Canon EF infrared lenses.

31 lensesGood 17Maybe 12Bad 2

Use an adapter to mount these lenses to many mirrorless cameras.

Data credit: these ratings come from the remarkable research at irlensdb.com, a community-built resource that has tested and documented more infrared lenses than any other reference online. I have stripped the retailer links and reformatted the data, but the hard work of collecting it belongs to them.

Ratings describe how a lens behaves on an infrared-converted camera. A maybe lens is usually fine wide open and shows a hot spot as you stop down, so check the notes before you write one off.

Zooms (15)

Zooms rated for infrared hot spots, with focal length, aperture, filter thread and weight
IR	Focal	Aperture	Lens	Filter	Weight	Notes
Good	10-24mm	ƒ/3.5-4.5	Tamron 10-24mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD	⌀72mm	440 g	No hot spots. Sharp across image
Good	17-40mm	f/4	Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L	⌀77mm	500 g	Taken hundreds of images at all focal lengths and apertures. Zero hot spots. Gary Syrba
Bad	18-35mm	ƒ/1.8	Sigma Art 18-35mm ƒ/1.8 DC HSM	⌀72mm	810 g	Hot spots are very obvious throughout the aperture range. Cat G.
Good	24-105mm	ƒ/4	Canon EF 24-105mm ƒ/4L IS USM	⌀77mm	670 g	Very sharp if you have a good copy
Good	28-105mm	ƒ/3.5-4.5	Canon EF 28-105mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 USM	⌀58mm	375 g	Mild hot spots can form at f/11 with higher nm filters. Softer extreme corners at 28mm
Good	28-105mm	ƒ/3.5-4.5	Canon EF 28-105mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 II USM	⌀58mm	375 g	Mild hot spots can form at f/11 with higher nm filters. Softer extreme corners at 28mm
Good	28-135mm	ƒ/3.5-5.6	Canon EF 28-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS USM	⌀72mm	540 g	Mild hot spot starts at f/13
Good	24-70mm	ƒ/4	Canon EF 24-70mm ƒ/4L IS USM	⌀77mm	600 g	Hot spot mild at f/16
Maybe	11-16mm	ƒ/2.8	Tokina ATX-i 11-16mm ƒ/2.8 CF	⌀77mm	555 g	Hot spot starts at f/8
Maybe	70-200mm	ƒ/2.8	Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM	⌀77mm	1470 g	Hot spots as early as f/6.3
Bad	70-200mm	ƒ/4	Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/4L IS USM	⌀67mm	760 g	Hot spots as early as f/5.6 for higher nm filters
Maybe	70-300mm	ƒ/4-5.6	Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6L IS USM	⌀67mm	1050 g	No hotspots through 590nm. 665nm and above has mild hotspot starting at f/8 or f/9 that is correctable
Good	70-300mm	ƒ/4-5.6	Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 IS USM	⌀58mm	630 g	Hotspots can be mild starting at f/13
Good	70-300mm	ƒ/4-5.6	Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 IS II USM	⌀67mm	710 g
Maybe	70-300mm	ƒ/4.5-5.6	Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM	⌀58mm	720 g	Hot spots at f/11. Flares easily. Edges sharpen at f/11

