Is Infrared photography possible with the Leica 18mm

[richedg]

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Hi Folks

 

I really enjoy infrared photography with my M8.2. The images have a magical and astonishing quality that I think makes them very special. I usually use a Voigtlander 21mm as it has no hotspot and works very well. It also makes it easy to hand hold IR shots as low as 1/15s.

 

Has anyone had any experience with using the Leica 18mm? Does it show a hotspot when used with an Infrared filter attached? If so which filter did you use and how did you attach it to the lens. The 18mm lens would be much wider than the 21 and offer greater scope for landscapes.

 

Any experiences with this lens would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your ideas.

 

Best wishes

 

Richard

[richam]

I was curious about the same thing, so experimented a bit. I taped a B+W 092 (deep red) 55mm size filter on the 18mm Super-Elmarit, ran exposures at all f tops; then taped a B+W 093 (Ir opaque) 58mm and did the same. I checked all the images and found no hot spots. This, of course, is not a handy way to do IR with the 18mm, and I suppose it's possible to damage the protruding front element of the 18mm. I was careful and provided enough space with the tape so that the filter did not touch the lens -- very tough to get it right in field use. I don't know if a special IR pass filter is available for the 18mm; I suppose one could use a step ring or spacer somehow with a normal filter. Any ideas, please let us know.

[richam]

In case you want to see the images, I posted the jpegs in a small gallery: IR 18mm. f3.8 to f16 left to right. 092 filter first set, 093 filter second set.

[richedg]

Hi Michael

 

Thank you for your reply. Your experiments with the 18mm lens sound promising. Thank you for the link to the test pictures: I could see no hotspot, which is very good news. Would it not be possible to directly screw a IR filter on to the front of the lens and then add the hood? What size filter does the 18mm lens take? It sounds very awkward to have to tape a lens in place!

 

I may have found the answers to some of the above questions it looks as if it may not be possible to directly screw a infrared filter to the front of the lens instead it might be necessary to purchase the 77mm screw on filter holder.

 

I do not yet own the 18mm lens but I am seriously thinking of getting it. Firstly for landscape in super wide angle on the M9 and secondly for infrared on the M8. How have you found the Leica 18mm? Are you using it on M8 or M9?

 

Best wishes

 

Richard

[richam]

The front element of the lens protrudes a bit; otherwise one could screw on an ordinary 58mm filter (mounted backwards as the lens threads are on the outside). I assume the Leica 77mm adapter would do, but you would then need 77mm filters. As a cheaper solution I believe most any step down adapter (i.e. X to 58, where X might be 60, 62, or so) would work by providing enough clearance. Even a step up like 55 to 58 might work, but you would probably get some vignetting. Another approach, if you already have a 58mm IR pass filter, would be to take the glass out of a 58mm filter you don't use and use it as a spacer. Please keep us posted on your progress.