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TMB · 03-20-2012, 08:36 PM

First time shooting with the new DA 15mm. I can't tell if this is lens flare or a defect in the lens. I have never had lens flare like this before. Any help is much appreciated before I freak out any further and start digging through the trash for the lens box.

Last edited by TMB; 03-21-2012 at 06:28 AM.

Adam · 03-20-2012, 08:50 PM

Yup, that's flare. Looks like it's being caused by the nearby lamp on the left.

Docrwm · 03-20-2012, 08:51 PM

Dig through that trash anyway. Boxes add to the long-term resale value, of course if you're never going to sell it.......

Glad it wasn't a defect!

Vylen · 03-20-2012, 09:13 PM

Yep, looks like the usual consequence of taking 30second long exposures :P

Ole · 03-20-2012, 09:30 PM

Fortunately you can easily clone out the spot in post processing and then you'll have some pretty good images!

AOShep · 03-20-2012, 09:58 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you are using a star filter. I know that stopped down you can get a star effect from the aperture blades, but this is better than I thought the blades could do. So, if it is a filter (star or UV) it could be flaring off the filter surface which probably is not coated. But, whether or not you use a filter, a lens hood or even shielding the side of the lens with your had will block out the stray light.

TMB · 03-20-2012, 10:06 PM

Ok. This has to go down as dumbest mistake ever. I did not realize that the lens hood on the DA 15 pulled out from the lens.....which explains the flare.

sterretje · 03-20-2012, 10:24 PM

TMB, please resize your images before adding them to a post. Not everybody has unlimited bandwidth and not everybody has fast connections.

Resize to something like 1000 at the longest side and use lower quality like 80% (that should give a file size of around 100kB instead of 12MB) and if you want to show a detail, crop and resize (using the above guideline).

Thanks in advance.

abacus07 · 03-20-2012, 10:25 PM

Originally posted by AOShep

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you are using a star filter. I know that stopped down you can get a star effect from the aperture blades, but this is better than I thought the blades could do. So, if it is a filter (star or UV) it could be flaring off the filter surface which probably is not coated. But, whether or not you use a filter, a lens hood or even shielding the side of the lens with your had will block out the stray light.

It's possible to get a star that big using the DA15 but I would be curious if there is a protective filter on the lens. It's rare to get flare that bad with the 15 from what I've seen.

Nuff · 03-20-2012, 11:09 PM

What others have asked, are you using a UV or some other kind of filter on the lens? If you are, remove it. also use the hood.

TMB · 03-21-2012, 05:43 AM

No...No filter. Sorry about the image size.

Here is the exif data:

CameraPentax K20DExposure30Aperturef/11.0Focal Length15 mmISO Speed200

sterretje · 03-21-2012, 10:55 AM

Thanks for adjusting; lot better

TMB · 03-21-2012, 10:18 PM

Ok. Here is a good one. Thanks for the info everyone.

stevebrot · 03-22-2012, 07:28 PM

The well-defined star pattern is characteristic of the DA 15 to the point that it is sort of a hallmark for the lens. Take a walk through the same gallery (LINK) and you will see plenty of examples. Starred specular highlights are not uncommon with ultra-wide angle lenses and are usually not as pretty as those in your photos.

...or were you referring to the UFO in the first picture?

Steve

TMB · 03-23-2012, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

...or were you referring to the UFO in the first picture?

Steve

Actually, after talking with several friends, we decided that the hexagon has to be a light orb....some distressed spirit hovering over the city. Maybe the ghost of the bicyclist that was killed before they built the bridge.

03-20-2012, 08:36 PM	#1
TMB New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 23	Lens flare or defective lens? First time shooting with the new DA 15mm. I can't tell if this is lens flare or a defect in the lens. I have never had lens flare like this before. Any help is much appreciated before I freak out any further and start digging through the trash for the lens box. Last edited by TMB; 03-21-2012 at 06:28 AM.

03-20-2012, 08:50 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,609	Yup, that's flare. Looks like it's being caused by the nearby lamp on the left. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

03-21-2012, 05:43 AM	#11
TMB New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 23 Original Poster	No...No filter. Sorry about the image size. Here is the exif data: CameraPentax K20DExposure30Aperturef/11.0Focal Length15 mmISO Speed200 Last edited by TMB; 03-21-2012 at 03:36 PM.

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03-20-2012, 08:51 PM	#3
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Dig through that trash anyway. Boxes add to the long-term resale value, of course if you're never going to sell it....... Glad it wasn't a defect!

03-20-2012, 09:13 PM	#4
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Yep, looks like the usual consequence of taking 30second long exposures :P

03-20-2012, 09:30 PM	#5
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,409	Fortunately you can easily clone out the spot in post processing and then you'll have some pretty good images!

03-20-2012, 09:58 PM	#6
AOShep Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Eastern PA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 293	Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you are using a star filter. I know that stopped down you can get a star effect from the aperture blades, but this is better than I thought the blades could do. So, if it is a filter (star or UV) it could be flaring off the filter surface which probably is not coated. But, whether or not you use a filter, a lens hood or even shielding the side of the lens with your had will block out the stray light.

03-20-2012, 10:06 PM	#7
TMB New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 23 Original Poster	Ok. This has to go down as dumbest mistake ever. I did not realize that the lens hood on the DA 15 pulled out from the lens.....which explains the flare.

03-20-2012, 10:24 PM	#8
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	TMB, please resize your images before adding them to a post. Not everybody has unlimited bandwidth and not everybody has fast connections. Resize to something like 1000 at the longest side and use lower quality like 80% (that should give a file size of around 100kB instead of 12MB) and if you want to show a detail, crop and resize (using the above guideline). Thanks in advance.

03-20-2012, 10:25 PM	#9
abacus07 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Taiwan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,075	Originally posted by AOShep Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you are using a star filter. I know that stopped down you can get a star effect from the aperture blades, but this is better than I thought the blades could do. So, if it is a filter (star or UV) it could be flaring off the filter surface which probably is not coated. But, whether or not you use a filter, a lens hood or even shielding the side of the lens with your had will block out the stray light. It's possible to get a star that big using the DA15 but I would be curious if there is a protective filter on the lens. It's rare to get flare that bad with the 15 from what I've seen.

03-20-2012, 11:09 PM	#10
Nuff Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sydney Posts: 671	What others have asked, are you using a UV or some other kind of filter on the lens? If you are, remove it. also use the hood.

03-21-2012, 10:55 AM	#12
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Thanks for adjusting; lot better

03-21-2012, 10:18 PM	#13
TMB New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 23 Original Poster	Ok. Here is a good one. Thanks for the info everyone.

03-22-2012, 07:28 PM	#14
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	The well-defined star pattern is characteristic of the DA 15 to the point that it is sort of a hallmark for the lens. Take a walk through the same gallery (LINK) and you will see plenty of examples. Starred specular highlights are not uncommon with ultra-wide angle lenses and are usually not as pretty as those in your photos. ...or were you referring to the UFO in the first picture? Steve

03-23-2012, 07:20 AM	#15
TMB New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 23 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot ...or were you referring to the UFO in the first picture? Steve Actually, after talking with several friends, we decided that the hexagon has to be a light orb....some distressed spirit hovering over the city. Maybe the ghost of the bicyclist that was killed before they built the bridge.

Lens flare or defective lens?

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