Unexpected reflections

[Pope_Larry_II]

I spent some time last night shooting and upon review this morning, I noted an odd reflection in this series of shots.

[img]
The Palace Arms at night by Craig in TO, on Flickr

The neon sign is reflected in the diagonal corner, none of the surrounding surfaces were reflective and they are on opposite sides of the building. There is nothing across the street that would cause this either.

How did this happen? Is it something in the camera/lens that does it?

(this was something I spotted when the phone booth contest was proposed and decided to shoot it anyway)

[sleeping]

I believe what you’re seeing is a reflection off the sensor, then back from the rear element of the lens. This is something that tends to happen more with older lenses that predate DSLRs – sensors are more reflective than film, and they weren’t designed to deal with that.

[Pope_Larry_II]

I believe what you’re seeing is a reflection off the sensor, then back from the rear element of the lens. This is something that tends to happen more with older lenses that predate DSLRs – sensors are more reflective than film, and they weren’t designed to deal with that.

Okay, that makes sense I was shooting with my Nikkor 28-70, and it’s an older lens.

Thanks Sleeping!

[caradoc]

It also happens when people keep a UV filter or other piece of unnecessary glass on the front of their lens.

[chupathingie]

Man, if I could block UV without reflections… saw the exact same thing doing a run of astrophotos. It tamed the purple halos, but at a price…

/cool pic. Conspicuously absent payphones, even.

[caradoc]

You shooting film for the astrophotos? Most digital cameras have a built-in UV/IR filter on the sensor… which is why I mentioned “unnecessary.”

[chupathingie]

Good enough UV block for terrestrial, but stars are bright in UV with a black (or considerably darker) background. Even with APO glass you see purple halos around them.

I wonder if a rear filter would be less prone to visible reflections?

[caradoc]

I wonder if a rear filter would be less prone to visible reflections?

Likely.

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