How do I use the infrared focus index on a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L lens?
Asked 5/8/2012
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The lens has small red infrared index marks under the distance scale, and the manual says to use them for infrared photography. Why does infrared need a different focus mark than visible light, and how do you use those marks in practice on the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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IR light is not bent quite like visible light when it passes through the lenses. This is why you need a separate IR focusing mark in the first place. You have one IR mark for shooting at 24mm, one for 35mm and one for 50mm on this lens. Obviously, IR does not bend consistently at the various focal lengths of the lens either. Neither, strictly speaking, does visible light (the 24-105 is not a "parfocal" lens) but this is much less noticeable.
As for usage: Zoom the lens to your desired focal length, let us say 35mm. Now, measure or guesstimate the distance to your subject. Let us say 5 meters. Manually focus the lens so that the 5m indicator in the focus distance window on the lens is aligned with the red "35" IR index mark. Take your photo.
Of course, you will need a film camera with special IR-sensitive film to do this, or a specially modified digital body, plus an IR filter on the lens which blocks out everything except IR light. (The image sensor in a normal digital camera is quite insensitive to infrared.)
Originally by user3458. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3458
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Infrared light focuses at a slightly different point than visible light because the lens bends it differently. That is why the lens has separate IR index marks.
On the EF 24-105mm, the red IR marks correspond to specific focal lengths (such as 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm). To use them:
- Set the lens to the focal length you want.
- Estimate or measure the subject distance.
- Switch to manual focus.
- On the distance scale, align that subject distance with the matching red IR mark for your focal length instead of the normal focus index.
Example: at 35mm, if your subject is 5 meters away, turn the focus ring until the 5m mark lines up with the red “35” IR index mark, then take the shot.
This is mainly useful for true infrared photography, especially with cameras or film that record IR. It is not for normal visible-light shooting.
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