Tiffen #87 Infrared Filter: How to Shoot IR Black and White
By WALKENS House of Film | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Guides pratiques
A step-by-step guide to using the Tiffen #87 infrared filter for black and white IR photography, from metering and focus to post-processing.
Quick answer
Use the Tiffen #87 infrared filter on a bright, sunny day with infrared-sensitive black and white film or a converted digital camera, meter through the filter, and expect very long exposures. It blocks all visible light, so you must compensate exposure and focus carefully.
Why the #87 demands a different workflow
The #87 is not a subtle effect filter. It blocks all visible light and passes only infrared wavelengths, so your camera's meter and autofocus—designed for visible light—become unreliable. That is why the steps below emphasize manual metering, focus compensation, and patience with long exposures.
This filter is best suited to stationary subjects like landscapes, architecture, and foliage. Moving subjects will blur during the long exposures required, and handheld shooting is impractical.
Film versus digital: what to expect
With film, you need an infrared-sensitive black and white stock such as Ilford SFX 200 or Kodak High Speed Infrared, and you should load and unload the camera in complete darkness to avoid fogging. With digital, a standard sensor's IR-blocking filter makes the #87 nearly unusable; a camera converted for infrared or one with weak IR blocking is required.
The #87 is opaque to the eye, so you cannot see through it to compose. Frame and focus before attaching the filter, then use a tripod and cable release.
Step-by-step: shooting with the Tiffen #87
- Choose the right day and subject: Shoot on a clear, sunny day with strong direct sunlight and pick a scene with foliage, water, or architecture. Infrared effect is strongest when sunlight is intense. Overcast days produce flat, weak infrared results—wait for sun.
- Mount the filter and set up your support: Screw the #87 onto your lens, then mount the camera on a sturdy tripod. Because the filter is opaque, you will not be able to see through the viewfinder for composition or focus. Compose and focus before attaching the filter, or use live view if your camera offers it.
- Focus manually and apply compensation: Focus on your subject before adding the filter, then note the focus distance. Many lenses focus infrared slightly differently than visible light, so stop down to f/8 or f/11 to increase depth of field and reduce focus error. If your lens has an infrared focus index mark, use it; otherwise, stopping down is your safety net.
- Meter through the filter and bracket: Take a meter reading through the filter, or use a handheld meter set to your film speed. Expect very slow shutter speeds—several seconds to minutes depending on light and aperture. Bracket at least two stops in half-stop increments. Do not trust an uncorrected camera meter; bracket to guarantee a usable negative or file.
- Process for contrast: Develop infrared film normally or according to the film's data sheet, then adjust contrast in printing or editing. The #87 already produces strong tonal separation, so avoid overdeveloping. Keep development consistent and adjust contrast in post to preserve highlight detail.
Product facts
- Tiffen #87 Infrared Filter: The #87 filter blocks all visible light and transmits only infrared wavelengths. This is what creates the classic white foliage and dark skies, but it also means you must meter and focus manually.
Tiffen #87 Infrared Filter
