These 33 Canon EF lenses are rated for infrared photography from real-world tests by IR photographers. Ratings are Good (19 lenses), Maybe (12 lenses), Bad (2 lenses), and Unknown (0 lenses) for hot spots, the bright spot some lenses leave in the center of an infrared image, and follow the thresholds below.

Zooms

Wide Zooms

IR Focal
Length		 Minimum
Aperture		 Lens Filter Weight Notes Images
Good 10-24mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 Tamron 10-24mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD
 ⌀72mm 440 g No hot spots. Sharp across image  
Maybe 11-16mm ƒ/2.8 Tokina ATX-i 11-16mm ƒ/2.8 CF
 ⌀77mm 555 g Hot spot starts at ƒ/8. Second Report: With 720nm and above filters, hot spots start at ƒ/5; lower-nm filters can stop down a bit more.  
Good 17-40mm ƒ/4 Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀77mm 500 g Taken hundreds of images at all focal lengths and apertures. Zero hot spots. Gary Syrba  
Bad 18-35mm ƒ/1.8 Sigma Art 18-35mm ƒ/1.8 DC HSM
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀72mm 810 g Hot spots are very obvious throughout the aperture range. Cat G.  
Good 19-35mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 Cosina / Vivitar / Phoenix 19-35mm ƒ/3.5-4.5
 ⌀77mm 320 g Submitted by Rich Lukey View images
Good 24-105mm ƒ/4 Canon EF 24-105mm ƒ/4L IS USM
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀77mm 670 g Very sharp if you have a good copy  
Good 28-105mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 Canon EF 28-105mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 USM
Adorama 		⌀58mm 375 g Mild hot spots can form at ƒ/11 with higher nm filters. Softer extreme corners at 28mm  
Good 28-105mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 Canon EF 28-105mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 II USM
Adorama 		⌀58mm 375 g Mild hot spots can form at ƒ/11 with higher nm filters. Softer extreme corners at 28mm  
Good 28-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 Canon EF 28-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS USM
KEH Adorama 		⌀72mm 540 g Mild hot spot starts at ƒ/13  
Good 24-70mm ƒ/4 Canon EF 24-70mm ƒ/4L IS USM
KEH Adorama 		⌀77mm 600 g Hot spot mild at ƒ/16  
Good 24-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 Tamron SP 24-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 Aspherical (IF) Macro
 ⌀72mm   Larnus  

Telephoto Zooms

IR Focal
Length		 Minimum
Aperture		 Lens Filter Weight Notes Images
Maybe 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀77mm 1470 g Hot spots as early as ƒ/6.3  
Bad 70-200mm ƒ/4 Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/4L IS USM
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀67mm 760 g Hot spots as early as ƒ/5.6 for higher nm filters  
Maybe 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6L IS USM
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀67mm 1050 g No hotspots through 590nm. 665nm and above has mild hotspot starting at ƒ/8 or ƒ/9 that is correctable  
Good 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 IS USM
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀58mm 630 g Hotspots can be mild starting at ƒ/13  
Good 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 IS II USM
KEH B&H		 ⌀67mm 710 g    
Maybe 70-300mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 Canon EF 70-300mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
KEH Adorama 		⌀58mm 720 g Hot spots at ƒ/11. Flares easily. Edges sharpen at ƒ/11  

Primes

Wide Primes

IR Focal
Length		 Minimum
Aperture		 Lens Filter Weight Notes Images
Good 28mm ƒ/2.8 Canon EF 28mm ƒ/2.8
KEH 		⌀52mm 185 g    
Good 35mm ƒ/2 Canon EF 35mm ƒ/2
KEH 		⌀52mm 210 g    
Maybe 24mm ƒ/1.4 Sigma Art 24mm ƒ/1.4 DG HSM
KEH Adorama 		⌀77mm 665 g Mild hot spot starts at ƒ/8, but very sharp  
Good 24mm ƒ/2.8 Canon EF 24mm ƒ/2.8 IS USM
KEH 		⌀58mm 280 g Small, mild hot spot at ƒ/8 onward but easily correctable  

Normal Primes

IR Focal
Length		 Minimum
Aperture		 Lens Filter Weight Notes Images
Maybe 50mm ƒ/1.4 Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.4 USM
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀58mm 290 g Hot spots start at ƒ/7.1. Best with 590nm and below  
Good 50mm ƒ/1.8 Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.8 II
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀52mm 130 g No Hotspots  
Good 50mm ƒ/1.8 Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.8 STM
KEH Adorama B&H		 ⌀49mm 160 g Very sharp  
Good 40mm ƒ/2.8 Canon EF 40mm ƒ/2.8 STM
KEH 		⌀52mm 130 g No hot spots. Very sharp  
Maybe 50mm ƒ/1.4 Zeiss Planar T* 50mm ƒ/1.4 ZE
KEH 		⌀58mm 380 g Hot spots at ƒ/6.3. Focus shift when 1 meter or closer  
Good 45mm ƒ/1.8 Tamron SP 45mm ƒ/1.8 Di VC USD
Adorama 		⌀67mm 540 g Hot spot mild starting at ƒ/11  
Good 50mm ƒ/2.5 Canon EF 50mm ƒ/2.5 Compact Macro
KEH Adorama 		⌀52mm 280 g No hot spots, but it does flare easily when the sun is in the frame  

Telephoto Primes

IR Focal
Length		 Minimum
Aperture		 Lens Filter Weight Notes Images
Maybe 90mm ƒ/2.8 Tamron SP 90mm ƒ/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD (Model F017)
KEH 		⌀62mm 610 g wonderful lens, hotspots only over ƒ/16 Massinissa Dalla Costa  
Maybe 200mm ƒ/2.8 Canon EF 200mm ƒ/2.8L USM
KEH Adorama 		⌀72mm 765 g Mild hot spots can start at ƒ/6.3 for higher nm filters. Flares easily  
Maybe 85mm ƒ/1.8 Canon EF 85mm ƒ/1.8 USM
KEH Adorama 		⌀58mm 425 g Mild hot spot starting at ƒ/7.1 or ƒ/8 depending on filter  
Maybe 100mm ƒ/2.8 Canon EF 100mm ƒ/2.8L Macro IS USM
KEH Adorama 		⌀67mm 625 g Hot spots start at ƒ/11  
Maybe 135mm ƒ/2.8 Canon EF 135mm ƒ/2.8 Soft Focus
Adorama 		⌀52mm 390 g Hot spot at ƒ/13, flares easily, soft focus settings 1 & 2 blur more than visible light  

Add a Lens

What the ratings mean. Hot spots usually appear as you increase the lens ƒ-number, so each rating depends on the lowest ƒ-stop where a hot spot shows and how severe it is, and the thresholds differ by sensor format.

  • Good: No hot spots, or one that starts at ƒ/11 or higher where diffraction impacts image sharpness.
  • Maybe: Contains a mild hot spot that starts at ƒ/5.6 or ƒ/8 and is correctable in editing.
  • Bad: A hot spot that starts at ƒ/4 or lower, or is hard to correct in editing.
  • Unknown: No data reported.

How reports are checked and rated

Canon EF Lens Mount Adapters

Use an adapter to mount these lenses to many mirrorless cameras.

B&H - Canon EF lens mount adapters

Adorama - Canon EF lens mount adapters