Tamron 10-24mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD
Good
Focal
10-24mm
Aperture
ƒ/3.5-4.5
Filter
⌀72mm
Weight
440 g
No hot spots. Sharp across image
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L
Good
Focal
17-40mm
Aperture
f/4
Filter
⌀77mm
Weight
500 g
Taken hundreds of images at all focal lengths and apertures. Zero hot spots. Gary Syrba
Sigma Art 18-35mm ƒ/1.8 DC HSM
Bad
Focal
18-35mm
Aperture
ƒ/1.8
Filter
⌀72mm
Weight
810 g
Hot spots are very obvious throughout the aperture range. Cat G.
Canon EF 24-105mm ƒ/4L IS USM
Good
Focal
24-105mm
Aperture
ƒ/4
Filter
⌀77mm
Weight
670 g
Very sharp if you have a good copy
Canon EF 28-105mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 USM
Good
Focal
28-105mm
Aperture
ƒ/3.5-4.5
Filter
⌀58mm
Weight
375 g
Mild hot spots can form at f/11 with higher nm filters. Softer extreme corners at 28mm
Canon EF 28-105mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 II USM
Good
Focal
28-105mm
Aperture
ƒ/3.5-4.5
Filter
⌀58mm
Weight
375 g
Mild hot spots can form at f/11 with higher nm filters. Softer extreme corners at 28mm
Canon EF 28-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Good
Focal
28-135mm
Aperture
ƒ/3.5-5.6
Filter
⌀72mm
Weight
540 g
Mild hot spot starts at f/13
Canon EF 24-70mm ƒ/4L IS USM
Good
Focal
24-70mm
Aperture
ƒ/4
Filter
⌀77mm
Weight
600 g
Hot spot mild at f/16
Tokina ATX-i 11-16mm ƒ/2.8 CF
Maybe
Focal
11-16mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀77mm
Weight
555 g
Hot spot starts at f/8
Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM
Maybe
Focal
70-200mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀77mm
Weight
1470 g
Hot spots as early as f/6.3
Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/4L IS USM
Bad
Focal
70-200mm
Aperture
ƒ/4
Filter
⌀67mm
Weight
760 g
Hot spots as early as f/5.6 for higher nm filters
Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6L IS USM
Maybe
Focal
70-300mm
Aperture
ƒ/4-5.6
Filter
⌀67mm
Weight
1050 g
No hotspots through 590nm. 665nm and above has mild hotspot starting at f/8 or f/9 that is correctable
Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 IS USM
Good
Focal
70-300mm
Aperture
ƒ/4-5.6
Filter
⌀58mm
Weight
630 g
Hotspots can be mild starting at f/13
Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 IS II USM
Good
Focal
70-300mm
Aperture
ƒ/4-5.6
Filter
⌀67mm
Weight
710 g
Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
Maybe
Focal
70-300mm
Aperture
ƒ/4.5-5.6
Filter
⌀58mm
Weight
720 g
Hot spots at f/11. Flares easily. Edges sharpen at f/11

Primes (16)

Primes rated for infrared hot spots, with focal length, aperture, filter thread and weight
IR	Focal	Aperture	Lens	Filter	Weight	Notes
Good	28mm	ƒ/2.8	Canon EF 28mm ƒ/2.8	⌀52mm	185 g
Good	35mm	ƒ/2	Canon EF 35mm ƒ/2	⌀52mm	210 g
Maybe	24mm	ƒ/1.4	Sigma Art 24mm ƒ/1.4 DG HSM	⌀77mm	665 g	Mild hot spot starts at f/8, but very sharp
Good	24mm	ƒ/2.8	Canon EF 24mm ƒ/2.8 IS USM	⌀58mm	280 g	Small, mild hot spot at f/8 onward but easily correctable
Maybe	50mm	ƒ/1.4	Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.4 USM	⌀58mm	290 g	Hot spots start at f/7.1. Best with 590nm and below
Good	50mm	ƒ/1.8	Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.8 II	⌀52mm	130 g	No Hotspots
Good	50mm	ƒ/1.8	Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.8 STM	⌀49mm	160 g	Very sharp
Good	40mm	ƒ/2.8	Canon EF 40mm ƒ/2.8 STM	⌀52mm	130 g	No hot spots. Very sharp
Maybe	50mm	ƒ/1.4	Zeiss Planar T* 50mm ƒ/1.4 ZE	⌀58mm	380 g	Hot spots at f/6.3. Focus shift when 1 meter or closer
Good	45mm	ƒ/1.8	Tamron SP 45mm ƒ/1.8 Di VC USD	⌀67mm	540 g	Hot spot mild starting at f/11
Good	50mm	ƒ/2.5	Canon EF 50mm ƒ/2.5 Compact Macro	⌀52mm	280 g	No hot spots, but it does flare easily when the sun is in the frame
Maybe	90mm	ƒ/2.8	Tamron SP 90mm ƒ/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD (Model F017)	⌀62mm	610 g	wonderful lens, hotspots only over ƒ/16 Massinissa Dalla Costa
Maybe	200mm	ƒ/2.8	Canon EF 200mm ƒ/2.8L USM	⌀72mm	765 g	Mild hot spots can start at f/6.3 for higher nm filters. Flares easily
Maybe	85mm	ƒ/1.8	Canon EF 85mm ƒ/1.8 USM	⌀58mm	425 g	Mild hot spot starting at f/7.1 or f/8 depending on filter
Maybe	100mm	ƒ/2.8	Canon EF 100mm ƒ/2.8L Macro IS USM	⌀67mm	625 g	Hot spots start at f/11
Maybe	135mm	ƒ/2.8	Canon EF 135mm ƒ/2.8 Soft Focus	⌀52mm	390 g	Hot spot at f/13, flares easily, soft focus settings 1 & 2 blur more than visible light

