How I evaluate infrared equipment

Every camera, filter and lens discussed on this site is judged against the same set of infrared-specific criteria, written out below so you can decide how much weight to give the conclusions. Where something has not been tested first-hand, the page says so plainly and describes it as general guidance rather than experience.

Who is doing the evaluating

Mike Cimorelli shoots infrared on a wide range of converted bodies — a Nikon D70 at 590nm and 720nm, a D60 at 590nm, a D200, D300 and D40X at 720nm, a D750 at 665nm, a Z7II at 720nm and 850nm, a full-spectrum Z7II used with lens filters, and a full-spectrum Canon 40D. Every photograph in the archive was made on that equipment, with the camera and wavelength noted per frame.

The criteria

Hotspot behaviour

Every lens is shot at its widest aperture and at f/8, f/11 and f/16 against even foliage in full sun. A lens that shows a bright central patch when stopped down is called out, because no edit removes it cleanly.

Wavelength suitability

A body or filter is judged against what it is actually for. A 720nm setup is not marked down for weak false colour, and a 590nm setup is not marked down for lower contrast.

Autofocus after conversion

Whether focus lands where the frame says it does, wide open, on a converted body — the single largest practical difference between DSLR and mirrorless in infrared.

White balance headroom

Whether the camera can hold a custom white balance set off sunlit grass, and whether raw files still channel-swap cleanly afterwards.

Real frames, not spec sheets

Nothing is recommended on paper. If a camera, filter or wavelength appears here as a recommendation, there are frames in the archive shot with it.

Who it is not for

Each recommendation states who should skip it. A page that cannot name a group of people who should buy something else is not a review.

Facts, recommendations and opinions

Pages here separate three things. Facts are physical or measurable — a 665nm filter passes light from 665nm upward. Recommendations are what I would buy for a stated goal and budget. Opinions and personal experience are labelled as mine and may not survive contact with your subject matter.

Affiliate relationships

This site earns commission on some outbound equipment links. No brand pays for placement, edits copy, or reviews pages before publication. Full detail on the affiliate disclosure page.