Fuji X-Mount Lenses for Infrared
Fujinon 23mm f/2 R WR
In this video, I’ll take a look at which X-mount lenses which work well with infrared photography. Most lenses are designed and tested to work in visible light. In some cases, these will work fine for Infrared. However, some lenses can display a hot spot of light in the center of the image, particularly at higher numbered apertures. Lenses with visible hot spots at all apertures are not recommended for IR photography.
Update 2020-November-30 - Added report on 7artisans 18mm f/6.3 cap lens.
Update 2020-September-21 - Added report on Fujinon XF 200mm f/2.
Update 2020-August-31 - Since YouTube is not the best medium for maintaining a changing list, I’ve added a complete list below of all of the lenses addressed in the video and will update based on feedback and comments. This adds the Venus Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO.
Update 2020-August-29 - Based on images that I’ve seen, I’m removing the XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR from my recommended list and calling it Mixed. In some conditions, the lens produces a broad and dim hot spot, similar to the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR. Based on feedback from viewers who have had great results, I’m upgrading both the XC 15-45 f.3.5-5.6 OIS PZ and XC 50-230mm f/4-6.7 OIS II from No to Mixed. They may work perfectly with some IR filters and poorly with others.
Recommended Lenses
Infrared photography utilizes camera lenses designed for visible light, not infrared light, combined with various filters types from various manufacturers. While the lenses on this list have been reported to work well with infrared photography from a variety of sources, this is not a guarantee.
- Fujinon XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
- Fujinon XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS - f/8 and lower
- Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR
- Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
- Lensbaby 5.8mm f/3.5 Circular Fisheye
- Venus Optics Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D
- Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R
- 7artisans 18mm f/6.3 cap lens
- Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R
- Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR
- Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R
- Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR
- Lensbaby Burnside 35mm f/2.8
- Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 R WR
- Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Black
- Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Silver
- Venus Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
- Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8
Complete List
Wide Zooms
- Fujinon XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ - mixed results
- Fujinon XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II - f/8 and lower
- Fujinon XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS
- Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR - f6.4 and lower
- Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS
- Fujinon XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR - faint hot spots
- Fujinon XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Telephoto Zooms
- Fujinon XC 50-230mm f/4-6.7 OIS II - mixed results
- Fujinon XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS - f/8 and lower
- Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR
- Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Teleconvertors
- Fujinon XF 1.4x TC WR
- Fujinon XF 2x TC WR
Fisheye / Super-wide Primes
- Lensbaby 5.8mm f/3.5 Circular Fisheye
- Samyang/Rokinon 8mm f/2.8 Fisheye - f/5.6 and lower
- Venus Optics Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D
- Samyang/Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS - f/5.6 and lower
Wide Primes
- Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R
- Fujinon XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR - mixed results
- Fujinon XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR - faint hot spots
- Fujinon XF 18mm f/2 R
- 7artisans 18mm f/6.3 cap lens
- Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R
- Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR
Normal Primes
- Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8
- Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8
- Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 - no reports
- Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R
- Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR
- Lensbaby Burnside 35mm f/2.8 - swirling bokeh & vignette
Telephoto Primes
- Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 R WR
- Zeiss Touit 50mm f/2.8M Macro - f/8 and lower
- Fujinon XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR - no reports
- Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R
- Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Black - glow
- Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro
- Venus Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
- Fujinon XF 80mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro - no reports
- Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8 - glow
- Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR
- Fujinon XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR - f/4 and lower
Sources
- Testing lenses I own
- LifePixel Lens Hot Spot Testing Database
- Kolari Vision Lens Hotspot Database
- X Photography Fuji Infrared Lens Tests
- Comments on above this video.
Comments
If you have comments, questions or feedback, use the comment section for this video.