We present an infrared photometric study of the star formation region assoc
iated to IRAS 05358+3543, hereafter designated S233IR. Several manifestatio
ns of star formation activity are present in S233IR: masers, molecular outf
low, GMC core, YSOs, young stellar clusters and an IRAS source. The paper i
ncludes photometric J, I-I, K and H-2 (2.12 mu m) images and scanning Fabry
Perot observations to study H-2 kinematics. In the 3.6' x 3.6' observed fi
eld, two distinct young stellar clusters separated by 0.5 pc are found, one
being much redder than the other by Av similar to 7 mag. A collection of P
MS objects and several H-2 nebulosities associated to the younger and redde
r NE cluster are found. Two deeply embedded jet/counter-jet structures, pro
duced by shocked H-2 gas, are detected near the core of the molecular outfl
ow. Possible exciting source candidates of the molecular outflow and H-2 ne
bula are discussed. The velocity field of H-2 gas shows that the bulk of th
e emission occurs within -36.9 to 2.3 km/s. Individual spectra of H-2 nebul
osities show peak velocities consistent with the rest velocity of the CMC a
nd H2O maser peak velocities. Luminosity function histograms are used to ob
tain a crude age estimate for cluster and field stars: less than or similar
to 2 Myr for NE cluster, 3 Myr for SW cluster and 6 Myr for field (distrib
uted population) stars; indicating at least two star formation stages and a
distributed population of young stars. Finally, from PMS isochrones and NI
R photometry, taking care of completeness limits, we estimate stellar masse
s to study the IMF. A turnover for low mass-stars is found for the SW clust
er, while field stars show a Salpeter IMF.