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B+W 65-072517 72mm #093 (87C) Infrared Filter — main product image
B+W

B+W 65-072517 72mm #093 (87C) Infrared Filter

★★★★★5.0 (2 reviews)

See foliage glow white and skies go black — the B+W 87C infrared filter opens a world of photography that no preset can replicate.

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Overview

The B+W 72mm #093 (87C) Infrared Filter is a precision instrument for photographers who want to explore one of the most visually distinctive aesthetics in the medium — billowing white foliage, ink-dark skies, and an ethereal tonal quality that digital post-processing can approximate but never quite match. This is a deep-cut infrared filter: it blocks virtually all visible light below 800nm and passes near-infrared at high transmission, producing the classic, high-contrast infrared rendering that landscape, fine-art, and architectural photographers have pursued for generations. For any shooter drawn to the surreal, luminous quality of true infrared imagery, this filter opens that chapter without requiring a dedicated infrared camera body.

Built to B+W's German optical standards, the filter uses quality glass in a brass ring that threads precisely and holds its integrity through years of field use. The absence of coating on this model is a specification worth noting — it's not a flaw in standard shooting conditions, but in backlit situations a lens hood becomes more important than usual. Workflow demands technique: compose and focus before mounting the filter, work from a tripod, and use Live View for digital shooters since the optical viewfinder goes dark with the filter in place. On unmodified digital sensors, long exposures are the reality; on modified or converted bodies, the experience becomes far more responsive and rewarding. Film photographers pairing it with infrared-sensitive stock will find the combination as capable as the craft demands. It asks something of you — and it gives back images that justify every deliberate step.

Key Features

The Package Length of the Product is 9.4 centimeters

The Package Width of the Product is 9.4 centimeters

The Package Height of the Product is 1.8 centimeters

Country of Origin: GERMANY

Specifications

Brand
B+W
Model
65-072517
Filter Type
Infrared (#093 / 87C)
Thread Size
72mm
Transmission at 800nm
<1%
Transmission at 900nm
88%
Filter Factor
20–40 (illumination dependent)
Material
Optical Glass
Ring Material
Brass
Coating
None
Water Resistance
Not water resistant
Country of Origin
Germany
Package Dimensions
9.4 x 9.4 x 1.8 cm

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Optical glass manufactured in Germany to B+W's precision standards delivers the image clarity and consistency this brand has been trusted for across decades of filter production.
  • The deep 87C transmission profile produces the full infrared effect photographers seek — luminous white foliage, dramatically darkened skies, and strong tonal separation that no digital filter replicates convincingly.
  • Brass filter ring threads cleanly and holds up to repeated mounting and demounting without stripping or corrosion over extended use.
  • 72mm thread size fits a broad range of mid-to-large aperture lenses without step rings, making it immediately compatible with popular portrait and landscape focal lengths.
  • Infrared images produced with this filter carry an immediately distinctive visual signature — creative differentiation that rewards the technique required.

👎 Cons

  • No anti-reflective coating on this model increases susceptibility to flare and ghosting in backlit or high-contrast conditions — a lens hood is more critical here than with coated filters.
  • Requires a tripod and 4–5 stops of additional exposure for essentially every shot, which eliminates spontaneous or handheld shooting entirely.
  • On unmodified digital cameras, built-in IR cut filters severely restrict usability, requiring extremely long exposures or delivering disappointing results without sensor modification.
  • Not water resistant — care is required in outdoor environments, and the filter should be removed in rain or heavy moisture.
  • Optical viewfinder focusing is impossible with the filter mounted, adding a deliberate workflow step before every frame.

Frequently Asked Questions

It works, but with significant limitations. Most modern digital sensors have built-in infrared cut filters that block the very wavelengths this filter passes, requiring exposures of several seconds to minutes even in bright daylight. For practical, responsive infrared shooting, a sensor-modified or infrared-converted camera delivers dramatically better results. Film shooters using infrared-sensitive stock will find it performs as intended.
The 87C refers to the filter's transmission profile — it blocks essentially all visible light (less than 1% transmission at 800nm) and passes near-infrared at 88% transmission at 900nm. This is a deep-cut infrared filter that produces the classic high-contrast look: luminous white foliage, near-black skies. Lighter IR filters with 720nm or 590nm cutoffs allow some visible light and produce more muted, mixed-spectrum effects. The 87C is for photographers who want the full, dramatic infrared rendering.
The filter blocks all visible light, making optical viewfinder focusing impossible once it's mounted. The standard workflow is to compose and focus before attaching the filter, or to use Live View with a tripod for precise framing. There is also a slight infrared focus shift to account for on non-modern lenses — check your lens markings for the IR focus index.
The filter factor is rated at 20 to 40 depending on light conditions and sensor sensitivity — roughly 4 to 5 stops of additional exposure. A tripod is effectively mandatory for outdoor infrared shooting, even on a bright sunny day.
No — this specific B+W model is uncoated. In backlit or high-contrast shooting scenarios, disciplined use of a lens hood and attention to angle of light becomes more important than with coated filters.

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