Frequency modulated diode laser based absorption at 1.315 μm has been used to measure the Doppler lineshapes of the I(²P_1/2–²P_3/2) transition in atomic iodine produced from the 266 nm photolysis of both CF₃I and C₂F₅I. Wavelength resolved laser gain is seen following photolysis as excited iodine atoms (²P_1/2) are produced with a quantum yield close to unity from photolysis of both parent molecules. Time resolved measurements were made and the nascent speed distribution and translational anisotropy parameter, β were determined. Mean atomic speeds of 800 and 850 ms⁻¹, which correspond to 83 and 68% of the maximum possible kinetic energy release into the iodine photofragment, were determined for photolysis of CF₃I and C₂F₅I, respectively. The nascent translational anisotropy parameter was found to be β = 1.77 ± 0.05 for CF₃I and β = 1.69 ± 0.05 for C₂F₅I. These values are explicable in terms of parent rotational motion and non-adiabatic processes in the exit channel.