What is this glow in my pics?

pannayar · Dec 21, 2012

Occasionally in some of my shots, I get this streak of light glow in the middle. Would that mean the sensor/camera is going or gone bad? Here are a couple of pics showing it. I have marked it with a red oval in the 1st one, you can see it much more prominently in the 2nd one. Thanks.

kgbruce01 · Dec 21, 2012

... do you use a filter on your lens, perhaps?

Charles2 · Dec 21, 2012

Less guessing if you specify the camera and lens and, as already pointed out, filter if any.

Is the glow always in the same place in the uncropped image?

Deleted1929 · Dec 21, 2012

Using a hood makes flare less likely and using a filter makes it more likely.

Nothing will completely prevent it in all circumstances, alas.

pannayar · Dec 21, 2012

No filter. Both are uncropped images. So the streak is not exactly in the same place, but roughly in the middle of the frame.

Momotarou · Dec 21, 2012

Charles2 said:
Charles2 wrote:

Less guessing if you specify the camera and lens and, as already pointed out, filter if any.

Is the glow always in the same place in the uncropped image?

All that information is in the exif.

Steve Throndson · Dec 21, 2012

This is a mystery. Have a look at the front of your lens to see if there are any smudges or streaks. The sensor is not easily accessible for cleaning, so there's nothing you can do there, short of taking it to a service center. Could be just lens flare. You could test it by taking some shots right into a light source, or with the light just out of the frame, and see if the same streak shows up.

pannayar · Dec 21, 2012

I had cleaned the lens to make it free of any obvious smudges or stains... it looks quite clean as far as I can tell. Most shots come out to be normal. I will try it with light sources nearby and see it is more repeatable... Thanks.

Charles2 · Dec 21, 2012

Since the problem is not a fixed spot on the sensor, it is very likely the lens, either flare or a scratch. A hood might prevent the problem, but it doesn't look like your camera, a Canon Powershot A570, could comfortably wear one. If you can spot the problem on a shot when you are at the scene, you can hold a rolled up tube of paper around the lens barrel.

Tom Axford · Dec 22, 2012

From the information you have given, it seems very unlikely to me that it is either lens flare or scratches, etc. on the lens or sensor.

Just a wild guess, but I wonder if it is a light leak in the camera body or lens mount? If so, you may be able to see it on the LCD screen by doing the following:

Turn the camera on, but block any light from entering the lens by using a lens cap (or a piece of black paper or black cloth over the lens would do). The image on the screen should be completely black. Then, keeping the lens covered, shine a bright light on the camera from every possible angle. If the screen does not remain completely black, then you have a light leak.

pannayar · Dec 22, 2012

Thanks for the suggestion(s). I can try the light leak experiment.

I seem to think it is just random lens flare. Why do you think that is not the case?

Tom Axford · Dec 22, 2012

pannayar said:
pannayar wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion(s). I can try the light leak experiment.

I seem to think it is just random lens flare. Why do you think that is not the case?

Lens flare is most commonly in the form of a diffuse area of light around a very bright light source and as ghost images of the very bright light source (often very much out of focus and badly distorted, but still often recognisable). In your examples, I cannot see any sign of a very bright light just outside the frame that could be causing the flare.

The example below shows flare caused by the sun in the frame. Bear in mind that the sun is a lot brighter than most light sources, so flare like this is not likely with most artificial light sources. Also, notice how the ghost images are mainly on a straight line through the centre of the frame to the light source, which is very typical.

Just another thought - are you getting the problem only when you use the flash?

pannayar · Dec 22, 2012

No flash. I think I had shot a few of the 2nd pic. Only one of them had the glow in the middle. I cannot say conditions were exactly identical since the light source(s) outside the car might have been different.

Hank3152 · Dec 22, 2012

Sorry,.......meant for the OP

Appears to be lens flare.......

In the first pic I'd guess you were standing near/under a light source. The second pic has several streaks at different angles emanating from the same source, either the sun or a reflection of it.

Next time when shooting towards the light, cup your hand near the lens to block it........

pannayar · Dec 22, 2012

Hank3152 said:
Hank3152 wrote:

In the first pic I'd guess you were standing near/under a light source. The second pic has several streaks at different angles emanating from the same source, either the sun or a reflection of it.

You are right. I think there was a night light I was standing under (more or less) in the first one. And in the 2nd one the sun was outside.

malabraxis · Dec 23, 2012

If you look carefully, you'll notice that the streaks are always the same angle; and the left streak is stronger than the right one. Looks to me like ghosting. Different than flare in that light is reflected INSIDE the lens itself and is indicative of faulty manufacture, (eg: mis-aligned lens elements, the actual lens leaking at the attachment base). Flare is the "splatter" of light on the FRONT lens element.

You should take it back to your vendor, if it's still under warranty. Of course I could be wrong, but I've had similar problems in the past.

Let us know how it turns out.

pannayar · Dec 23, 2012

malabraxis said:
malabraxis wrote:

You should take it back to your vendor, if it's still under warranty...

It is a 5 year old A570is purchased for $40. I do like it a lot though - good pics, extremely light and full camera control (+CHDK), AA convenience.

malabraxis · Dec 23, 2012

pannayar said:
pannayar wrote:

pannayar said:

malabraxis wrote:

You should take it back to your vendor, if it's still under warranty...

Click to expand...

It is a 5 year old A570is purchased for $40. I do like it a lot though - good pics, extremely light and full camera control (+CHDK), AA convenience.

Ok, then it's not under warranty anymore. It could have been damaged in use somehow ( if you see the way I treat my gear sometimes, brrrr).I don't know what the repair cost are, assuming I'm right (big assumption).Try the light-leak test as Tom Axford suggested and I really hope you come right. Not much else I can suggest. Strenth!

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What is this glow in my pics?

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