Dirty sensor or bright lights??

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310
Name
Dom
Edit My Images
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Hi All,

I was messing around with some long exposure shots just now, and keep getting the circles in the photos, like below. Is this caused by my sensor needing cleaning, or something more innocent, like car headlights, or street lights?

Exposure was 30secs.

Thanks,

Dom
 
dirty_sensor.jpg
 
My guess would be a filter after looking at the shot, two options really either take the filter off or use a lens hood :thumbs:

If no filter then it is just normal lens flare and the solution is a lens hood

It is not a dirty sensor that I can be sure off :)

Matt
MWHCVT
 
Its called lens flare Dom, try shooting again but remove your filter and you should get rid of this problem. Try doing a search here and you'll get some tech reasons for this.

Ian
 
Ok thanks for the advice. I was using a lens hood, but I suppose with it being dark, and street lights, car lights etc, must have caused it. At least I don't need to clean the sensor!!

Thanks,

Dom
 
It's the filter. Take it off, and only use it when there's muck or something flying in your direction.

They do absolutely nothing with digital, except cause flare problems. Who on earth suggested you fit a skylight anyway? :gag:
 
Probably the shop assistant when he bought the lens.

It usually is ;) Filters, like most accessories, are very high profit margin and it's not uncommon for a shop to make more money on a filter and a bag than they do on the camera.

Being more helpful... Use a lens hood. They are excellent for a bit of physical protection.

A skylight filter is very slightly yellow/pinkish, and as well as cutting UV, they are supposed to help with really bright skies on film.

But actually they were pretty much a waste of time on film too, and since digital has a comprehensive UV and IR filter set over the sensor anyway, completely unnecessary.
 
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