Help? Odd lens flare in photo

cmarie87 · Jan 20, 2014

Needing some help. I have been experiencing this odd lens flare/reflection in images recently and it's quite annoying. Used Canon xsi, 50mm 1.8 @ ISO 1600, f/1.8, SS 1/60

I know the lens flare/reflection is of the candles, because the shape is the same as the positioning of the candles on the cake. It only happens when I use the 50mm. I've only had the 50mm about a month now. Can anyone help or offer some advice to make it stop in the future? Thank you

Aloicious · Jan 20, 2014

do you have a filter on the lens? if so, take it off.

Derrel · Jan 20, 2014

Looks to me like maybe a UV or haze filter is on the lens, and the flat filter surface is causing flares on the candles. I've encountered this before myself.

cmarie87 · Jan 20, 2014

Thanks! That's what it was. I just tested a cupcake & candle without the filter on and it's not there anymore. I appreciate the help!

table1349 · Jan 20, 2014

Out of curiosity, why the filter? Grandpa a spitter when he blows out candles? That is the kind of thing that happens when you introduce an unnecessary piece of glass into an unnecessary situation. Glad you got it fixed.

cmarie87 · Jan 20, 2014

Actually, quite embarrassingly, I just grabbed my camera and left the house without checking what equipment I had. I guess the filter was still on from a prior outing.

Big Mike · Jan 20, 2014

This is why I don't use UV filters. Firstly, digital cameras are not sensitive to UV light....and they will always reduce your image quality and or cause problems with flare etc.

Sure, they are used for protection, and that's valid. But I'd rather take 10,000 shots at a higher quality (without the filter) and pay to fix a lens, than shoot those 10,000 images at a lower quality.

KmH · Jan 20, 2014

Understanding Camera Lens Flare

There is a UV filter in front of the image sensor to block UV light.

UV (or clear) filters used for 'protection' cause many more problems than they solve.