An "Aha" Moment

anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
edited March 17, 2014 in Landscapes
So the last few times I've been shooting long exposure with my 10-stop ND filter, I noticed that a couple of images were complete garbage due to what I assumed was lens flare. Looked like very weird lens flare since it was so symmetrical but that's what I chalked it up to. Well, today while sitting at my desk trying to think of things other than how the code for the stored procedure I was writing I realized something... if I'm shooting in relatively bright condition but shooting a very long exposure, like +30 second, even minimal light will be exposed by the sensor. And then I thought to myself, "The freaking viewfinder!!!".

Well, a quick google search on "light leak viewfinder long exposure" and bam... Confirmed.

I will now cover my viewfinder during long exposure. Maybe all of you know this but I thought I'd share in case there is one other dummy on this forum.

Here are examples of the light leak. First is real bad. Second is a little more subtle.

13138122024_df43d54864_b.jpg

12913065905_fcba9fa12a_b.jpg
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Comments

  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2014
    Aah hem... Canon cameras come with a sliding rubber viewfinder cover attached to the OEM strap. deal.gif
    That's Canon... C-A-N-O-N in case you need to Google it. :D
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2014
    Earache wrote: »
    Aah hem... Canon cameras come with a sliding rubber viewfinder cover attached to the OEM strap. deal.gif
    That's Canon... C-A-N-O-N in case you need to Google it. :D

    Figures Canon would provide something like that. After all, Canon can expert their shooters to figure this stuff out on their own. rolleyes1.gif

    Can you tell I'm jelly. HAHA
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2014
    Laughing.gif. I just had another aha moment. My freaking D700 has a built in viewfinder shutter. There is a little lever next the viewfinder eyepiece. You turn it and vialo! The eyepiece is closed. I've had this freaking camera for 3 years and am just now figuring this out. I guess there is something to reading the instructions. deal.gifheadscratch.gif
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  • David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,250 moderator
    edited March 13, 2014
    You can't say you didn't learn something today. :D

    I've lost two of those Canon rubber eyepiece covers. You'd expect for three and a half thousand buckaroos, they'd place a viewfinder shutter on the thing, just like their 1D bigger brothers. One of my biggest niggles with the 5DIII.
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  • bocoboco Registered Users Posts: 710 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2014
    mooie tweede.
    time niet zo mijn ding.
    grt,boco.
    http://s281.photobucket.com/user/tutgro/slideshow/wolken%20boven%20de%20polder?sort=3
  • WillCADWillCAD Registered Users Posts: 722 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2014
    Oops, sorry, I misread this thread's title. I thought it had something to do with tuna.
    What I said when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time: "The wide ain't wide enough and the zoom don't zoom enough!"
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited March 14, 2014
    Thanks for the reminder, Alex! thumb.gif
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  • T H O RT H O R Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
    edited March 14, 2014
    Oh wow...yeah I guess so. Sorry that you have a couple of ruined images there. Does your camera have an eyepiece shutter? I shoot with a D800/E and thy have a shutter... Aside the light leak, those are wonderful shots. I like them both but #2 is my fave because it's brighter.

    Todd
  • QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited March 17, 2014
    jesus..that's what that little thing is for! haha
    D700, D600
    14-24 24-70 70-200mm (vr2)
    85 and 50 1.4
    45 PC and sb910 x2
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited March 17, 2014
    Qarik wrote: »
    jesus..that's what that little thing is for! haha

    Laughing.gif! Who knew!!! Huh Daniel. I guess we People Shooters can learn something from these Landscape Nerds!!!
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