There comes a point in any photographer’s journey where the standard visible spectrum just doesn’t cut it anymore. You crave something different, something that transforms the mundane into the magical. I felt this keenly; my photos were technically sound but lacked that unique spark. The thought of capturing light invisible to the naked eye, revealing a hidden world, became increasingly appealing. If I didn’t explore this avenue, I knew I’d remain stuck in a creative rut, producing images that felt predictable and uninspired. This desire for a new perspective is precisely where a tool like the GREEN.L 67mm Infrared Filter would have been incredibly helpful on my initial foray.
- 【Infrared Filter】These filters are ideal for creating special affects or for changing the lighting in photography, and also for use in analytical situations where UV and visible light needs to be...
- 【High-Quality】The lenses are made of specialized, high-quality optical glass, boasting a remarkable 9HD hardness rating. This ensures scratch-resistance, durability, and long-lasting clarity.
- 【Well Built】Filter frame made of tough aviation aluminum frame ensuring durability.
What to Ponder Before Stepping into Infrared Photography
Diving into infrared (IR) photography is about more than just slapping a filter on your lens. It’s about seeking a radically different aesthetic – one where green foliage often turns ghostly white, skies darken dramatically, and water takes on a surreal, smooth appearance. This isn’t for everyone. The ideal candidate for exploring this realm is someone who is experimental, patient, and willing to learn new shooting and post-processing techniques. It particularly appeals to landscape photographers, surrealists, and those with cameras specifically converted for full-spectrum or infrared capture. If you’re looking for quick, point-and-shoot results or aren’t prepared for the significant editing involved (often converting to black and white or playing with channel swaps to achieve the classic look), then IR photography, and consequently an IR filter, might not be for you. You might be better off exploring creative effects in software or conventional filters like neutral density or polarizers. Before buying an IR filter, you absolutely need to consider your camera’s IR sensitivity (some are much better than others, especially converted ones), the specific wavelength you want (720nm like the GREEN.L 67mm Infrared Filter, 67mm IR 720nm (R72) Filter for Camera Lens is a common starting point), the filter thread size of your lens (crucial for a proper fit), and your budget.
- Advanced knurling technology prevents slipping and easy to disassembe. Comact size, lightweight and easy to carry.
- 【Infrared Filter Set】 Includes 4 infrared filters (IR720/IR760/IR850/IR950), ideal for infrared photography, low light photography, long exposure photography, black and white photography, and more
- 【Infrared Filter】These filters are ideal for creating special affects or for changing the lighting in photography, and also for use in analytical situations where UV and visible light needs to be...
Discovering the GREEN.L 67mm IR 720nm Filter
Stepping into the world of infrared photography requires specialized equipment, and the GREEN.L 67mm Infrared Filter, 67mm IR 720nm (R72) Filter for Camera Lens offers an accessible entry point. Essentially, this filter is designed to block most visible light (wavelengths below 720nm) and allow near-infrared light to pass through to your camera’s sensor. The promise is to transform everyday scenes into ethereal, otherworldly landscapes by capturing light we cannot see. When you purchase this infrared filter, you typically receive the filter itself, designed to screw onto any lens with a 67mm filter thread. Compared to some market leaders in the filter space, like Hoya, GREEN.L generally positions itself as a more budget-friendly option. While perhaps not having the same reputation for exotic coatings or ultra-thin profiles as the most premium brands, it aims to provide solid performance for its price point. This specific 67mm IR filter is ideal for photographers with compatible lenses who are keen to experiment with the R72 look without a significant investment. It’s less suitable for those needing different thread sizes without an adapter or those seeking the effects of filters with different wavelengths (like 850nm or 950nm, which block even more visible light).
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
* Very affordable entry into 720nm IR photography.
* Provides the distinct “Wood Effect” and dark sky look.
* Decent build quality with durable optical glass and aluminum frame.
* Easy screw-on installation (if your lens is 67mm).
* Effective at blocking light below 720nm.
Cons:
* Requires significant experimentation with camera settings (WB, exposure).
* Heavy reliance on post-processing to achieve desired results.
* No special coatings (like anti-reflective or water-repellent).
* Optical glass, while durable, can potentially shatter if mishandled.
* May not yield strong results on cameras with very low IR sensitivity without conversion.
Unpacking the Capabilities: Features and How They Benefit You
The 720nm Wavelength Effect
The core function of this filter lies in its 720nm IR 720nm (R72) designation. This number refers to the cutoff point; the filter is designed to primarily transmit light with wavelengths of 720 nanometers and longer, while blocking most visible light (which falls roughly between 400nm and 700nm). In practice, for photography, this translates to a specific and dramatic effect. Landscapes are transformed – green foliage, which strongly reflects near-infrared light, turns a bright, often glowing white (the famous “Wood Effect”). Blue skies, reflecting very little IR, become dark and moody, often resembling images taken with red or orange filters in black and white. Water surfaces can appear unusually smooth.
The benefit of using a specific wavelength like 720nm is that it’s a well-established standard for entering the world of IR photography. It provides a significant contrast between elements that reflect IR strongly (like leaves) and those that don’t (like sky or water), creating compelling visual separation. It’s a versatile wavelength that works reasonably well on a variety of cameras, including some unconverted digital cameras, though results are far more pronounced and exposures shorter on cameras specifically modified for full-spectrum capture. This wavelength allows for both dramatic black and white conversions and colourful false-colour images through channel swapping in post-processing.
