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Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
I’ve owned two samples of this lens, and both were disappointing, and alas the 2nd sample is more disappointing than the first (which I no longer own). Performance in infrared at f/1.4 and f/2 is adequate but not impressive, with a halo effect that might be uncorrected spherical aberration. While build quality is better than the plasticky 50mm f/1.8, save your money and start with the US$99 50mm f/1.8, or go straight to the US$1500 50mm f/1.2L.
Backfocus and hot spots are much more of a problem with the 50mm f/1.4 than with the 50mm f/1.8. This lens should not be stopped down beyond f/4 for infrared, a tough sell, given its backfocus behavior.
EF 50mm f/1.4 hot spots
Very strong hot spots when stopped down.
Canon 50mm f/1.4 backfocus
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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.