Kit lens - lens flare example

[tim]

I thought i'd post a classic example of a problem with the kit lens - massive lens flare. In comparison, the Tamron 28-75 has no flare at all. This is one reason we buy decent lenses with decent coatings :)

[Andy_T]

Tim,

did you use any kind of filters on the lens?
I had no problems so far with night shots with the kit lens.
But then, I didn't overexpose bright lights as much.

Best regards,
Andy

[HKFEVER]

I have similar problem a while ago, which I wrap the filter with my T shirt.

[tim]

Nope, no filters, and that's a deliberately overexposed shot, I was bracketing my exposures. The other exposures show the same thing, just to a lesser extent.

[blinking8s]

seriously...after extensive use...ive come to learn one thing...the kit lens sucks

i use it yes, but compared to anything else I own...or have used, its one of the worst lenses

[tim]

I think it's fine, most of the time the quality's similar to my Tamron 28-75. Lens flare is one example where it falls short. There are some comparison tests I did here (http://www.mrwild.co.nz/ExperimentalGallery/Tests/LensTests/index.html).

[Mike Panic]

use a multi coated filter and a lens hood

[Andy_T]

Mike,

I disagree.

Any kind of filter will make this worse most likely.

Actually, it looks very much like some pictures I took with my Tamron 28-75/2.8 with a Hoya SMC UV0 filter ... until I took off the filter.

Best regards,
Andy

[defordphoto]

I thought i'd post a classic example of a problem with the kit lens - massive lens flare. In comparison, the Tamron 28-75 has no flare at all. This is one reason we buy decent lenses with decent coatings :)

HAH! That's about what my vision looked like on the first day of my Lasik surgery! My kit lens doesn't do that. That's looks funky.

[HKFEVER]

Print out some picture with the same kit len in different f/value with the same shoot. And print out some with different lens. Then send them in to Canon ask for replacement or repair. Because your kit len looks really bad. like the old lens without coating.

[jbradc]

That is not normal, what have you been cleaning the lens with?

[tim]

That's the first time i've gotten flare. I'm not sure if i've ever clean this lens, if I have it'd be with a lens cloth or lens tissue/lens fluid. I use the lens about once per month and never for anything important, so i'd not bother having it replaced. There's no way i'd put a filter on, it'd cost more than the lens! I suspect it wouldn't fix the problem either, and may make it worse.

I mainly posted it to show why people don't really like the kit lens! I don't mind it actually, for non-demanding wide shots.

[griff2]

I think you were just unlucky with your aperture/focal length. Here's a night shot with the kit lens aperture at f/8 and focal length 33mm:
http://www.griff2.co.uk/pictures/jesmond_dene_kit_lens.jpg

[foxbat]

I think it's fine, most of the time the quality's similar to my Tamron 28-75. Lens flare is one example where it falls short. There are some comparison tests I did here (http://www.mrwild.co.nz/ExperimentalGallery/Tests/LensTests/index.html).

These tests, my own experience and the above f/8 night shot have convinced me that f/8 and f/11 are the sweet spots for the kit lens. f/5.6 and f/16 are very usable apertures too if you know your way around PS.