NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: greben on December 22, 2015, 22:57:23
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My main focus in photography is IR portraiture. I have a Nikon D90 converted with a 720nm filter. I am trying to find a wide aperture, optically stabilized, 24-ish to 70-ish auto focus lens that focuses correctly and has no hot spots. I have found this to be nearly impossible. I own a a Sigma 17-50/2.8 that has a faint hot spot at times at all apertures. I typically shoot between f2.8-f/4. I will need to close the aperture outdoors though. I use my AF35mm f/2 quite a bit. It seems to work well. I have both the Nikon 50/1.4 and 1.8. The 1.8 performs better but not as I had hoped. The 18-105Vr works well but isn't wide aperture. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Fast lenses and IR make a difficult combination, in particular if the lens in question is a zoom design. You already have found out that.
The 17-55/2.8 AFS Nikkor is pretty good in IR if I recall correctly, but of course is big, heavy, and quite expensive if I recall correctly. I can verify its IR performance with my modified D5300 if you are interested.
Do note that for IR shooting, having filter(s) on the lens can sometimes trigger hot spots. Much safer to have a modified camera with internal filtration.
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Thanks for the offer. That lens is beyond my budget. I will continue to foot zoom my 35mm. :)
The D90 is converted. I will be converting a D7000 soon. I don't use any filters on any lens. As you mentioned, issues may arise with their use. I do use a lens hood religiously though.
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Have you ever considered a non-AF lens? The Nikon SE 36-72 mm f/3.5 and the Nikkor 43-86 mm f/3.5 both are excellent IR performers. Both can be had very cheap.
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I don't trust manual focus. I had cataract surgery in both eyes. That's my excuse anyways!
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A pity as you could acquire excellent IR performing lenses for little money.
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The old workhorse 20-35mm AF-D 2.8 is fantastic on an IR converted D200 crisp and sharp
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A pity as you could acquire excellent IR performing lenses for little money.
I may see what's out there and give it a shot. If they're not expensive, it won't be much lost if it doesn't work for me. Thanks for the suggestions.
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The old workhorse 20-35mm AF-D 2.8 is fantastic on an IR converted D200 crisp and sharp
Thank you. I will look that one up.
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If you wish to get a stabilized lens, the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro lens now exists with OS and is a great performer in IR. No hotspot, and excellent at f/2.8 already.
I have no info about the Tamron 60mm f/2 for IR, but you could look it up, it sounds like a great portrait option for DX.
And welcome!
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If you wish to get a stabilized lens, the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro lens now exists with OS and is a great performer in IR. No hotspot, and excellent at f/2.8 already.
I have no info about the Tamron 60mm f/2 for IR, but you could look it up, it sounds like a great portrait option for DX.
And welcome!
Thank you. I was wondering about this lens.
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Hi, Greg, you may want to refer to this section of the Ultraviolet Photography forum:
http://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php/topic/712-the-infrared-sticky/
Unlike its name, you can get a consummate info on IR lenses. Scrolling down the page to see some prime AF Nikkors that perform well in IR. You should bear in mind that the suitability of a lens in IR may depend on the camera it is combined with.
Hope this would be of any help.
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Hi, Greg, you may want to refer to this section of the Ultraviolet Photography forum:
http://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php/topic/712-the-infrared-sticky/
Unlike its name, you can get a consummate infor on IR lenses. Scrolling down the page to see some prime AF Nikkors that performs well in IR. You should bear in mind that the suitability of a lens in IR may depend on the camera it is combined with.
Hope this would be of any help.
Thank you very much. This does look like a great resource.
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My experience with ir is limited but i had good results on ir d60 with the
17-35/2.8
58/1.4g
85/1.4ais
sigma 15/2.8 fish
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My experience with ir is limited but i had good results on ir d60 with the
17-35/2.8
58/1.4g
85/1.4ais
sigma 15/2.8 fish
Thank you for the information.
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I confirm the Nikkor 85/1.4 (AIS) is excellent for IR. In fact, it is amazingly sharp in UV as well, which is pretty unusual for a general purpose lens. I have used the 85 on a number of IR systems and it always delivers.
The AFS 17-35/2.8 Nikkor is not 100% reliable for IR as one can get hot spots with some combinations of camera, light conditions, or filter(s). The same applies for the 24-70/2.8 AFS.
I briefly tested my review sample of the AFS 58/1.4 G for IR and it come across as clean . Maybe Erik, which is a heavy 58 G user, can verify its IR usefulness.
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I am using the 17-35/2.8 AFS on my D200 IR modified extensively, never encountered issues...
Also the 85/1.4 AF-D.
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The crux of the matter is that even lenses touted as being hot-spot free *need* to be tested with the actual combination of camera, light, and filter(s). There simply are too many parameters outside the end user's control.
We should think in terms of expectations instead of facts, perhaps, with our IR gear until the field tests are carried out.
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I don't have the lens and D200 IR with me but I recall that maybe the old Noct was better in IR...
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As Bjørn implied, you can't be 100% sure a lens will not hotspot in IR. Even with lenses reported not to hotspot in IR, I've sometimes gotten a hotspot. If that happens you just move around a bit or change the ap to see if you can get rid of it.
I wanted to add that there are two lenses which are absolutely, positively guaranteed to hotspot every time in my experience and those are the 60/2.8 Micro-Nikkors, both the older D and the recent G.
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Have the 16-85VR on both my IR converted cameras and see no hotspot on either, D70 720mn and D200 590nm.
I was using 24-70f2.8 and got occasional hot spots plus I hated swapping it from normal to IR camera so now both my IR's have a lens on each.
I find it very sharp and it has a very useful range.
May not be fast enough aperture for what you are after but it may be a good place to start.
Ken
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Have the 16-85VR on both my IR converted cameras and see no hotspot on either, D70 720mn and D200 590nm.
That's the one I use on my 720 converted D3200. No hotspots.