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The Wiki in the sky agrees:
Most lenses, however, can’t tackle infrared wavelengths and make them focus on the same plane as visible light. This makes it necessary to shift the focus of our lenses when we attempt to shoot infrared film. To make this easier, lens makers have put an infrared mark on most of their lenses to aid in this shift. Exceptions are most auto focus lenses and many zoom lenses.
If you are new to infrared you may not have seen this focusing aid so let’s look at what and where it is. As you can see in Fig. 1, there is a red “R” located on the depth of field scale on the lens. Check your lens. This may be a red dot or an “R.” As many newer lenses don’t have depth of field scales, they probably won’t have this feature either.
To focus using this, focus as you usually do, and then look down at your lens. In the middle of your depth of field scale you will see a centering mark. (See Fig. 1 again) This centering mark will be pointing at a distance on your range or distance scale opposite of the depth of field scale.
After noting the spot where this mark is pointing, simply rotate your lens so that this spot is now lined up with the red “R” instead of the centering mark. For Kodak IR film this will probably be in focus. I say probably because there is room for error when you rotate the lens. You may want to test this by shooting a roll with a wide open aperture, to verify that it really is in focus.
Most lenses, however, can’t tackle infrared wavelengths and make them focus on the same plane as visible light. This makes it necessary to shift the focus of our lenses when we attempt to shoot infrared film. To make this easier, lens makers have put an infrared mark on most of their lenses to aid in this shift. Exceptions are most auto focus lenses and many zoom lenses.
If you are new to infrared you may not have seen this focusing aid so let’s look at what and where it is. As you can see in Fig. 1, there is a red “R” located on the depth of field scale on the lens. Check your lens. This may be a red dot or an “R.” As many newer lenses don’t have depth of field scales, they probably won’t have this feature either.
To focus using this, focus as you usually do, and then look down at your lens. In the middle of your depth of field scale you will see a centering mark. (See Fig. 1 again) This centering mark will be pointing at a distance on your range or distance scale opposite of the depth of field scale.
After noting the spot where this mark is pointing, simply rotate your lens so that this spot is now lined up with the red “R” instead of the centering mark. For Kodak IR film this will probably be in focus. I say probably because there is room for error when you rotate the lens. You may want to test this by shooting a roll with a wide open aperture, to verify that it really is in focus.
