Heat Reflection

[thomasd]

The problem is taking photo,s of birds on marsh flat the heat waves make my photo,s look out of focus is there a filter or technique to do away with this
I use a 10D and a 100-400L glass

[RichardtheSane]

Pretty much nothing you can do I'm afraid... except shoot at a time of day when there is less heat.

[Digital Prophet]

Would a polarizer help with this. I mean the heat effect is caused by the bending of light. So if it is bent out of the polarized plane wouldn't it not make it through the filter?

Just a thought from someone that has no idea what he is talking about.

- Digital Prophet -

[steven]

Unfortunatly the heat waves are mostly distortion of the light and for the most part don't polarize it.
So a polarized filter wouldn't help.

[Steveo31]

Yeah, nothin you can do except shoot at another time of the day. Besides, this may be used to your advantage in a creative perspective....

[Molydood]

a little at tangents perhaps, but I remember reading about a new telescope being developed that adjusted to atmospheric distortion via a huge matrix of tiny adjusters attached behind the mirror surface.
I thought it was unbelievably impressive as it had to adjust at a ridiculous speed too. Can't remember the details, but I think the point I'm trying to make is that the heat haze problem may be fixable, but you would need some pretty serious project funding :-)

[RichardtheSane]

Be cheaper to buy a decent hide and get closer ;)

(and to be honest I wouldn't want a mirror anywhere in my lens...)