Homemade Filter - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

11/14/2006 08:24:27 PM · #1

I'm having trouble with a glare on my lens when I'm shooting in a low-light situation with my Christmas tree lit up and a very slow shutter speed. I've been told a polarizing filter can help with that, but I have no money for camera toys right now. Is there any way to make my own polarizing filter that will do a reasonably good job?

Any help ASAP would be great.

DelRioPhoto

Nikon D700

11/14/2006 08:28:51 PM · #2

Hmmm, not unless you have a piece of polarized glass laying around somewhere. You might try your sunglasses. Some of the more expensive sunglasses have polarized lenses.

Wait a minute......Christmas tree? It's not Thankgiving yet. Are you related to my wife?

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super II for Canon

11/14/2006 08:33:29 PM · #3

Hey, I just bought it and set it up just to make sure all the parts went together! And once it was up, it was too much work to think about having to put it up again!!! So it's up, with lights, but no decorations yet. And it's just sitting in a corner. I refuse to put the decorations on until after Thanksgiving!!

Back to the task at hand... my sunglasses are prescription. Will that mess things up?

NovaTiger

Canon EOS-20D

11/14/2006 08:38:06 PM · #4

What is the glare from? Are you talking about the star burst pattern that radiates out from the bulbs of the lights?

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/14/2006 08:40:22 PM · #5

I don't know what it's from. It's a whitish circular glare right in the center of every picture I took.

justine

Canon EOS-50D

11/14/2006 08:51:05 PM · #6

What are you taking pictures of? Duh- I see the Xmas tree. What kind of lights in the room? Maybe if you don't shoot directly at the tree and bump the lights in the room.
could we see an example?

Message edited by author 2006-11-14 20:58:04.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/14/2006 08:57:20 PM · #7

It's Christmas lights in a totally dark room. I'd show you examples, but I don't know how without having to become a paying member. If you can enlighten me, I'd be happy to!

justine

Canon EOS-50D

11/14/2006 08:59:35 PM · #8

Sorry, I'm slow in the head tonight.

Try more light in the room if you can. Other then that I'm not sure what to suggest without seeing the shot. Hope you can save some of your shots and they are usable.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

11/14/2006 09:22:01 PM · #9

Originally posted by SquishyB:

It's Christmas lights in a totally dark room. I'd show you examples, but I don't know how without having to become a paying member. If you can enlighten me, I'd be happy to!

You can upload to photobucket.com then post the photos here or you can pony up $25 for a membership :)

11/14/2006 09:52:10 PM · #10

Okay, I've got some of the photos uploaded... now what?

11/14/2006 09:53:28 PM · #11

copy the links here so we can see them, you can use the button of the earth(middle button) and paste the link there.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/14/2006 10:00:11 PM · #12

Okay, here we go. All of these photos were taken with the same settings. Yet the glare doesn't show up in all of them.

//i131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/SquishyB/DSCN0048.jpg
//i131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/SquishyB/DSCN0086.jpg
//i131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/SquishyB/DSCN0104.jpg
//i131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/SquishyB/DSCN0070.jpg
//i131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/SquishyB/DSCN0054.jpg
//i131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/SquishyB/DSCN0051.jpg
//i131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/SquishyB/DSCN0052.jpg

Edit to fix links.

Message edited by author 2006-11-14 22:02:52.

Katmystiry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/14/2006 10:07:09 PM · #13

This time of year you could probably pick up an inexpensive (really big and ugly) pair of polarizing sunglasses and use those. I really thought this image was cool DSCN0070.jpg

justine

Canon EOS-50D

11/14/2006 10:09:38 PM · #14

DSCN0052.jpg
Is a good example. I see what your talking about.
Some of the others appear to be camera movement.
Now as to the cause:
1. the lens refraction or the sweet spot where it's focusing?
2. Dirty lens?
3. Distance from the lights on the tree?
That would be the extent of my guesses. I'm sorry I don't have the answer but feel sure someone will here at DPC.

11/14/2006 10:11:15 PM · #15

Thanks for the tips. I'll keep trying. Any more thoughts are greatly welcomed!

fotomann_forever

11/14/2006 10:11:19 PM · #16

First off, your shutter speeds are too slow to be handheld... but I see the glare you are talking about.

Looks like you might want to clean your lens... :-) But, try again with room lights on. This should help a bit.

11/14/2006 10:12:26 PM · #17

I am by no means an expert but it seems to be a lens flare which is why it shows up in the photos where the camera is fairly still, did you try moving your camera farther back to see if the spot moves. If the camera is moving around the flare can't set itself in the the exposure. try making your hands like a cup around the lens just outside the frame to see if you can block the flare. It doesn't seem to be a major problem, I get flares in longer exposure and lowlight shots too. Another thought, is your lens clean?

11/14/2006 10:14:13 PM · #18

The camera's on a tripod. But it is a crummy tripod. It was my dad's, probably 30 years old and is a sorry excuse for a tripod!

How and with what do you recommend cleaning my lens? I've never done it.

fotomann_forever

11/14/2006 10:15:44 PM · #19

Originally posted by SquishyB:

Best thing is microfiber cloth...

However, I've been cleaning lenses with old t-shhirts for 16 years and have never scratched one.

11/14/2006 10:23:07 PM · #20

Before you try and clean it, did you put it up to the light to and see if it is dirty. You said you had prescription glasses, so use what ever you cloth you use for those to clean the lens. I use T-shirts too :)

FireBird

11/14/2006 10:47:04 PM · #21

Originally posted by SquishyB:

Do have any filter over the lens? What I'm seeing looks to be an internal reflection in the lens system.

11/14/2006 11:04:26 PM · #22

Originally posted by fir3bird:

Do have any filter over the lens? What I'm seeing looks to be an internal reflection in the lens system.

Nope, I don't even own any filters.

Message edited by author 2006-11-14 23:04:53.

11/14/2006 11:29:37 PM · #23

Okay, I just finished another shoot. I did everything -- changed the lighting, angle, distance, shutter speed, etc. These are the best I came up with. I don't know exactly what made the difference, but I'm sure glad SOMEthing worked!!

//s131.photobucket.com/albums/p292/SquishyB/

Message edited by author 2006-11-14 23:30:01.

11/14/2006 11:32:18 PM · #24

Excellent!!!! Sometimes you're just set up in the wrong place, I am glad to here it worked out though. Now if we were just having a christmas lights challenge...