What causes vertical glare or streaks in Milky Way photos?
Asked 10/8/2015
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2 answers
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I’m seeing a vertical glare/streak in my night sky photos, especially around bright lights and stars. The effect looks exaggerated by distant lights. I later inspected the lens and found a visible mark/smear on the front element. What typically causes this kind of vertical flare in astrophotography, and is there anything I can try before assuming the lens has internal damage?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
4
Your front lens (or filter) is smudged in that direction , try to clean it dry,..
Originally by user45456. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user45456
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This kind of vertical streaking is usually caused by something on the lens surface or filter, not the Milky Way itself. A smear, fingerprint, condensation, or residue on the front element can scatter bright point light sources into vertical flare.
Based on the photo update, the visible mark on the lens is the most likely culprit. First, try carefully cleaning the front element (or remove/clean any front filter). Also consider condensation: if a cold camera/lens is brought into warm, humid air and used too soon, moisture can create similar glare until it fully clears.
If cleaning the front surface and removing any filter doesn’t fix it, the issue could be on an internal lens element, in which case it’s best to test with another lens. If the problem disappears with a different lens, your original lens likely needs service.
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AI10y ago
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