Canon lenses and digital infrared photography

Canon lenses and digital infrared functionality

I enjoy shooting digital infrared, but I'm sometimes stymied by the "hot spots" created in the center of my image, caused by some interaction between the Hoya R72 IR filter on the front of the lens and the "hot mirror" on the CMOS sensor, which allows little IR light to pass to the sensor. After doing some research on the web, I wanted to consolidate a list of lenses that do or don't have an IR hot spot. So, here's the list.

I claim no rights to any of this research, I'm just consolidating it here. If any of this information is incorrect, or if you have a lens for me to add, please email me and I'll fix it. Also, please note that this list may not apply to cameras that have been converted to full-time IR use (i.e., "hot mirror" replaced with IR-pass filter).

Sample hotspot image:

Burgruine Landskron, Oppenheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Canon 5D, EF 16-35mm f/2.8L @ 16mm, f/8, 15 seconds, ISO 100

Suitable for IR:
(no/minimal hot spot)

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L
Canon EF-S 17-85 f/4-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 22-55mm f/4-5.6 USM
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L
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/4 L
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6 L IS
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Canon EF 135mm f/2 L
MTO 500mm f/8
Peleng 8 mm fisheye
Phoenix 100 mm f/3.5 macro
Vivitar 24 mm f/2.8 MF
Sigma 12-24 mm f/4.5-5.6 EX
Sigma 18-50 mm f/3.5-5.6 DC
Sigma 55-200 mm f/4.0.5.6 DC
Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 EX DG macro
Sigma 400mm f/5.6
Tamron 28-300mm XR

May not be suitable for IR:

Sigma 70-200 mm f/2.8
Not suitable for IR:
(hot spot)

Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye *
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L #
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8
Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5
Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5
Canon EF 35mm f/2
Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 10-20 mm f/4.0-5.6 EX DC HSM
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5
Sigma 18-50 mm f/2.8 EX
Tamron 17-35mm
Tamron 18-200 mm f/3.5-6.3 AF XR (IF) Di-II
Tamron 19-35mm
Tamron 70-300mm Macro
Tokina 12-24mm< f/4.0/font>

If you have information on whether the following lenses are suitable or unsuitable for IR digital photography using an IR filter, please let me know:

ZOOM

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 II USM
Canon EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 III
Canon EF 28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM
Canon EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM
Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM

PRIME:

Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L USM *
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8L USM
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8
Canon EF 50mm f/1.0L USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM
Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8
Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM
Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM **
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM **
Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM **
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM **
Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM **
Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM **

* Using rear gelatin filter, such as Wratten 89B
** Using drop-in filter
# Using either front glass filter or rear gelatin filter

Back to the index.

Email me.