Canon EF 28mm ƒ/2.8
Good
Focal
28mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀52mm
Weight
185 g
Canon EF 35mm ƒ/2
Good
Focal
35mm
Aperture
ƒ/2
Filter
⌀52mm
Weight
210 g
Sigma Art 24mm ƒ/1.4 DG HSM
Maybe
Focal
24mm
Aperture
ƒ/1.4
Filter
⌀77mm
Weight
665 g
Mild hot spot starts at f/8, but very sharp
Canon EF 24mm ƒ/2.8 IS USM
Good
Focal
24mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀58mm
Weight
280 g
Small, mild hot spot at f/8 onward but easily correctable
Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.4 USM
Maybe
Focal
50mm
Aperture
ƒ/1.4
Filter
⌀58mm
Weight
290 g
Hot spots start at f/7.1. Best with 590nm and below
Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.8 II
Good
Focal
50mm
Aperture
ƒ/1.8
Filter
⌀52mm
Weight
130 g
No Hotspots
Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.8 STM
Good
Focal
50mm
Aperture
ƒ/1.8
Filter
⌀49mm
Weight
160 g
Very sharp
Canon EF 40mm ƒ/2.8 STM
Good
Focal
40mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀52mm
Weight
130 g
No hot spots. Very sharp
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm ƒ/1.4 ZE
Maybe
Focal
50mm
Aperture
ƒ/1.4
Filter
⌀58mm
Weight
380 g
Hot spots at f/6.3. Focus shift when 1 meter or closer
Tamron SP 45mm ƒ/1.8 Di VC USD
Good
Focal
45mm
Aperture
ƒ/1.8
Filter
⌀67mm
Weight
540 g
Hot spot mild starting at f/11
Canon EF 50mm ƒ/2.5 Compact Macro
Good
Focal
50mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.5
Filter
⌀52mm
Weight
280 g
No hot spots, but it does flare easily when the sun is in the frame
Tamron SP 90mm ƒ/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD (Model F017)
Maybe
Focal
90mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀62mm
Weight
610 g
wonderful lens, hotspots only over ƒ/16 Massinissa Dalla Costa
Canon EF 200mm ƒ/2.8L USM
Maybe
Focal
200mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀72mm
Weight
765 g
Mild hot spots can start at f/6.3 for higher nm filters. Flares easily
Canon EF 85mm ƒ/1.8 USM
Maybe
Focal
85mm
Aperture
ƒ/1.8
Filter
⌀58mm
Weight
425 g
Mild hot spot starting at f/7.1 or f/8 depending on filter
Canon EF 100mm ƒ/2.8L Macro IS USM
Maybe
Focal
100mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀67mm
Weight
625 g
Hot spots start at f/11
Canon EF 135mm ƒ/2.8 Soft Focus
Maybe
Focal
135mm
Aperture
ƒ/2.8
Filter
⌀52mm
Weight
390 g
Hot spot at f/13, flares easily, soft focus settings 1 & 2 blur more than visible light

Next step

Ready to shoot infrared on Canon EF?

Pick a clean lens from the list, then get the body converted and the filter to match. Kolari Vision handled my own conversions and makes the clip-in and screw-on filters I use.

Convert a camera Shop lens filters

Links to Kolari Vision are affiliate links: if you buy through them the site earns a commission at no extra cost to you. They are the shop my own conversions and filters came from, and the recommendation would be the same without the program — full disclosure.

Other full frame mounts

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Related guides

Where this data comes from

These ratings are compiled from the community-maintained Infrared Lens Database, with contributor credits kept in the notes. Ratings are submitted by photographers using different conversions, so results vary by wavelength, aperture and individual lens copy — treat them as a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Retailer links from the source have been removed. If you have tested a lens, contribute your result back to the original database so everyone benefits.