Strange reflection of lens barrel in footage

M

Malcolm Wright

Well-known member
Hi all,

I'm about to cross the Simpson desert in central Australia: my HVX must see the world!
As a side note, I really enjoyed the thread about extra frame rates, and am going to see if I have any luck shooting night skies in the desert with the longer exposures made possible! Thank you Chakamonkey and Barry!

I have noticed a worrying phenomenon on a couple of shoots, generally involving high light level situations coming into the lens from certain angles: the recorded image ends up with a ghostly reflection of parts of the inside of the lens barrel.

Is this a problem common to all video cameras? I have never encountered it with the other cameras I have shot with.

It is a serious problem: two landscape shots are unusable as a result, and with the distances involved here in Australia, to return with a different camera is out of the question.

Please, people of the forum, shine your wisdom on this matter!

I hope you all are well...

M.
 
Sounds like lens flare to me and if so, you're right it is common with cameras.
 
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I had the same issue on the DVX but it was a cheap UV filter that was reflecting the lens components back into itself. I took that bad boy off and have since avoided using any unneccesary elements in front of the lens itself. Were you using any filters?
 
Malcolm Wright said:
..., generally involving high light level situations coming into the lens from certain angles: the recorded image ends up with a ghostly reflection of parts of the inside of the lens barrel.
Click to expand...
Is it like a blue tint on the glass?
 
Malcolm Wright said:
the recorded image ends up with a ghostly reflection of parts of the inside of the lens barrel.
Click to expand...
I've seen this as well with the Canon GL1 when I use a filter. The longer depth of field of 1/3" cameras, at a small iris and with sunlight directly shining into the lens barrel, causes the illuminated parts to reflect clearly (almost in focus) on the inside surface of the filter.

What you'll need to do is flag the lens barrel to keep light from shining directly into it.
 
Sorry for the late response: I've been unable to connect to the net until now!
Yes, I had a fairly cheap UV filter on... It is good to hear that this can be overcome so simply!
Thank you VERY much for the responses!

M.
 
It sounds like a lens flare refraction, as mentioned before. It is probably bouncing off your filter. However, keep as much light of the lens as possible. This includes the reflection from below the lens, off the ground, desert, water, pavement, whatever. this should solve your problem.
 
I noticed this on mine and had never seen it before.

I dont think you would call this "lens flare". If you point the camera towards a bright source, it reflects the interior of the lens off the lens so much that it dominates the image. It is seen when at it's widest point. You can easily zoom through it though.

Possibly from the lens coating?

td
 
Td,

Why don't you have yours evaluated by a dealer, as I have never seen this before. The issue that Malcom was having was caused by having a cheap filter in front of his lens. I can't imagine what yours is caused by. Please have your dealer evaluate it.

Best,

Jan
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
Td,

Why don't you have yours evaluated by a dealer, as I have never seen this before. The issue that Malcom was having was caused by having a cheap filter in front of his lens. I can't imagine what yours is caused by. Please have your dealer evaluate it.

Best,

Jan
Click to expand...

I just purchased an HVX 200, what is the best filter to protect the lens? I would like the best with no quality difference. Thanks.
 
I could be wrong but it sounds like an internal flare...light bouncing off and reflecting inside of the lens. Most of the higher end cameras have setable offsets to correct this issue for video.

As for a cheap UV filter...why you guys buy a camera for 6 grand and then throw a cheapo UV filter on it??? I do not understand this miser mentality of certain equipment owners.

If you are going to drop the coin for the camera, then spend the extra 70-100 bucks for a for filter from B+W.
 
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