Best way to get rid of/avoid lens flare... at DVinfo.net

Peter Liptak · March 20th, 2008, 09:22 PM

Hello,

I have recently bought a wide angle lens for my camcorder. I knew I would get this issue, but what way can I get rid of the lens flare from a window or light? Is there some kind of filter or lens I can put on? I know that hood can do some good, but it will not be sufficient enough. Any ideas? Thanks

Oh, and I am not sure if this is the best thread to be in...

James Brill · March 20th, 2008, 11:54 PM

A matte box aside from holding high end square filters can also have something called a french flag connected to it which can block the light hitting the lenses creating the flare.

Also a human hand comes in handy too...

Matt Newcomb · March 21st, 2008, 12:32 AM

Person holding a folder or something to shade the light from directly hitting the lens is the cheap option. Barring that, just get some ND for the window or something.

Dean Sensui · March 21st, 2008, 04:21 AM

Making sure the lens is really clean helps, too.

Peter Liptak · March 21st, 2008, 10:00 AM

Shading the windows was not really an option. I came to my friends house to record his baby boy for a while, and I do not think they would like be shading their house every time I am there.

The folder goes along with the french flag and hood, but I want to see if there is a way of getting rid of the flare when french flag and hood are not effecting it. Like when someone passes in the front of the window while recording him/her.

Lens is spotless.

Dean Sensui · March 21st, 2008, 12:38 PM

Two other things to try:

-- Shoot from a different position so you're not backlighting the subject with the window.
-- Light up the interior to reduce the difference between the illumination inside and the brightness outside.

Bill Ward · March 21st, 2008, 01:30 PM

Well, sometimes lense flare can be fun!

But the wide angle adaptors are always more vulnerable to flare. As the others have said, a matte box with flags on the top or sides helps a lot, but in the end, it just comes down to the position of your camera in relation to a hot light source hitting the lense element.

If you don't like the look, you've either got to block the stray light, or angle your camera so the light source is at least a little behind the front of the lense.

No lense is immune to flare. However; the cheaper the glass, generally the worse looking the flare will be.

March 20th, 2008, 09:22 PM	#1
Peter Liptak New Boot Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 13	Best way to get rid of/avoid lens flare... Hello, I have recently bought a wide angle lens for my camcorder. I knew I would get this issue, but what way can I get rid of the lens flare from a window or light? Is there some kind of filter or lens I can put on? I know that hood can do some good, but it will not be sufficient enough. Any ideas? Thanks Oh, and I am not sure if this is the best thread to be in...

March 21st, 2008, 12:32 AM	#3
Matt Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 212	Person holding a folder or something to shade the light from directly hitting the lens is the cheap option. Barring that, just get some ND for the window or something. __________________ Talenos Productions at http://www.talenos.com

March 21st, 2008, 04:21 AM	#4
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Making sure the lens is really clean helps, too. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

March 21st, 2008, 12:38 PM	#6
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Two other things to try: -- Shoot from a different position so you're not backlighting the subject with the window. -- Light up the interior to reduce the difference between the illumination inside and the brightness outside. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

March 20th, 2008, 11:54 PM	#2
James Brill Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 299	A matte box aside from holding high end square filters can also have something called a french flag connected to it which can block the light hitting the lenses creating the flare. Also a human hand comes in handy too...

March 21st, 2008, 10:00 AM	#5
Peter Liptak New Boot Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 13	Shading the windows was not really an option. I came to my friends house to record his baby boy for a while, and I do not think they would like be shading their house every time I am there. The folder goes along with the french flag and hood, but I want to see if there is a way of getting rid of the flare when french flag and hood are not effecting it. Like when someone passes in the front of the window while recording him/her. Lens is spotless.

March 21st, 2008, 01:30 PM	#7
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	Well, sometimes lense flare can be fun! But the wide angle adaptors are always more vulnerable to flare. As the others have said, a matte box with flags on the top or sides helps a lot, but in the end, it just comes down to the position of your camera in relation to a hot light source hitting the lense element. If you don't like the look, you've either got to block the stray light, or angle your camera so the light source is at least a little behind the front of the lense. No lense is immune to flare. However; the cheaper the glass, generally the worse looking the flare will be.