Nikon F infrared lenses.
46 lensesGood 31Maybe 14Bad 1
These are full-frame (FX) Nikon F-mount lenses. For APS-C (DX) Nikon F-mount lenses, see the Nikon F DX Mount page. Both DX and FX lenses use the same physical F-mount. FX lenses can be used on DX bodies without vignetting.
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 (4)
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
Good- Focal
- 18-35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/3.5-4.5
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 385 g
Used this for IR almost exclusively for 18 months. Very good focal length for IR subjects and only saw small hot spots at the highest aperture. Lou Aiello
Nikon Zoom-Nikkor 28-45mm F4.5
Good- Focal
- 28-45mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4.5
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
Tested by Rob
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
Good- Focal
- 28-300mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/3.5-5.6
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 800 g
Before going mirrorless, this was my go to travel and go to IR lens. Very good results. Minor hot spots at the highest apertures only. Lou Aiello
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR
Good- Focal
- 70-200mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 850 g
Submitted by Tye Hardison
Primes (42)
Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 15mm f/2.8
Good- Focal
- 15mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀95mm
- Weight
- 880 g
Hotspot starts at f/11, quite subtle. Some vignetting.
Zeiss Classic Distagon T* 15mm f/2.8
Good- Focal
- 15mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀95mm
- Weight
- 820 g
Usable up to f/16, almost f/22. Significant vignetting.
Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D
Good- Focal
- 16mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- n/a
- Weight
- 290 g
Good results with IR. Lou Aiello
Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm f/2.8
Good- Focal
- 18mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 675 g
No hotspot.
Zeiss Classic Distagon T* 18mm f/3.5
Good- Focal
- 18mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/3.5
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Weight
- 470 g
Usable up to f/11. Some vignetting.
Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8
Good- Focal
- 21mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Weight
- 735 g
Hotspot starts at f/11 and is clearly visible at f/16.
Zeiss Classic Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8
Maybe- Focal
- 21mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Weight
- 600 g
Hotspot visible at f/5.6.
Nikon NIKKOR-N Auto 24mm F2.8
Good- Focal
- 24mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀52mm
Tested by Rob
Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 25mm f/1.4
Maybe- Focal
- 25mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Weight
- 1171 g
Hotspot starts at f/8 but it’s usable.
Zeiss Classic Distagon T* 25mm f/2
Maybe- Focal
- 25mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 570 g
Hotspot visible at f/5.6.
Zeiss Classic Distagon T* 25mm f/2.8
Good- Focal
- 25mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
- Weight
- 460 g
Usable up to f/11.
Zeiss ZF-IR Distagon T* 25mm f/2.8
Good- Focal
- 25mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
- Weight
- 480 g
A dedicated IR/UV lens built on the Classic Distagon 25mm f/2.8 optics with IR-optimized coatings. Very diffuse hotspot at f/22, perfectly usable.
Zeiss Otus Apo Distagon T* 28mm f/1.4
Good- Focal
- 28mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀95mm
- Weight
- 1350 g
Hotspot starts at f/11 in a cross shape.
Zeiss Classic Distagon T* 28mm f/2
Good- Focal
- 28mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
- Weight
- 500 g
Usable up to f/11.
Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 35mm f/1.4
Good- Focal
- 35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weight
- 1131 g
Hotspot starts at f/11 and is clearly visible at f/16.
Zeiss Classic Distagon T* 35mm f/1.4
Maybe- Focal
- 35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weight
- 830 g
Hotspot starts at f/5.6, but it’s usable up to f/8, no wider.
Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 35mm f/2
Maybe- Focal
- 35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
- Weight
- 649 g
Hotspot starts at f/8, but it’s usable up to f/16.
Zeiss Classic Distagon T* 35mm f/2
Maybe- Focal
- 35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
- Weight
- 530 g
Hotspot starts at f/5.6, but it’s usable up to f/11, no wider.
Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 50mm F1.4
Good- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀52mm
Zeiss Classic Planar T* 50mm f/1.4
Maybe- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
- Weight
- 330 g
Hotspot starts at f/5.6 and is visible at all apertures narrower than that.
Zeiss Milvus Planar T* 50mm f/1.4
Good- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 875 g
Almost no hotspot except at f/16.
Zeiss ZF-IR Planar T* 50mm f/1.4
Maybe- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
A dedicated IR/UV lens built on the Classic Planar 50mm f/1.4 optics with IR-optimized coatings. Hotspot starts at f/5.6 but is usable up to f/8.
Zeiss Classic Makro-Planar T* 50mm f/2
Maybe- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 570 g
Hotspot starts at f/8, but it’s usable up to f/22 in bright areas.
Zeiss Milvus Makro-Planar T* 50mm f/2
Good- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 660 g
Usable up to f/16.
Zeiss Otus Apo Distagon T* 55mm f/1.4
Good- Focal
- 55mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 970 g
Hotspot starts at f/11 in the shape of a cross, but it’s usable up to f/16.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G
Good- Focal
- 58mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weight
- 385 g
No hotspots. Tends to flare with sun near frame.
Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D
Bad- Focal
- 60mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀62mm
- Weight
- 440 g
Versatile little lens that can do Macro, portraits, street work. Surprisingly poor IR Performance with hot spots starting at f5.6 Lou Aiello
Coastal Optics UV-VIS-IR APO 60mm f/4
Good- Focal
- 60mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀52mm
- Weight
- 535 g
A dedicated UV-VIS-IR macro lens covering roughly 290-1500nm, built for forensic and scientific imaging. No hotspot, even at f/45.
Nikon AF NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4D IF
Maybe- Focal
- 85mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 550 g
One of Nikon’s all time great portrait lenses but only get decent under f/11 which should work since most portraits are done in that range anyway. Lou Aiello
Zeiss Otus Apo Planar T* 85mm f/1.4
Maybe- Focal
- 85mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀86mm
- Weight
- 1140 g
Hotspot starts at f/8, but it’s usable up to f/16.
Zeiss Classic Planar T* 85mm f/1.4
Maybe- Focal
- 85mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weight
- 570 g
Hotspot starts at f/8, but it’s usable up to f/11.
Zeiss Milvus Planar T* 85mm f/1.4
Maybe- Focal
- 85mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weight
- 1280 g
Usable up to f/8.
Zeiss ZF-IR Planar T* 85mm f/1.4
Good- Focal
- 85mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
A dedicated IR/UV lens built on the Classic Planar 85mm f/1.4 optics with IR-optimized coatings. No hotspot.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G
Good- Focal
- 85mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.8
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 350 g
No hot spots up to ƒ/11, never shoot narrower than ƒ/11. Tye Hardison
Tamron SP 90mm ƒ/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD (Model F017)
Good- Focal
- 90mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀62mm
- Weight
- 610 g
Wonderful lens, hotspots only over ƒ/16 Massinissa Dalla Costa
Zeiss Otus Apo Sonnar T* 100mm f/1.4
Maybe- Focal
- 100mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀86mm
- Weight
- 1336 g
Hotspot starts at f/8, but it’s usable up to f/11.
Zeiss Classic Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2
Good- Focal
- 100mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 680 g
Almost no hotspot except at f/22.
Zeiss Milvus Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2
Good- Focal
- 100mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 807 g
Almost no hotspot.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED
Good- Focal
- 105mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Weight
- 985 g
Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Good- Focal
- 105mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀62mm
- Weight
- 720 g
Macro work horse that is very good for IR as well. Lou Aiello
Zeiss Milvus Apo Sonnar T* 135mm f/2
Good- Focal
- 135mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 1059 g
Almost no hotspot except at f/22.
Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED
Good- Focal
- 200mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀62mm
- Weight
- 1185 g
Exceptional and expensive MACRO. As you would expect from a Nikon F prime. Good results in IR. Lou Aiello
Next step
Ready to shoot infrared on Nikon F?
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.
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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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.