ARC in Photos

[qtrumpore]

In bright light, I have this disturbing arc in my photos, even in full auto on my Digital Rebel.

I tried setting the ISO everywhere from 200-1600.

In some photos, it is so bad, there is a white swish up through the middle of the picture.

[qtrumpore]

I know, I appear to have a dirty lens. Hard to keep the dust off in the desert of Iraq. I have ordered a UV filter to help keep the dust off the lens.

[PhotosGuy]

The white arc might be flare. Are you using a lens shade?

[CyberDyneSystems]

... I think the dirt is on your CMOS sensor in the camera,. not the lens...

But that arc is really weird? Your saying it is on all your images in the same place?

If it is that consistant I would think it has to be a problem in the camera... I don't suppose it's possible to get it serviced?

[RAriola]

I think your sensor is real dirty. I smell expensive repairs a comin

[ssim]

The dust is definitely on the sensor. That is easily fixed.

Does this arc appear on more than one lens. If it does, then I think you need to get the camera in to be checked. If it is only on one lens, then I would conclude that it is the lens and it should hit the service center.

[qtrumpore]

I only have one lens. I have cleaned the sensor twice since getting the camera, but it is hard to find a clean environment.

[PhotosGuy]

it is hard to find a clean environment. I'll bet!
My lens shade question?
You said that it only shown in certain pics. Is there something similar about them or not?

[DavidEB]

My guess is that one of the lens elements is dislodged from it's mounting and you're seeing reflections from the loose edge of the lens. Shine a light thru the lens, move around, look at from other side, and see if you can see the defect.

Take same shot with lens in portrait and again with lens in landscape. If the arc stays fixed relative to the environment, then it's a lens problem (that is, the lens is somehow imaging your subject with this bizarre abberation in it, like an internal rainbow). If the arc rotates with the camera, it's either in the lens or in the sensor. Put the camera on a tripod, remove the lens, cover the lens opening with a piece of cardboard with a pinhole in it (use black tape), and take a long time exposure. Take several, differing exposure times, to ensure one is right. If the arc is still present, it's on the sensor. If gone, it's in the lens. Pinhole test will also confirm that the dark spots are on the sensor (dust in the lens makes for overall image degredation rather than discrete spots)


good luck,


David