robnyc1 Posted January 31, 2022 Share #1 Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Hey - Just picked up a Leica Q2M. I noticed that if I shoot directly towards the sun, but with the sun out of frame, the image produces these ugly blotches and streaks. I’ve never seen this type of lens flare before so consistently. The camera is equipped with a Yellow #8 from B+W. The sample shot has ISO 200, 1/1000s, and f/8 with focus set to infinite. I highlighted the areas of concern in yellow. I can consistently reproduce these blotches and streaks, I’ve done it with several photos. Is this a known issue? I’m surprised it’s so frequent - maybe something w the Q2 lens coating and how it’s interacting w my yellow filter. Thanks, Rob Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited January 31, 2022 by robnyc1 Clarifying Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/329311-leica-q2m-sun-blotches-and-streaks/?do=findComment&comment=4373202'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 31, 2022 Posted January 31, 2022 Hi robnyc1, Take a look here Leica Q2M - sun blotches and streaks . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bradhusick Posted January 31, 2022 Share #2 Posted January 31, 2022 Yes, try removing the filter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Friedman Posted January 31, 2022 Share #3 Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) Curious to see what you find as you test this. That round patch is odd... looks more like something sensor related. I shot a number of outside exposures with my new Q2M in a bright blue sky over the weekend testing orange and variable polarizing filters. Haven't downloaded and studied them yet. Hope it's an easy fix. Keep us posted. Edited January 31, 2022 by Alan Friedman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmesa Posted February 1, 2022 Share #4 Posted February 1, 2022 3 hours ago, bradhusick said: Yes, try removing the filter. ...and make sure you're using the lens hood. I never saw anything like that with the B+W color filters on the Q2M. I was using their recently-discontinued F-Pro color filters. Their newer color filters are thinner+ribbed edges and called "Basic" (MRC but no Nano coating) or "Master" (MRC + Nano coatings). The older F-Pro color filters never had the Nano coating, so the new "Basic" color filters should be the same as the old ones, but I don't know for sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Friedman Posted February 1, 2022 Share #5 Posted February 1, 2022 (edited) Picture recently posted in the Q2M image thread shows the same artifact. No mention if filters were used. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited February 1, 2022 by Alan Friedman Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/329311-leica-q2m-sun-blotches-and-streaks/?do=findComment&comment=4373804'>More sharing options...
robnyc1 Posted February 1, 2022 Author Share #6 Posted February 1, 2022 Leica Customer Support responded and they believe it's lens flare and said I should try removing the yellow filter. Unfortunately it's pretty cloudy today so that will have to wait. If it's due to the yellow filter, I would be pretty disappointed. True B&W photo captures should (almost) always have a filter and this type of lens flare is quite ugly since it's so geometric. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casakleinhuis Posted February 2, 2022 Share #7 Posted February 2, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) 14 hours ago, Alan Friedman said: Picture recently posted in the Q2M image thread shows the same artifact. No mention if filters were used. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Not sure what you mean. I did not use any filter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Friedman Posted February 2, 2022 Share #8 Posted February 2, 2022 1 hour ago, Casakleinhuis said: Not sure what you mean. I did not use any filter. Your photo shows a similar spurious reflection/flare (above the figure to the left) as that in the original post. Apparently it is not caused by the addition of a filter. It is a lovely photo, btw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robnyc1 Posted February 2, 2022 Author Share #9 Posted February 2, 2022 I removed the filter and can reproduce the oddly consistent, geometric lens flare. Leica support says that it could be a smudge or dust on the lens and they are hinting that I should send the camera in for inspection. I don't think this is the case, since other folks have the same artifacts in their pictures with lens flare. May just be how the lens flares, unfortunately ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2022 Share #10 Posted February 4, 2022 Chris in the DPR video review demonstrated the same flare pattern without filter and his take was that it is an internal reflection off the sensor cover array and there is no way to avoid it other than not shooting directly into the sun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robnyc1 Posted February 4, 2022 Author Share #11 Posted February 4, 2022 @docmoore well according to Leica support, they are now saying that it may be a small defect within the lens. However if it's so consistent across users, then I would probably agree with the DPR video. Really a shame. Such an ugly artifact on a $6K camera...sometimes you can't avoid shooting towards the sun. I would consider returning this for an M10M, but that also has undesirable artifacts due to sensor reflections, like the split sensor pattern. I am totally new to digital cameras...been shooting film exclusively since I started with photography. Are sensor reflection artifacts in images common across all high-end digital cameras? Or just these Leica's? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmesa Posted February 5, 2022 Share #12 Posted February 5, 2022 22 hours ago, robnyc1 said: @docmoore well according to Leica support, they are now saying that it may be a small defect within the lens. However if it's so consistent across users, then I would probably agree with the DPR video. Really a shame. Such an ugly artifact on a $6K camera...sometimes you can't avoid shooting towards the sun. I would consider returning this for an M10M, but that also has undesirable artifacts due to sensor reflections, like the split sensor pattern. I am totally new to digital cameras...been shooting film exclusively since I started with photography. Are sensor reflection artifacts in images common across all high-end digital cameras? Or just these Leica's? Only some M10M bodies have the sensor bifurcation issue. If you buy new, you can test for it and exchange if needed. All mirrorless cameras can have sensor reflections when shooting into the sun due to how close the rear element can be to the sensor. It varies in intensity by camera, lens, aperture selected, and angle of the sun. The only way to completely avoid the issue on a mirrorless camera is to adapt lenses that were designed for mirrored cameras, such as Canon EF, Nikon F, etc. or to get lucky and find mirrorless camera/lens combinations that do not have the issue. All the sub-100mm Canon RF lenses I've used on the R5 can show the issue, and all the GF lenses in the same range on the GFX cameras can do this as well. For what it's worth, these flares look very mild compared to the nasty grid sensor pattern that can appear when stopped down and shooting into the sun on any mirrorless camera with a wide angle lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robnyc1 Posted February 5, 2022 Author Share #13 Posted February 5, 2022 reassuring, thanks @hdmesa I think I will keep the camera and learn to deal with it. other than this issue I'm getting wonderful results. I really enjoy shooting with the 35mm crop since it helps me frame the photo just like on a rangefinder. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Friedman Posted February 5, 2022 Share #14 Posted February 5, 2022 Glad to hear. It really is a wonderful and uniquely capable camera. I spent some time outside today in frigid temperatures and bright sunlight. I shot a few hundred exposures using a variable polarizing filter (I left the lens shade off, as I might when using an adjustable polarizing filter). I did see the reflection noted in your original post in several images with an unobstructed sun in frame, also the more expected radial artifacts of lens flare. I didn't notice the artifact in exposures where the sun was outside the frame. I haven't spent much time with it, but I think it will not be difficult to lessen or eliminate the reflection in Photoshop. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robnyc1 Posted February 6, 2022 Author Share #15 Posted February 6, 2022 (edited) Funny enough, I went skiing with the Q2M today. Also subfreezing temperatures. I shot a few into the sun and luckily did not reproduce the flare pattern in my original post. PS - I started an Instagram account just for the Leica Q2M www.Instagram.com/Rob.Q2M obviously not the best medium for sharing photos but it’ll do! Edited February 6, 2022 by robnyc1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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