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
"I'm not yelling. I'm Cuban. That's how we talk."

Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums

My Smug Site

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
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • 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
    "I'm not yelling. I'm Cuban. That's how we talk."

    Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums

    My Smug Site
  • 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
    "I'm not yelling. I'm Cuban. That's how we talk."

    Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums

    My Smug Site
  • David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,245 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.
    My Smugmug
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
  • 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
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • 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
    http://www.danielkimphotography.com
  • 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!!!
    "I'm not yelling. I'm Cuban. That's how we talk."

    Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums

    My Smug Site
Sign In or Register to comment.