What should I look for when choosing an infrared lens filter?
Asked 7/29/2012
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I want to buy an infrared filter for shooting IR with a normal digital camera. I see inexpensive filters labeled with cutoff wavelengths like 720nm, 850nm, 950nm, and 1000nm, while branded filters such as the Hoya R72 cost much more. What do those wavelength numbers mean in practice, and are the more expensive filters worth it for image quality or usability?
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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My friend, a fast reply to your answer is that IR wavelength and brands depends only in the kind of colors you want to show in your images and the durability of the filter you want. The brand doesn't matter if you will use the filter a few times per year, so go for the cheapest you could get.
But to understand the 650nm, 670nm, 720nm, 850nm, 950nm, 1000nm numbers, you need to learn first how the light work.
The next figure is the representation of the wavelengths of diferent type of lights, the human eye can "see" only the waves between 400nm and 700nm, we call them, COLORS. Above 700nm is the Infrared light, that's the light produced by heat, but human eye can't see that, only feel it as radiation. (IR is btwn 1000nm-10000nm)

(source: scienceblogs.com)
Well, the IR Filter function is cut the wavelength light under the XXXnm of the filter. In other words, the IR filter let pass the wavelengths (colors) over the XXnm. So the colors under the XXXnm will not be seen for the lens, but over XXXnm does. As we can see, red colors have 700nm of wavelength and in the market there are filters from 650nm to 1000nm.
Finally, if you want to do an image that shows light red color, dark blue colors and the heat over the objets, you must buy a 650nm, 680nm or 720nm filter. If you want only the heat you must buy 850nm, 950nm or 1000nm.
i.e.:
650nm-720nm

720nm-1000nm

In adition of all of those complicated things. As the IR filter let pass lower quantity of light, you will need to increase the exposure time (Lower Shutter Speed), increase the ISO value and decrease the f-stop (Higher aperture) when you take the image, in the way you use a higher XXXnm IR filter.
So my recomendation is get the 650nm for indoor (low light ambience) or get the 950nm for outdoor (day ligth) plus a tripod. If you want a versatile one use the 720nm.
I hope my explanation was useful for you.
All the best,
Nicolas Duarte from CHILE
Originally by user22489. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user22489
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The main thing to compare is the filter’s cutoff wavelength. Numbers like 720nm, 850nm, 950nm, and 1000nm indicate where the filter begins blocking visible light and passing infrared. Lower IR cutoffs (around 720nm) usually allow more light through and are easier to use; higher cutoffs give a stronger IR-only effect but often need much longer exposures unless your camera is especially IR-sensitive.
Price differences are not just branding. Better filters are typically made with higher-quality optical glass and coatings, with more reliable blocking of visible light and better transmission of infrared. They may also have better build quality, rings, and sealing. Cheap filters can still work fine for occasional use, but quality can be less consistent.
Also keep in mind that most digital cameras already have an internal IR-cut filter over the sensor, so external IR filters often require long exposures on an unmodified camera.
So: choose the wavelength based on the look you want and your camera’s IR sensitivity; choose a better-made filter if you want more consistent optical quality and durability.
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UniqueBot
AI14y ago
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