One of the most common questions we hear from new full spectrum camera owners is: "Which filters do I actually need?" It's a great question, because without the right filters, a full spectrum camera produces images with a strong colour cast that most people find unusable for their intended purpose. For a broader introduction to what a full spectrum camera is and how it works, read: What is a Full Spectrum Camera?
The beauty of a full spectrum conversion is that it gives you a blank canvas — a sensor sensitive to UV, visible, and near-infrared light all at once. Filters are how you paint on that canvas. Each one isolates a specific part of the spectrum, unlocking a completely different style of imaging. Here's a guide to the essential filters and what each one does.
1. IR Cut Filter (Hot Mirror) — Restoring Standard Photography
If you want to use your full spectrum camera as a normal camera — for standard colour photography — you'll need an IR cut filter, also known as a hot mirror replacement filter. This screws onto your lens and blocks infrared light, effectively restoring the camera to standard behaviour.
This is the filter most people overlook, but it's arguably the most important if you intend to use your camera for multiple purposes. Without it, every image taken in daylight will have a strong red or magenta cast caused by infrared contamination. For a detailed guide on choosing the right IR cut filter, read: The Importance of Choosing the Right IR Cut Filter — Hot Mirror vs Absorption Filter.
Best for: Standard colour photography, everyday use, versatility.
2. 590nm Infrared Filter — The Warm IR Look
The 590nm filter is the entry point into infrared photography. It blocks visible light below 590 nanometres, allowing a mix of visible and infrared light to reach the sensor. The result is a warm, golden-toned image with slightly glowing foliage and a dreamlike quality — less extreme than deeper IR filters but with rich, painterly colours.
This filter is popular with portrait and landscape photographers who want the infrared aesthetic without fully committing to the monochrome look. With channel swapping in post-processing, you can achieve striking false-colour effects with blue skies and golden foliage.
Best for: False colour infrared, warm landscape photography, portrait work.
3. 680nm Infrared Filter — The Versatile Sweet Spot
The 680nm filter is widely considered the most versatile infrared filter available. It blocks more visible light than the 590nm, producing stronger infrared effects while still retaining enough colour information for beautiful false-colour processing. Foliage glows white or pale gold, skies turn dramatically dark, and the overall image has a surreal, otherworldly quality.
It also performs well in black and white conversion, producing high-contrast, dramatic monochrome images. If you're only going to buy one infrared filter, the 680nm is the one most photographers recommend.
Best for: False colour infrared, black and white infrared, landscape photography, general IR work.
4. 720nm Infrared Filter — The Classic IR Look
The 720nm filter is the traditional infrared photography filter and has been used since the days of infrared film. It produces the classic infrared look: glowing white foliage, near-black skies, and high contrast. Colour information is minimal, making it ideal for black and white infrared photography.
This is the filter most associated with the iconic Ansel Adams-style infrared landscape — dramatic, timeless, and deeply atmospheric.
Best for: Classic black and white infrared, dramatic landscape photography, fine art.
5. 850nm Infrared Filter — Deep Infrared
The 850nm filter pushes deep into the infrared spectrum, blocking virtually all visible light. Images are almost entirely monochromatic straight out of camera, with extreme contrast and a very distinctive look. Foliage appears almost pure white, skies are nearly black, and skin tones take on an ethereal, luminous quality.
This filter is also widely used in paranormal investigation and security imaging, as it works well with IR illuminators in complete darkness.
Best for: Deep infrared photography, paranormal investigation, security imaging, fine art monochrome.
6. UV Pass Filter — Ultraviolet Photography
UV photography is the lesser-explored side of full spectrum imaging, but it's one of the most scientifically fascinating. A UV pass filter blocks visible and infrared light, allowing only ultraviolet wavelengths to reach the sensor. The results reveal a world completely invisible to the human eye — hidden patterns on flowers that guide pollinators, UV fluorescence in minerals, and forensic details in documents and surfaces.
Best for: Scientific imaging, nature photography, forensic investigation, UV fluorescence.
7. Aerochrome-Style Filter — The False Colour Film Look
Kodak Aerochrome was a legendary infrared colour reversal film originally developed for aerial reconnaissance and vegetation mapping. Its distinctive false-colour rendering made it a cult favourite among fine art photographers before it was discontinued. With a full spectrum camera, you can recreate the Aerochrome look using a combination of a 550nm or 590nm infrared filter and careful post-processing. For a step-by-step guide to achieving this look, read: How to Achieve the Aerochrome Look in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Best for: Fine art photography, landscape work, creative false-colour imaging, fans of the Aerochrome aesthetic.
Getting Your Settings Right
Once you have your filters, getting white balance and exposure right is the next step. Read our guide: White Balance and Exposure Settings for Infrared Photography. And for processing your infrared images once you're back at the computer: How to Post-Process Infrared Photos — A Beginner's Guide.
Building Your Filter Kit
If you're just starting out, a practical starter kit would be an IR cut filter for standard photography, a 680 or 720nm filter for versatile infrared work, and an 850nm filter if you're involved in deep IR B&W imaging. From there, you can expand based on your specific interests — and if you're drawn to creative colour work, an aerochrome-style filter is well worth exploring.
All filters should be matched to your lens thread size — check the front of your lens for the diameter (e.g. 49mm, 52mm, 67mm) before purchasing.
Explore our range of filters and full spectrum converted cameras to find the right combination for your work. Our cameras do come supplied with most filters.