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Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
An awkward lens with its push/pull zoom design. Can produce very good results if handled properly. Minimal hot spot issues provided that the lens hood is used and light is not allowed to fall on the front element. Sharp images require careful focus, but even so do not meet the critically-sharp threshold unless perfect technique is used (tripod, mirror lockup, etc). A usable, but not exciting lens for IR; it does everything reasonably well, but just doesn’t stand out in any area.
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS hot spots
At the short end (100mm), hot spots are a potential problem, but should not interfere with many photos. At the long end, hot spot behavior improves. Avoid f/16 with all focal lengths.
Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS Backfocus
At 100mm, very strong backfocus is mostly mitigated via filtration. LCD zoom is the best bet for eking out optimal sharpness.
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Diglloyd Infrared Photography covers cameras and lenses for infrared photography.
The coverage explains all the issues involved in shooting for monochrome and in infrared. It is not a review of any particular camera or lens, though many examples are included.
- Monochrome vs color cameras.
- Post processing for monochrome.
- Guidance on workflow for infrared, including black and white and channel swapping for false-color images.
- How infrared renders, and why certain spectral cutoffs matter: false color vs black and white.
- Image quality issues to be on the lookout for in infrared.
- Numerous lens evaluations in infrared.
View an overview of infrared as well as filter spectral transmission plus examples from an optimal lens.