Single crystals of orthorhombic and monoclinic BaLu2F8 doped with Nd and Tm were grown by micro-pulling-down method. The monoclinic (low temperature modification) was grown using LiF flux, while the orthorhombic (high temperature modification) was grown with special hot-zone with shallow gradient and employing quenching process. Reasonable scintillation efficiency was achieved for the crystals of the former modification, while no rare-earth ion emission was observed in the latter due to preferential energy transfer to defects. The orthorhombic (low temperature) modification of ErF3 was grown using LiF flux and hot zone with steep gradient. Quite low scintillation efficiency was found for the Nd-doped sample due to energy migration over the Er3+ levels. Possibility of using pure ErF3 as an infrared scintillator is discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.