17-40L and flare - DPChallenge Forums

01/04/2013 12:43:40 PM · #1

Is this a problem with this lens? I took it out last night to get a night shot of the BFB, but the lights were out. I took some shots anyhow just to see how the 17-40L behaves since i really haven't given it a good run through at night.

I had a terrible issue with flare. As you can see its not on my sensor or front element since it changes from scene to scene. the last image being the worst. now it could have just been the situation with the bright pier lights, but i wasn't over thrilled to see these results. these images are pretty much SOOC, they may have lens correction applied.

Giles

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/04/2013 01:19:50 PM · #2

it because you got direct light shining into the lens, it will always happen hoods can help a bit, have you got a sky light or uv filter on?

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

01/04/2013 01:48:02 PM · #3

Had a lens hood. No filters.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

01/04/2013 01:49:04 PM · #4

That seems pretty severe to me.

smardaz

01/04/2013 01:49:58 PM · #5

I have yet to experience flare with this lens. In fact, I watched a review by digitalrev.com on youtube before i bought it and he said he was hard pressed to get flare even pointing towards the sun.

Brent_S

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

01/04/2013 02:03:20 PM · #6

My 17-40 has always seemed very flare resistant. Those lights do look very intense though Mike and with the right angle you may have exposed the slight bit of vulnerability that lens has. I would not worry just yet, see if you continue to see flare under less extreme circumstances.

01/04/2013 03:43:54 PM · #7

Very cold night, no doubt? Camera taken out of warm car to shoot immediately, by any chance? that can cause some internal fogging, often very slight, that can result in the kind of flare you're seeing from very intense, point sources of light.

That said, I always found the 17-40mm to be a smidge more flare-prone than the 10-22 I used with the cropped sensor. My 16-35mm f/2.8's flare resistance is in the same neighborhood as the 10-22mm, for what that's worth...

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

01/04/2013 08:21:59 PM · #8

Hmm. That could have been the case. I was only outside for less than a half hour.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

01/04/2013 10:57:52 PM · #9

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

You know what that's worth? About three helpings of jealousy. ;)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/05/2013 11:54:59 AM · #10

Originally posted by Cory:

[quote=Bear_Music]You know what that's worth? About three helpings of jealousy. ;)

+1! I've not shot enough with the 17-40 at night to assess flare/ghosting. Would love to upgrade to the 16-35, but honestly I won't do it based on how much I've utilized the 17-40.

Edit for typo

Message edited by author 2013-01-05 11:57:50.

01/29/2013 09:16:05 PM · #11

took the 17-40L back out tonight, not going to post images as to give away my FS, but lets just say im not happy with the flare yet again. it was warmer out so i doubt any internal fogging could be to blame.

even under the bright lights of a ballpark my 10-22 never flared like this, heck the tamron 10-24 even performed better for flare.

01/29/2013 10:10:34 PM · #12

Something's wrong then...

RianBotes

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

01/30/2013 01:08:22 AM · #13

Mike.. Had a look at those images and I can tell you now that I would take this lens back. Those are either dust spots/smears on the element frontal or not. Is your lens 100% clean? If yes...take it back. I have 17-40 and with those kind of flares...no question its dirt or micro chippings on the glass
Please keep us posted on this

Message edited by author 2013-01-30 01:08:52.

01/30/2013 08:58:41 AM · #14

great... i bought this lens refurbished from canon. the 90 day period is close to being up... let me see what they say...

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/01/2013 04:43:05 PM · #15

well it looks like there is something on the inside face of the rear element, unfortunately i'm 1 month out of warranty. i cant tell if it a chip or just a large spec of dirt or dust.

i guess I'll send it in and see what they say...

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

02/01/2013 05:02:40 PM · #16

I very much doubt that any particle(s) on the element(s) would cause this. You'd need massive amounts of crap, or a film of something, to increase reflection that much.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/01/2013 05:07:58 PM · #17

Should I send it in?

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

02/01/2013 05:15:24 PM · #18

Originally posted by mike_311:

Should I send it in?

If I were you, I'd look carefully through it to see if there seems to be a film of something on an internal element. I really doubt this is the case. If all you see are a few particles, I would definitely not send it in.
I have not really used the 17-40 under conditions similar the images you posted, so unfortunately I can't provide a comparison. If the flare performance doesn't meet your expectations, it might be time to consider an upgrade ;-)

RianBotes

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

02/13/2013 05:43:59 AM · #19

Mike

Hope that by now you have solved this problem.

02/13/2013 07:31:48 AM · #20

not yet, i decided not to send it in and this issue only shows up in night shots and it seems that it could be a product of the location.

i need to test it out more before i decide what to do with it and i haven't had much time lately.

02/13/2013 12:15:19 PM · #21

Originally posted by mike_311:

Take a weekend trip up this way and compare it to our copy :-)

02/13/2013 02:04:21 PM · #22

If i had anytime i might. i actually did test it out first in Quincy Mass. i was up there for an inspection in the fall.

Interesting story, we had to inspect the towers on a temporary moveable lift bridge but there is really no access short of climbing (we were weren't scoped to do) and they were too tall for equipment so we decided to ride the counterweights up. Well the limit switches went bad and the motor refused to raise the bridge back up and we got stuck up there while the DOT guys got called in and tried to figure out the problem. Luckily it wasn't too cold for the hour or so were were stuck.

Unfortunately i didn't bring my camera, i didnt want to bang it around climbing up teh top of the counterweights, i could have gotten some great shots from up there. so i had to settle for these from the work camera...

i didn't get much chance for photops which is sad because it was prime foliage color, our trip got cut short and i diddt get any free time to shoot...

02/13/2013 02:10:54 PM · #23

of course this shot was take the same night iw as getting flare problems again, none to be seen in this image.

02/13/2013 02:16:18 PM · #24

Flare's weird. It shows up when you least expect it. Tiny, tiny changes in relative position of point source and lens angle seem to prompt it...