5D MKII Strange Center Flare Question for Chuck W and others

[Paul_F_Caldwell]

I recently shot a series of sunset images for HDR with a 5D MKII. It has the new firmware. I noticed after I started to work up the HDR series, that on almost every image, there was a large red circle, center to the image. Not the normal sun flare I have seen in the past that tends to follow an angle from the sun. I found this issue on pretty much all the shots from this shoot. I was using a 24-70 Canon lens for all the shooting. I did have the stock hood on. ISO was 100. I had taken a large series of shots of a full moon up to 55 sec exposures and didn't notice this effect, however this was before the new firmware was added.

Here is a link to 3 image examples
TestGalleryNo1

Sunset HDR is a normal part of my workflow and I have thousands of images taken with a 1ds MKII in very similar situations and have not seen this type of cast. I feel it's more a cast than flare, but would appreciate others opinions. I have yet to get out and reshoot since I noticed this.

I just realized that Canon is using a new coating on the MKII, Flourine, and wondered if it might have caused such a flare.

Thanks
Paul Caldwell

[BobSmith]

That sure looks a whole lot like an effect that was common on Kodak's 14n when used with certain lenses. Kodak lessened the effect on the second generation cameras with a different coating or filter on the sensor. It would be most apparent when there was something very bright in the image. Your skies certainly qualify. You've exposed the skies so light that you're going to be apt to cause some sort of flare artifacts on most any system. I wouldn't blame the camera too much here. The effect is caused by an interaction of the sensor and a reflection off of the rear element of the lens. Certain lens designs were far more likely to cause the effect than others. With the 14n, it was only three or four specific Nikon lenses that would predictably cause the effect. On the 14n the effect would be stronger and could be brought on by something not nearly as bright as the skies in your images.

Bob Smith

[MathewLodge]

Just a thought: did you have any kind of filter (including UV) on the lens?

[Paul_F_Caldwell]

Thanks Bob and Mathew.

Bob, I had forgotten about the 14n and the issue you pointed out. I had a test camera and had this problem with several of my Nikon lenses, and then sold everything when the original 1ds came out.

Mathew, I had a CL-PL on during part of the shoot and two of the three images were taken with the CL-PL on. The 1st and 2nd were taken with the CL-PL on (left to right).

Paul Caldwell

[ChuckWestfall]

Hi, Paul:

To troubleshoot this a bit further, I would suggest comparing photos with and without any lens filters to see if that might be a contributing factor. I would also try some shots with a different lens under the same conditions.

[Paul_F_Caldwell]

Chuck,

Thanks for the input. I have been hoping to get out and use several different lenses, but so far weather has prevented. But will post something as soon as I get it.

Paul Caldwell

[Lenny Hartley]

Paul as an aside, have you used your Zoerk with the 5dMk2
Im getting mine tomorrow and although Zoerk say no issues with
their psa, I remember some issues with the mirror on the original 5d
so if would be good to get confirmation that their are no issues..
cheers
Lenny