Panasonic Lumix G7 lighning problem

Hello,

I have a problem with my new camera that I bought. It's, as the title says, the Panasonic Lumix G70. In the night there are every time light strips. They go literally through the whole photo. Does anybody have this problem, too? I am not sure if this is normal but if I shake the objective it feels like there is something loose inside. This is my first real Camera and I know a little bit but I am not sure if I set some wrong settings. Here is a picture how it look like with the light.

Dominik67483 wrote:

Hello,

I have a problem with my new camera that I bought. It's, as the title says, the Panasonic Lumix G70. In the night there are every time light strips. They go literally through the whole photo. Does anybody have this problem, too?

Do you have a filter on your lens?

I am not sure if this is normal but if I shake the objective it feels like there is something loose inside.

Take normal daylight photos to diagnose lens problems.

This is my first real Camera and I know a little bit but I am not sure if I set some wrong settings.

No this is lens flare, has nothing to do with the camera IMHO.

Here is a picture how it look like with the light.

To me, it looks like you were shooting through a tinted glass or window.

Definitely a lens problem. Possibly it's defective but more likely it's just dirty. Give it a good cleaning and see if that helps.

The "loose" rattle of the lens is probably normal - lenses and bodies with stabilization inside rattle a bit when turned off.

Dominik67483 wrote:

Hello,

I have a problem with my new camera that I bought. It's, as the title says, the Panasonic Lumix G70. In the night there are every time light strips. They go literally through the whole photo. Does anybody have this problem, too? I am not sure if this is normal but if I shake the objective it feels like there is something loose inside. This is my first real Camera and I know a little bit but I am not sure if I set some wrong settings. Here is a picture how it look like with the light.

In order to enable us to diagnosis your issue, it seems that an image taken in day time with full exif would be needed. It is hard to think how in day time (good lighting condition) will also exhibit similar light stripe(?) as per your response.

Downloaded the original, crop to nearly 1:1 view:

Likely some stabilization issue on using 1/8" (handheld?) shooting.

Might I also ask did those LED lights are actually shining upward to the sky? I asked because of 2 considerations.

1) Possible hand shake might cause the usual round shape lighting source into oval shape. The light booming (expected) size would therefore be enlarged (likely a double in your sample).

2) If the light are actually shining upward, under a 1/8" slow shutter speed it might capture the light path and so those light strips.

I had shot a local Lantern Carnival recently (LED light, in the dark) and if it was in perfect focus and no shaking, the LED light source should be captured in perfect circle and each be identifiable.

I am happy with this shot.

For a missed focus/shaking (very minor) image, the LED light would appear oval shape as blow (hanging lighting on the left).

Small hand shaking in this shot.

IMHO shooting the light source directly, when no other lighting around, would be quite challenge. Normally I shall either choose to show the light itself, or the environment. To show the light, shall underexpose it (monitor the brightness condition in live view) to keep min flare/booming effect. If choose to show the background likely an overexposed light source (spoil the detail of the LED light) and serious flare/booming be expected. If wish to show both, HDR be required.

Would your lens or body has problem, I suppose more samples would be required.

Take the lens off the body and look into it from both sides under all angles to see if there is a veil of dirt on an internal element. Requires bright light directly on the lens.

It is actually hard to say whether there is a problem with the camera/lens or not. When overexposing the light sources several stops/EV, these kind of things always become visible. It looks like a greasy lens element, but it's hard to say for sure.

Increasing the brightness of the dark areas in the photo makes it worse.

I would like to see a picture of the front and especially the rear surface of the lens. If someone has touched the rear lens element with greasy fingers, it's definitely possible to clean it, but personally I cannot give any decent advice. It is also possible that this has happened in the past, and something has went wrong during cleaning (two sand particles in the cloth used for cleaning, too strong chemicals...).

Dominik67483 wrote:

alcelc wrote:

In order to enable us to diagnosis your issue, it seems that an image taken in day time with full exif would be needed.

It is hard to think how in day time (good lighting condition) will also exhibit similar light stripe(?) as per your response.

I just tested it one time with the sun and there were also some strips but I don't have the effect with for example the led's in day time.

