Lightweight Zoom Lenses

The LightIR thermal imaging zoom lenses are both lightweight and high-performance, designed for use in a wide range of reduced SWaP applications, including unmanned aerial systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), aircraft vision systems, drones, and handheld applications such as thermal imagers (HHTI).

Where minimal is critical

The outstanding optomechanical design of the MWIR and LWIR LightIR product family ensures that these lenses are the lightest and most compact on the market today, while still achieving the highest levels of imaging performance.

Key Features

  • High MTF performance
  • Extremely compact configuration
  • Optimized for stabilized payloads
  • Suitable for a wide range of reduced SWaP applications
  • Maintain focus through the entire zoom range
  • Cost-effective design and structure

Introducing LightIR 10-135mm f/3.6 and 18-225mm f/3.6

The LightIR 10-135mm and 18-225mm f/3.6 continuous zoom lenses, are lightweight, compact, thermal imaging lenses, optimized for VGA 10µm detectors. The lenses feature a compact design with reduced optical elements that significantly decreases the length and weight of the lens and, therefore, the overall size and weight of the optical system in which it is incorporated.

The LightIR 10-135mm f/3.6 lens weighs only 250gr, making it 20% smaller than similar lenses and the smallest continuous zoom lens on the market today. The LightIR 18-225mm f/3.6 lens weighs only 300gr, making it also significantly smaller than similar lenses.

Along with a detection range exceeding 11km (by 10-135mm lens) and 15km (by 18-225mm lens), these new LightIR lenses are ideal for the demanding requirements of SWaP and small gimbal thermal imaging applications, such as drones and tactical UAV's in the commercial, homeland security, and defense markets.

With NFOV of 2.7° (10-135mm lens) and 1.6° (18-225mm lens), the innovative design of the lenses enables near diffraction-limit performance in harsh environments. This design also addresses such challenges as line-of-sight (LOS) stabilization, athermalization, maintaining focus throughout the entire zoom range, and high imaging performance. The mechanical and electrical interface of the lens assures easy integration into camera systems.

LightIR 16-180 mm f/3.6 MWIR Imaging Lens


The LightIR 16-180mm f/3.6 is a compact, thermal MWIR imaging lens optimized for smaller size 10µm pitch VGA FPA detectors. It features a folded optics design that significantly reduces the length of the lens and, therefore, the overall size and weight of the optical system in which it is incorporated. The lens is 65% smaller than existing MWIR 10µm VGA lenses. This makes it ideal for the demanding requirements of reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP) and small gimbal thermal imaging applications, including drones and tactical UAV IR cameras, and micro-/mini-tactical payloads in the commercial, homeland security, and defense industries. With its disruptive combination of size, weight, range capabilities, and cost, the new zoom lens is an enabler for advanced drone, UAV, and small gimbal thermal imaging applications.

The folded optics design enables long optical lengths, which produce a reduced sensitivity to tolerances in compact configurations that incorporate fewer optical elements. The innovative design also enables near diffraction-limit performance in harsh environments, and addresses such challenges as line-of-sight (LOS) stabilization and athermalization. At only 320g, it is one of the lightest weight, continuous zoom lenses on the market. It maintains sharp focus over the entire zoom range. The mechanical/ electrical interface assures easy integration into camera systems.

LightIR 18-225 mm f/4.0 MWIR Imaging Lens


The LightIR 18-225mm f/4 continuous zoom lens is a compact MWIR thermal imaging lens, optimized for 10 μm SXGA and 15 μm VGA FPA (focal plane array) detectors. It weighs only 326 grams, which makes it 19% lighter than existing similar lenses. It features our high durability antireflection coating.

It features a compact optics design, with reduced optical elements that significantly decrease the length and weight of the lens, and therefore, the overall size and weight of the optical system in which it is incorporated.

With its disruptive combination of SWaP capabilities, detection range exceeding 16 km, rugged design, and cost-effective pricing, the LightIR 18-225mm f/4 continuous zoom lens is an enabler for advanced drone, tactical UAV IR cameras, and micro-/minitactical payloads in the commercial, homeland security, and defense markets.

LightIR 20-275mm f/5.5 MWIR Imaging Lens

At only 264 g, the LightIR 20-275mm f/5.5 is the smallest, most lightweight continuous zoom lens on the market, with long-range capabilities of up to 14.9 km detection range. Featuring an innovative and unique optomechanical design and focus movement. The end result is the highest thermal imaging performance on the market, ideal for stabilized payloads in a variety of drones, UAVs, and handheld devices for SWaP applications.

LightIR 15-75mm f/1.2 LWIR Imaging Lens

Optimized for 10-12 micron pixel size uncooled LWIR cameras, the LightIR 15-75mm f/1.2 weighs only 320 g, making it the most lightweight continuous zoom lenses on the market, with up to 7.1 km detection range. It maintains sharp focus over the entire zoom range, with a mechanical and electrical interface, ensuring easy integration into camera systems.

DRI (Detection, Recognition & Identification) Performance

LightIR 15-75 mm f/1.2

LightIR 10-135mm f/3.6

LightIR 16-180 mm f/3.6

LightIR 18-225mm f/3.6

LightIR 18-225 mm f/4.0

LightIR 20-275 mm f/5.5

LightIR Products

Contact Us illustration

Have questions? Require assistance?

Click below to to contact Ophir IR Optics and we'll get back with you shortly.

Contact Ophir IR Optics