Lens flare (avoidance thereof!)

[Davi]

None of you lot with a clue what you're doing seem to suffer lens flare on your sunset & sunrise pics - why do I suffer it so badly, and how do I prevent it? I've managed to reduce it by changing the position of the camera but only by moving quite a fair bit, but that means compromising composition.

Cheers!

[//dean]

Hi Davi,

Just a thought, are you using a lens hood?

[SamHH]

It differs with aperture, so try a different one. Filters can exacerbate it, so if you're using them, try taking them off. Obviously if you want to use them and it turns out they are causing a problem, you have to compromise one way or the other. Finally, some lenses are more susceptible to it than others.

Edited by SamHH on Tuesday 28th July 12:15

[Davi]

yep, using the hood that came with the lens.

I've tried different apertures from F3.5 through to F22 and got almost identical flares on each. I only have one lens and no "proper" filters (just a neutral one to protect the lens) so far as a real newbie (on a non-existent budget!)

[GetCarter]

I wait until the sun is down or nearly down, or is behind clouds. Gets rid of the problem.

http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/sunsets.htm

[SamHH]

Davi said:

yep, using the hood that came with the lens.

I've tried different apertures from F3.5 through to F22 and got almost identical flares on each. I only have one lens and no "proper" filters (just a neutral one to protect the lens) so far as a real newbie (on a non-existent budget!)

Any type of filter can do it, but I wouldn't expect removing it to solve the problem completely, just reduce it somewhat if anything.

[Simpo Two]

I can't see what you're looking at, but if the sun is actually in the frame then you'll often see a line of coloured polygons across the frame. Each one is created from an internal element of the lens, ie a glass/air interface.

[Davi]

Simpo Two said:

I can't see what you're looking at, but if the sun is actually in the frame then you'll often see a line of coloured polygons across the frame. Each one is created from an internal element of the lens, ie a glass/air interface.

That's the sort of thing. It didn't actually capture as well as I'd hoped anyway, but the sun wasn't actually fully exposed, it was behind a fairly good sized cloud and lighting it up spectacularly.

So I guess I failed on all counts

Even so I see many pics where the sun is in frame, but everytime I try it, I get flare, the only variable is how bad it's going to be Obviously can shop it out afterwards with effort but I'd prefer to avoid it as best as possible!

Edited by Davi on Tuesday 28th July 14:37

[Simpo Two]

Don't despair Davi, it's a function of the lens, not you. Try a diffeent focal length - it might move the flares to somewhere less obvious, maybe even out of frame. The only other thing I can suggest is Photoshop and the trusty clone tool.

[nick_bbb]

As I understand it primes are less prone to flare than zooms.

[Davi]

nick_bbb said:

As I understand it primes are less prone to flare than zooms.

now that is interesting, as I know a lot of shots I'm comparing to are taken with prime. Maybe I need to invest in one of those too. (photography was a bit of a bum hobby to take up when you're facing bankruptcy, wasn't it

Mean time I'll continue to shop them out, just would be nice to have a "ta da!!" moment straight from the camera.

[GetCarter]

The more elements in a lens, the more flare you are likely to get, so prime lenses will generally flare less.

[jon-]

Am I missing something, or will a hood not help an awful lot when you're specifically framing the sun?

[GetCarter]

no... not if the sun is in shot... the lens hood will be useless, Shirley?

(Though I always use one when I haven't got filters on)

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 28th July 15:56

[Simpo Two]

GetCarter said:

no... not if the sun is in shot... the lens hood will be useless, Shirley?

My thought too, although I was going to let Get go first as he does more outside stuff then me. A hood can only stop peripheral light, not 40 gazillion tons of blazing hydrogen straight down the middle

[paul911]

Could this not be down to the quality of the lens used? (no offence Davi). Most of my shots are landscape, and a good fair few are sunset pics, with the sun in view, I hardly ever suffer from lens flare. I use a Canon 24-105mm L and the Sigma 10-20mm. Both lenses have a multi layer coating…

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_detail...
"The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost"

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0508/05082207canonlen...
"coatings reduce reflections off lens element"

I also shoot with the lens hood in place if I’m not using a filter.

[Davi]

paul911 said:

Could this not be down to the quality of the lens used? (no offence Davi).

None taken!

Lens is, according to the box, a:

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70 f/3.5-4.5g IF ED

Which came recommended as a good all round lens to mate to my D60 without breaking the bank.

[Simpo Two]

Davi said:

Lens is, according to the box, a:

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70 f/3.5-4.5g IF ED

Which came recommended as a good all round lens to mate to my D60 without breaking the bank.

Agreed - it was my favourite all-rounder (until I got the 17-55mm f2.8, but that's 4x the price).

I think if you want the sun in the frame you're just going to have to live with it - laws of physics and all that. Or try the 50mm f1.8 which, as has been said, should be better as it has fewer elements, and not expensive.

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 28th July 22:49

[LongQ]

SamHH said:

Davi said:

yep, using the hood that came with the lens.

I've tried different apertures from F3.5 through to F22 and got almost identical flares on each. I only have one lens and no "proper" filters (just a neutral one to protect the lens) so far as a real newbie (on a non-existent budget!)

Any type of filter can do it, but I wouldn't expect removing it to solve the problem completely, just reduce it somewhat if anything.

Agreed.

The main flair in the sample shot does not seem to be filter related but there are a couple of other spots near the centre that look suspicious although not typical filter flare as I have previously seen it.

Either way an challenging 'into sun' shot with anything but the very best of filters is likely to suffer quite a bit. Or so it seems in my experiences.

[Yellabelly]

For such strong sunlight as per the OPs photo would a ND8 3stop graduated filter substantially reduce any ghosting or flaring especially with the lens set at small apertures?

YB