Is it flare, internal reflections or a ghost

[jwilton]

I have a new camera and new lens photographing an old subject matter. Since the new camera+lens (Canon 6D and Canon 24-105 f4 L) I have been getting a green ghost image(s). Does anyone know what this is and how to avoid it?

It looks like internal reflections of the really bright lights on the bridge and the wharf.

On this photo are two examples of the problem:
- Top centre green boxes (5)
- Centre centre green dots (7) that appear just above the bridges arch
Any and all help appreciated.

 

[JimKarczewski]

Is there a filter on the lens? If so is it a $10 POS or a high quality multi-coated filter?

I see a lot of stuff like this when there is a filter and a crap one at that on a lens.

 

[jwilton]

No filter just a hood.

 

[arjay]

These are reflections, could be internal...

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

You mention other images that have this, can you show them? It does look like some sort of internal lens reflection. Those bright lights below the bridge are pointing right at you, and its obviously a long exposure, so even a very minimal reflection will show up.

 

[jwilton]

Thanks Arjay, that makes sense. How does one fix this problem? Apart from not pointing lens at bright lights.

Is it a fault with the camera/lens or the user (me) or both?

 

[AUGS]

These are reflections, could be internal...

Agreed, definitely reflections. If you use this image and the drawn centre by Arjay, you will find less obvious (fainter) reflections of the lights as well. They are not stars as they are stationary and not starting to have a trail like the few stars you can see.
These happen with most lenses when pointed towards or at a bright light source. Night photography makes them far more obvious because the bright light reflection(s) inevitably end up on a dark sky. Sometimes you just cannot avoid them.
To fix, I use Lightroom to spot heal where I can.

 

[arjay]

Some lenses have more flare and internal reflections than others. Manufacturers try to cut down on this with coated lenses and whatnot, but, you can't really eliminate this flare with the lens you have. (Photoshopping it out of the sky isn't hard, other places maybe harder...)

 

[jwilton]

Thank you Arjay and AUGS. Noted user error.

 

[jwilton]

Mr Spokane Photography - two examples one is with 6D from another angle and other with 40D similar position.

Note these are not long exposures (10-15sec) so no star trails etc.

 

[arjay]

Thank you Arjay and AUGS. Noted user error.

User error, perhaps... but more like running into limitations of equipment that has less than 100% of internal reflections suppressed.

 

[jwilton]

Thank you all. I tried several lens/camera/exposure combinations this morning and found only my most expensive 24-105 Canon L lens produced this problem and only when I have (relatively) bright light in the subject. Most disappointed that the lens does not manage the internal reflections better. Though on balance I still like my new lens.

Test combinations included 40D, 6D - Canon 24-105L, Canon 75-300, Samyang 14.

 

[Marsu42]

Most disappointed that the lens does not manage the internal reflections better.

Flare/Reflection control is a very underrated characteristic of a lens and seldom mentioned - the 24-105 is general purpose, so it probably was not the main design concern. For dedicated landscape lenses it's different, that's why I'm very happy with my 17-40L which doesn't show any flare or reflection (yet) no matter where you point it...

 

[Lichtgestalt]

j.j.abrams is messing with your files!!!

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Since it is a new lens, I'd exchange it for another. Sometimes there can be a manufacturing defect that makes internal reflections worse.

 

[Frodo]

There was a recall of early version of that lens for flare: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/canon-flare.shtml

I have a 24-105 and I find it to be quite ghost resistant. My 70-200 f4L non-IS was terrible with ghosts when shooting into bright lights, such as the sun - my 24-105 was much better.

The contrast range in your night photos will challenge most lenses, especially zooms with large numbers of lens elements. Your highlights are completely burnt out (no criticism of the photo), while the skies are relatively dark. Even so, I've shot night cityscapes with that lens on a 5Dii (e.g. under the Sydney harbour bridge) and I can't remeber ghosts being a problem - I'll check. Is the sensor of the 6D shinier such that it causes more internal reflections?

 

[ejenner]

I was thinking the same thing. The scene will test any lens for sure, but I find that lens to be quite flare resistant. Hard to say without comparing the scene with another lens (either the same model, or something similar).

 

[Frodo]

Here is a photo of a nightscape with my 24-105 @ 24mm and f8 (the bridge photos were with a different lens). Although I've used just the centre of this image, I've looked at the full frame and ghosts, if at all present, are inconspicuous.

 

[wickidwombat]

Since it is a new lens, I'd exchange it for another. Sometimes there can be a manufacturing defect that makes internal reflections worse.

I doubt it most 24-105s i've seen and used do this when shooting into hard large spotlights

 

[Frodo]

Just tidying up some photos from last year and here is a photo of the 24-105 shoot straight into the sun on a 5D @ f11. I think I would have left my Hoya Pro-1 UV filter attached because of the conditions in Antarctica. I think that the flare resistance is more than acceptable for a zoom. The green ghost was easily cloned out.