These are full-frame (FX) Nikon Z-mount lenses. For APS-C (DX) Nikon Z-mount lenses, see the Nikon Z DX Mount page. Both DX and FX lenses use the same physical Z-mount. FX lenses can be used on DX bodies without vignetting.
These 25 Nikon Z lenses are rated for infrared photography from real-world tests by IR photographers. Ratings are Good (11 lenses), Maybe (7 lenses), Bad (7 lenses), and Unknown (0 lenses) for hot spots, the bright spot some lenses leave in the center of an infrared image, and follow the thresholds below.
Zooms
| IR | Focal Length |
Minimum Aperture |
Lens | Filter | Weight | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maybe | 14-24mm | ƒ/2.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S KEH Adorama B&H |
n/a | 650 g | Mixed results: No hot spots at any aperture or focal length. Terry Kontopoulos Significant hotspots at pretty much all apertures, especially at 14mm. Jason Odell |
|
| Maybe | 14-30mm | ƒ/4 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀82mm | 479 g | Mostly good. Experienced some hot spots at apertures ƒ/11 through ƒ/22. Lou Aiello | |
| Maybe | 17-28mm | ƒ/2.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀67mm | 450 g | Rebranded Tamron. Not a favorite wide angle; usable for IR only if you stay under ƒ/11. Lou Aiello | |
| Bad | 24-70mm | ƒ/2.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀82mm | 805 g | Hotspots starting at ƒ/4 at 24mm and at ƒ/11 at 70mm. | |
| Good | 24-70mm | ƒ/4 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀72mm | 500 g | Hotspots not noticed at any aperture. Ken Wilcox | |
| Bad | 24-120mm | ƒ/4 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀77mm | 630 g | Great all-around normal lens, but hot spots at nearly every aperture. Lou Aiello | |
| Bad | 24-200mm | ƒ/4-6.3 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀67mm | 570 g | Hot spots wide open, at all focal lengths. | |
| Good | 28-75mm | ƒ/2.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀67mm | 565 g | Rebranded Tamron. Favorite IR lens; no hot spots found. Lou Aiello | |
| Maybe | 28-400mm | ƒ/4-8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀77mm | 725 g | No hotspots to ƒ/11 at 28mm. Very large and diffuse hotspot at all apertures at 400mm, that could easily be considered mild light falloff. | |
| Good | 70-180mm | ƒ/2.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀67mm | 795 g | Best price in this focal range and an excellent performer for IR. Lou Aiello | |
| Good | 100-400mm | ƒ/4.5-5.6 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀77mm | 1435 g | Good Terry Kontopoulos Appears to be good for IR Keith Williamson |
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| Good | 180-600mm | ƒ/5.6-6.3 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀95mm | 1.95 kg | Terry Kontopoulos Surprisingly good for IR. Lou Aiello |
Primes
| IR | Focal Length |
Minimum Aperture |
Lens | Filter | Weight | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 10mm | ƒ/2.8 | Venus Optics Laowa 10mm F2.8 Zero-D KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀77mm | 420 g | No hot spots at any aperture Terry Kontopoulos | |
| Maybe | 20mm | ƒ/1.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀77mm | 505 g | Excellent wide angle prime but only fair results for IR. Keep aperture under ƒ/8 to avoid hot spots. Lou Aiello | |
| Bad | 20mm | ƒ/2.8 | Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 Air Adorama B&H |
⌀52mm | 173 g | Bad at all apertures. Rick Patterson | |
| Bad | 14mm | ƒ/4 | Viltrox AF 14mm F4.0 Air Adorama B&H |
⌀58mm | 170 g | Bad at all apertures. Rick Patterson | |
| Good | 24mm | ƒ/1.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀72 mm | 450 g | Excellent for IR (no hot spots) Keith Williamson Great wide angle, no hot spots found. Lou Aiello |
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| Bad | 28mm | ƒ/2.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀52mm | 155 g | Nice street lens but a poor IR performer. Works OK wide open, not good at other apertures. Lou Aiello | |
| Good | 35mm | ƒ/2 | Voigtländer 35 mm / 1:2.0 APO-Lanthar aspherical Z KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀49mm | 352 g | A truly impressive performer. No meaningful hotspots at any aperture and the visible red / IR color phasing is tighter than my other lenses, making 550nm/590nm-filtered false color much more usable when there are high contrast elements at the frame edges. Michael Piantedosi | |
| Good | 35mm | ƒ/1.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀62mm | 370 g | Great all-around normal lens that works very well for IR. Lou Aiello | |
| Maybe | 40mm | ƒ/2 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀52mm | 170 g | Mild hotspot starts at ƒ/8. Lou Aiello reports only hot spots at ƒ/22 and up. |
|
| Good | 50mm | ƒ/1.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀62mm | 415 g | No hot spots at any aperture Terry Kontopoulos Excellent for IR (no hot spots) Keith Williamson Works great for IR at all apertures. Lou Aiello |
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| Good | 85mm | ƒ/1.8 | Lensbaby Velvet 85mm F1.8 B&H |
⌀67mm | 644 g | from Ken Wilcox | |
| Bad | 85mm | ƒ/1.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀67mm | 470 g | Outstanding lens optically, but a poor IR performer with hot spots at several apertures. Lou Aiello | |
| Maybe | 105mm | ƒ/2.8 | Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S KEH Adorama B&H |
⌀62mm | 630 g | Hot spots at ƒ/8 and higher Terry Kontopoulos Only fair results if you keep images under ƒ/8. Lou Aiello |