Dear friend, it is quite a common effect to shoot at the light source, e.g. the sun. It is generally classified as "Lens Flare" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_flare).

A few things we cold and had been done. On the lenses, have all sort of multiple coating on the lens surface to reduce the flare. Therefore some lens can have higher flare resist than others. 14-42, if the version-II (H-FS1442A), could be a good kit lens (not the Version-I H-FS014042) such that the flare issue should not be worse than most other lenses.

When really very strong light directly enter into the lens, flare could not be completely avoided no matter how good would be the lens. Usually change the angle of shooting slightly (can observe it in live view) to reduce or completely avoid flare.

Something interesting that under your shooting condition and angle, if we can stop down the lens to use smaller aperture like f/11~22, the flare would appear as using a star light filter.

Downloaded the original, crop to nearly 1:1 view:

Likely some stabilization issue on using 1/8" (handheld?) shooting.

Yes, I held the camera in my hand but how do you now that there is a stabilization issue?

On closer examination of the edges, can see >1 pixel formation (i.e. movement of some kind be evidenced). For Pany cameras I used (older than G7 and newer than it), when it is perfectly focused and no shaking, it should be very sharp *clearly defined edges) although noise might affect it slightly under high ISO.

Might I also ask did those LED lights are actually shining upward to the sky? I asked because of 2 considerations.

No that is a led strip which is taped around the lantern so they are shining in every direction. That's why it looks oval. I didn't shake the camera probably but I'll take another picture in the evening

Edit: here is another picture

How are your low light results? I am not satisfied. Could that hang together with this light problem?

Unlike the previous posted image, this one has no noticeable stability issue (from the perfect square shape of the lamp largely remaining intact):

And would that degree of light booming ("ghost flare" in exact terms, light radiated from the center of the lamp?) made you unhappy? This is similar to shooting directly into the sun, flare will be happened. If we wish to shoot a picture showing the dark interior, we must use a higher exposure at a cost of severe light booming around the light source.

If you have a dirty lens (greases/smudge etc, same effect to have put on a poor quality filter) the problem will be further amplified.

If you can shoot that again, might try to underexpose the shot (you can see the amount of light booming reduced according to your setting in live view. BTW, use EC would be the easiest tool). You can capture the lamp itself with good detail, but at a cost of very dark room.

A compromise (decision) we must have to make depending on what we want.

I hoped the following 2 snapshots from my trip might demonstrate the point:

To show the detail of the chandelier

or to show the room (chandelier overexposed)

Also if you can avoid the light vertically hitting on the lens (change the shooting angle slightly that you should be able to see in live view) might also reduced the flare.

1) Possible hand shake might cause the usual round shape lighting source into oval shape. The light booming (expected) size would therefore be enlarged (likely a double in your sample).

2) If the light are actually shining upward, under a 1/8" slow shutter speed it might capture the light path and so those light strips.

I had shot a local Lantern Carnival recently (LED light, in the dark) and if it was in perfect focus and no shaking, the LED light source should be captured in perfect circle and each be identifiable.

I am happy with this shot.

For a missed focus/shaking (very minor) image, the LED light would appear oval shape as blow (hanging lighting on the left).

Small hand shaking in this shot.

IMHO shooting the light source directly, when no other lighting around, would be quite challenge. Normally I shall either choose to show the light itself, or the environment. To show the light, shall underexpose it (monitor the brightness condition in live view) to keep min flare/booming effect. If choose to show the background likely an overexposed light source (spoil the detail of the LED light) and serious flare/booming be expected. If wish to show both, HDR be required.

Yes, I know. I took the photo to show the issue.

Would your lens or body has problem, I suppose more samples would be required.

Dominik67483 wrote:

GV27 wrote:

Definitely a lens problem. Possibly it's defective but more likely it's just dirty. Give it a good cleaning and see if that helps.

The "loose" rattle of the lens is probably normal - lenses and bodies with stabilization inside rattle a bit when turned off.

I cleaned the glass and the sensor but that doesn't work.

Woah.. How exactly did you clean the sensor?? :-/