"Sensor Flares" - what's the truth?

[Ralph B]

You know what's amusing... DP's go out of their way to avoid lens flares, while computer graphics people gladly add them in.

[Jimmy Moss]

I'm still not convinced, I think I need more slow motion footage of bright lights and hot girls.

[cheapass]

Am I the only one who also wants a Canon 5d Mark 11? ;)

Good post though. I'm glad someone is bringing sensibility around the table. Who actually shines lights directly into a camera and expects a perfectly clean image?

[dman72]

Last week I placed the Sony F3 and AF100 side by each with similar focal lengths (Nikkor 35mm f2 vs Sony 35mm f2).

Pointed the cameras slightly up at the ceiling, looking at a fluorescent panel.

The AF100 very clearly displayed a 'ghosting' of the image in green, flipped on the other side of the frame.

The F3 did not. I checked the image on a 17" monitor and flipped A/B. I shimmied the Sony camera back and forth, left and right, to try and replicate the "flare", to no avail.

Curiously, the image seemingly disappears when you switch to the ND1 filter and open up/gain up to compensate. To reiterate, opening up the aperture and switching to ND1 on the filter wheel seemingly eliminates the ghost (which sounds counter-intuitive).

This particular flare appears easily with any kind of hotspot/ specular source in the background. And practically disappears with the application of any of the internal ND filters.

As much of a Panasonic fan I am, this IS an issue, and it IS a bit of a big deal, but it looks like it may be solvable. Can we please address this sensibly and figure out if there's a proper workaround?

I'm thinking a hardware upgrade which would involve a baffle or the same coatings used on the ND filter to be applied to the 'clear' filter.

Thoughts?

Best,

dman

[TimurCivan]

Its the nikkor...... put the sony prime on the af and it will go away.....

Digital pl/video lenses have additional coatings on the back element.

[dman72]

Thanks Timur,

I've tested this against nikkors, as well as Lumix lenses.

Can't repeat the results with the SAME lens on a different body,

But, it seems, practically any lens, on the AF100 body - lo and behold, there's the 'ghosting'.

And why does the ghost disappear when you put the ND filter on?

I realize this may not be the best time to post, what with NAB in full swing right now. Hopefully Jan or a Panasonic rep can weigh in on the usefulness of coating the clear filter (if that's what it is)

-d

[blackcat]

It's a lens flare. I get them on other cameras too.

If you are trolling DVXuser though, that is kind of funny.

[dman72]

Dear Blackcat.

Thank you for your reply. Last things first, I am NOT trolling. I've taken the time to register to post this issue and give me two cents.

It certainly isn't a lens flare, for a number of reasons, one of them being the issue disappears when an internal filter is placed. And I can't replicate the issue with same lens on my Nikon camera.

My point is not to start a hate-fest but to look for a sensible solution.

But to deny that the issue exists, or to downplay it, does no favours for you nor Panasonic.

Best, d

[Noel Evans]

But to deny that the issue exists, or to downplay it, does no favours for you nor Panasonic.

Best, d

No one is - we're simply saying its not a "pana" only thing.

Please go back and read the full article Barry posted.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...at-s-the-truth