 Fisheye
Nikon 14mm f/2.8 AF ED
Nikon 20mm f/2.8 AF-D
Nikon 20mm f/3.6 AI-S
Nikon 35/2
Nikon 28 mm f/3.5 PC AI-S
Nikkor AF 50/1.8 D
Nikkor 55/1.2 (Pre-AI)
Nikon 85 mm f/1.8 Pre-AI MF
Nikkor 105/2.5 AIS
Nikkor 18-55 3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR
Nikon 18-200VR
Nikon 18-70mm
Nikon 85/1.8
Nikon 105 Micro
Nikon 200 Micro
Olympus 12-60mm lens
Peleng 8 mm fisheye
Pentax DA15/4
Pentax DA 21 mm f/3.2 limited
Pentax FA31/1.8
Pentax FA 43 mm f/1.9 limited
Pentax 55mm f/1.8 MF
PentaxFA 77 mm f/1.8 limited
Pentax FA*85/1.4
Pentax DA*60-250/4
Phoenix 100 mm f/3.5 macro
Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 EX DG macro
Sigma 18-200OS (Canon)
Sigma 100-300/4 (Canon)
Sigma 50-500/4-6.3 (Canon)
Sigma 50mm f/1.4
Tokina 10-17FE (Canon)
Tokina 11-16mm fisheye
Tokina 17mm RMC (eg. OM mount)
Vivitar 24 mm f/2.8 MF
Sometimes hot spot:
Canon 14mm f/2.8 II
Canon 35mm f/1.4
Canon 16-35mm F/2.8 (Mk I)
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8
Canon 70-200/4L (incl. IS version)
Canon 85mm f/1.2 II
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Canon 200mm f/2.8 L
Carl Zeiss Distagon 25/2.8 ZF
Contax 50mm f/1.4
Problematic with hot spots thus avoid for IR work:
Canon 16-35mm II F2.8
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon EF 24-85 mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Canon EF 28-70 mm f/2.8 L
Canon EF 35-80 f/4.0-5.6
Canon EF 20 mm f/2.8
Canon EF 24 mm f/2.8
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon EF 50 mm f/2.5 macro
Canon 70-200/2.8L IS
Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 (Contax)
Carl Zeiss 85mm f/2.8 (contax)
Carl Zeiss 100/2 ZK
Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50 mm f/2.8-3.5 ASPH
Nikon 35 mm f/1.8 G AF-S DX
Nikon 50/1.4
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-D
Nikon 60 Micro
Nikon 12-24 mm f/4.0 G IF ED AF-S DX
Nikon 70-300VR
Nikon 70-200VR
Pentax FA50/1.4
Sigma 10-20 (Canon)
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO
Sigma 24-70/2.8 (Nikon)
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Tamron 17-35 mm f/2.8-4.0 SP AF Di
Tamron 17-50 mm f/2.8 SP AF XR Di
Tamron 18-200 mm f/3.5-6.3 AF XR (IF) Di-II
Tamron 28-300 mm f/3.5-6.3 AF XR (IF) Di LD SP Macro
Tamron 70-300 mm f/4.0-5.6 AF LD macro
Tokina 12-24 f/4
