10D and 100-400 lens

[sbwarner]

I use a 10D and have just started trying out my new Canon 100-400 lens.Experimented on wildlife and found that the eyes/pupils of the animal when looking directly at me are shining brightly. Definitely not red-eye.
Not experienced this before other than in gloomy conditions. Is it me, the camera or the lens?
Any views would be welcome.

Thanks. Simon :cry:

[Jim_T]

The 10D and 100-400 make a great wildlife combo...

I'm not quite sure what you mean by shining eyes.. I've never seen this.. Are you using a flash ? Can you post an example or a link to one ?

[tmurphy]

Never had anything bad with my old 10D and my 100-400L :D

One of the last images taken with my 10 before upgrading to the 20D....
http://images.helms-deep.co.uk/coot.jpg

[sbwarner]

Hi Jim, thanks for your interest. It was a tiger I took and his pupils were like bright shining dots. I wish I could figure out how to send you an example/photo but as I've just registered I am struggling to figure out how to do it. Any advice?
Thanks. Simon

[sbwarner]

Hi Tony, photo looks great.How do you attach a photo to a reply?
Thanks. Simon

[RTMiller]

Animals like cats have a mirror-like substance on the back of their eyes. This helps them see better at night by reflecting the incoming light off and then back onto the retina, thereby increasing the retina's chances of seeing the light. If the animal is looking directly at you, your camera will pick up this reflection and it will appear kind of greenish-white. This is essentially the same thing as red-eye when you take a picture of a person. The difference is our retinas don't have the mirror-like substance but they do have alot of blood vessels - hence the red reflection.

Just like eliminating red-eye in pictures of people, the only way to eliminate it is to move the flash further away from the camera or take pictures from side angles.

Here is a link that might explain it better than me...
http://vision.about.com/od/basiceyehealth/f/animaleyeshine.htm

[robertwgross]

I've seen this exact same thing with different kinds of mammals. Normally, I see it only in dim evening light, when there is just enough sunlight to work, or when I use flash over a long distance. I don't think it is your hardware. That's just the way some animals are.

Practice shooting at a shy house cat.

---Bob Gross---

[xuxu1]

Shining eyes...

That happens to me all the time! Not only animals, also peoples eyes shine when seeing a photographer with a 100-400L. :mrgreen:

Honestly... would be nice to see a pic. Otherwise, for me, it´s impossible to understand what your problem is.

ED

[RTMiller]

Here is a crop from a pic I took at the circus using my 100-400L...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rtoddmiller/picreview/_MG_4892.jpg

[scottbergerphoto]

The Red Eye equivalent in animals is Green Eye, as light reflects off the back of the eye or "retina". You prevent it by moving the flash higher above the lense to increase the angle between the lens axis and the flash. The very same reason you use a flash bracket to photograph people.

[sbwarner]

Thanks. I think you are probably right. I noticed the flash pop up but I didn't think it fired - I don't have a separate flash.

[sbwarner]

Thanks. Will send a photo once I figure out how to do it on this site.

[sbwarner]

Thanks for the photo. My photo was taken outside but the location was a little dim and although the flash popped up, I didn't think it fired. Anyway, from the many helpful replies I have had I feel happier that it isn't the lens but just down to the light.Have a look at the photo.