Build Quality and Durability
While the magical effects are key, the physical construction of the GREEN.L 67mm Infrared Filter is also important for its usability and longevity. The filter uses specialized, high-quality optical glass. The description highlights a remarkable 9HD hardness rating for the glass. This isn’t quite the Mohs scale hardness you might think of for screens, but it generally indicates significant resistance to scratches from everyday handling and cleaning. This durability is a definite benefit, meaning you’re less likely to accidentally mar the filter’s surface during normal use or when attaching/removing it. A scratched filter, particularly one used for long exposures like IR, can significantly degrade image quality.
The filter frame is made of tough aviation aluminum. This choice of material for the frame is also beneficial. Aluminum is lightweight yet strong, providing a rigid structure that holds the glass securely and maintains its shape. An aviation-grade alloy implies good structural integrity, resisting bending or cross-threading when screwing it onto a lens. While some premium filters boast incredibly thin frames to avoid vignetting, the GREEN.L 67mm filter‘s frame provides a solid grip for easy handling. The well-machined threads, crucial for smoothly attaching the filter to your lens without binding, are also part of the build quality. While one user mentioned the glass can shatter (a risk with any glass filter if dropped or hit hard), the general construction suggests reasonable durability for its price class.
Ease of Use and Compatibility
One of the practical benefits of this infrared filter is its straightforward usability – assuming you have the right equipment. It’s designed as a standard screw-on filter. If your camera lens has a 67mm filter thread, this 67mm IR filter will screw directly onto the front element just like any other filter (UV, CPL, ND, etc.). The ease of installation means you can quickly attach or remove it in the field.
However, effective use requires more than just screwing it on. The product listing includes crucial notes: “Please set a custom white balance of your camera” and “Please set the camera to manual mode, try a few more times, get the best exposure time.The exposure time is relatively long when using IR filters.” These aren’t drawbacks of the filter itself, but rather inherent requirements of IR photography with such a dense filter. Setting a custom white balance (often pointing at green grass or foliage) is essential to neutralize the strong red cast that appears in the raw image because the sensor is primarily capturing red/infrared light. Ignoring this step makes post-processing much harder. The need for manual mode and long exposures stems from the filter blocking out so much visible light. Even in bright sunlight, capturing sufficient infrared light often requires shutter speeds measured in seconds, especially on unconverted cameras. This means you’ll likely need a tripod. While this adds a layer of complexity compared to regular photography, it’s standard for this type of filter and something you quickly adapt to with practice. The primary compatibility requirement remains the 67mm thread size; you’ll need adapters for other lens sizes.
Value Proposition
Perhaps one of the most compelling aspects of the GREEN.L 67mm Infrared Filter is its value. Infrared filters from established, premium brands can be quite expensive. The GREEN.L IR filter offers a significantly more affordable alternative. This makes it an excellent choice for photographers who are curious about IR but aren’t ready to commit a large sum of money to a technique they might not stick with, or for those who need a specific size for a lens they don’t use for IR often. The performance it offers for its price point is frequently highlighted by users. While it may not have the absolute optical perfection or advanced coatings of filters costing many times more, it successfully achieves the primary goal: blocking visible light below 720nm and allowing IR through to create the distinctive IR look. This affordability lowers the barrier to entry into a fascinating photographic niche, allowing more photographers to experiment and learn.
Voices from the Field: What Users Are Saying
Having looked into what others think, it’s clear that many users find this GREEN.L 67mm Infrared Filter, 67mm IR 720nm (R72) Filter for Camera Lens to be a surprisingly effective tool, especially considering its price. Many report that it performs exactly as expected, successfully blocking light below 720nm and delivering the classic IR aesthetic, including the characteristic glowing foliage. Photographers using both full-spectrum converted cameras and standard digital cameras (with the understanding that longer exposures are needed on unconverted bodies) have reported getting great results. Several users commented on the filter’s build, noting it feels well-made and the threads are smooth, screwing onto lenses without issues. One person even successfully adapted it for use with a different lens size using a 3D-printed adapter, highlighting the filter’s solid base design. The consensus among most users is that it’s excellent value for money, providing results comparable to much more expensive options like Hoya filters, making it a recommended choice for anyone looking to step onto the infrared path without a large investment. While one reviewer did suggest it appeared more like a deep red filter than a true IR, the vast majority of feedback points to it correctly functioning as a 720nm filter capable of producing the desired IR effects after proper white balance and post-processing adjustments.
Final Reflections and Your Next Step
Feeling confined by conventional photography and yearning to capture scenes with a unique, surreal quality is a common drive among creatives. The complication of not exploring these avenues means potentially missing out on exciting artistic possibilities and remaining creatively stagnant. The GREEN.L 67mm Infrared Filter, 67mm IR 720nm (R72) Filter for Camera Lens offers a compelling solution to this creative dilemma. It’s a great fit because it provides an affordable gateway into infrared photography, allows you to produce the distinctive 720nm IR look (bright foliage, dark skies), and features solid construction that balances durability and cost. If you’re ready to experiment, learn the necessary techniques, and unlock a hidden visual world, this filter is an excellent place to start. To explore its potential further, Click here to check it out.
Last update on 2025-07-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API