Looking for infrared portrait lens suggestions

[Bjørn Rørslett]

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.

[Jakov Minić]

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.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

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.

[Erik Lund]

I don't have the lens and D200 IR with me but I recall that maybe the old Noct was better in IR...

[Andrea B.]

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.

[Ken Leiper]

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

[wesstl]

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.