Light reflection

drugal · 01-10-2011, 08:49 PM

I find myself getting strange reflections of strong lights in some of my images

(see the blue lights on the banister in the picture attached below)

Will a polarizing filter and lens hood help with this? What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance

Last edited by drugal; 02-14-2011 at 07:52 PM.

**Just1MoreDave** · 01-10-2011, 09:23 PM

The most frequent cause is a filter on the lens. I actually have no other theory, so I hope that's it.

The blue lights are much brighter than anything else in the shot - about 2 stops. To the camera sensor, that's a lot. The stray spots are more visible because of that wide brightness range in the shot.

drugal · 01-11-2011, 07:25 AM

Thank-you very much for the reply!

I bought a rocketfish UV filter to protect my lens from Best Buy, so I'm guessing it's an inferior filter.

As a kid, I was taught to always use a UV filter ... so the question is, in situations like this, should I take the filter off or should I just get a higher quality UV filter? If a better filter is the answer, what's a good one? A Hoya??

JeffJS · 01-11-2011, 10:38 AM

I would leave the UV off all together unless there is some environmental reason to use it. In Detroit (welcome from another 313 member) I doubt you are going to run into many sand storms for instance. If you want to add protection, get a hood. Infinitely better protection and far more useful.

**Kerrowdown** · 01-11-2011, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

I would leave the UV off all together unless there is some environmental reason to use it

Wot he said and to add, filters never, hood always.

drugal · 01-11-2011, 04:46 PM

I'll give removing the filter a try.

01-10-2011, 08:49 PM	#1
drugal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Detroit suburbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 259	Light reflection I find myself getting strange reflections of strong lights in some of my images (see the blue lights on the banister in the picture attached below) Will a polarizing filter and lens hood help with this? What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance Last edited by drugal; 02-14-2011 at 07:52 PM.

01-11-2011, 07:25 AM	#3
drugal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Detroit suburbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 259 Original Poster	UV filter Thank-you very much for the reply! I bought a rocketfish UV filter to protect my lens from Best Buy, so I'm guessing it's an inferior filter. As a kid, I was taught to always use a UV filter ... so the question is, in situations like this, should I take the filter off or should I just get a higher quality UV filter? If a better filter is the answer, what's a good one? A Hoya??

01-11-2011, 04:46 PM	#6
drugal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Detroit suburbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 259 Original Poster	Thanks! I'll give removing the filter a try.

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01-10-2011, 09:23 PM	#2
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	The most frequent cause is a filter on the lens. I actually have no other theory, so I hope that's it. The blue lights are much brighter than anything else in the shot - about 2 stops. To the camera sensor, that's a lot. The stray spots are more visible because of that wide brightness range in the shot.

01-11-2011, 10:38 AM	#4
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	I would leave the UV off all together unless there is some environmental reason to use it. In Detroit (welcome from another 313 member) I doubt you are going to run into many sand storms for instance. If you want to add protection, get a hood. Infinitely better protection and far more useful.

01-11-2011, 04:19 PM	#5
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by JeffJS I would leave the UV off all together unless there is some environmental reason to use it Wot he said and to add, filters never, hood always.