Is this lens flair?

JohntheThird · 06-05-2013, 04:54 AM

Utak,

I actually like the effect of your Helios. These old lenses are known to be very susceptible to lens flare due to lack of coating and very bright glass.

**BigDave** · 06-05-2013, 05:19 PM

Flare is caused by light from near the axis of the lens causing inter-reflections, creating odd anomalies (like the geometric shape) and reducing contrasts. The first image and the second both exhibit examples of flare. On the first image, if the aperture was wider (lower f number) the loss of contrast would be more evident.

Ghosting is a duplicating of an image element within the image (slightly to one side and behind, it seems, the main image element). It literally looks like a ghost is following someone! I have a lens that exhibited this quite well at the 300mm setting when using a polarizer. It improved when I switched to a better polarizer (better multicoatings).

These terms are easy to get mixed up and are closely related. The article mentioned does a good job of helping oyu figure out each. I like the idea that the more it seems to be part of the image and "in focus" the more it is likely to be called "ghosting".

Regards,

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06-05-2013, 04:54 AM	#16
JohntheThird Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 94	Utak, I actually like the effect of your Helios. These old lenses are known to be very susceptible to lens flare due to lack of coating and very bright glass.

06-05-2013, 05:19 PM	#17
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	Flare is caused by light from near the axis of the lens causing inter-reflections, creating odd anomalies (like the geometric shape) and reducing contrasts. The first image and the second both exhibit examples of flare. On the first image, if the aperture was wider (lower f number) the loss of contrast would be more evident. Ghosting is a duplicating of an image element within the image (slightly to one side and behind, it seems, the main image element). It literally looks like a ghost is following someone! I have a lens that exhibited this quite well at the 300mm setting when using a polarizer. It improved when I switched to a better polarizer (better multicoatings). These terms are easy to get mixed up and are closely related. The article mentioned does a good job of helping oyu figure out each. I like the idea that the more it seems to be part of the image and "in focus" the more it is likely to be called "ghosting". Regards,