Infrared lenses are a great way to enhance your photography or filmmaking experience. They also protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, which can cause eye strain and damage. They can be used to take photos with natural light as well as in low-light conditions.
Some infrared lenses are designed to filter out the UV and blue light spectrums, which can prevent glare and reduce the effects of smoke and haze. They can even reduce the squinting effect caused by exposure to bright lights. IR-lenses can be used by photographers, video shooters and musicians alike.
Choosing the Right Lens for Infrared Photography
The first thing you should consider when shooting infrared is the quality of the lens itself. Having a bad lens can ruin your image and can be detrimental to your photography goals. For this reason, it is important to do your research before you buy a new lens. You can start by checking out a resource such as Kolari Vision’s Hotspot Database.
Another factor to consider is the IR sensitivity of your lens. Some lenses are more sensitive than others and will show more hot spots in the center of the frame as you stop down or zoom. This can affect the overall appearance of the photo and can be frustrating if you are trying to get a crisp, detailed image.
Infrared lenses can be manufactured from a variety of optical materials. Some common materials are calcium fluoride (CaF2), barium fluoride and magnesium fluoride. CaF2 is commonly used for custom IR lenses due to the large transmission range of 0.13um to 10um. It is cost effective and can be fabricated in a wide variety of shapes.
Barium fluoride can also be a viable option for IR lenses, however it is less commonly used because it does not naturally occur in the ground and therefore is more expensive. MgF2 is also a good material to consider for infrared lenses as it has a slightly lower transmission range than CaF2 but is more durable.
Lastly, you should always test your infrared lens to ensure that it will produce a sharp, clear image when used with IR film or an IR filter. This is especially important if you’re shooting with a manual focus SLR. Many manual focus lenses are designed with a red infrared mark offset a little from the white focus mark to help you achieve proper focus when using IR filtering equipment.
Infrared Lenses – Cylindrical, Planoconvex and Concave
Manufacturer of standard and custom infrared lenses for machine vision, inspection, spectroscopy, optical imaging, CCD/CMOS, CCTV, medical, industrial, diode laser, photovoltaic, sensor array and barcode applications. Lenses are available in various focal lengths and dimensions and can be fabricated from plastic hybrid, pinhole CCD and ruggedized glass.
Custom Infrared Lenses for Thermal Cameras
ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of infrared lenses for thermal cameras, forward looking infrared (FLIR) windows and missile domes. Products include infrared mid-wavelength and long-wavelength lenses, mechanical mounts and optical components.