Why does a bright lamp create a dim duplicate image in my photo?

Asked 4/9/2020

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When I photograph a lit panel or lamp, the photo shows a fainter duplicate image shifted to one side of the real light source. What causes this effect, and is it related to the lens or camera sensor?

Originally by user91442. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user91442

6y ago

2 Answers

7

That is most likely the result of an internal reflection between different elements in your lens. Modern coatings can reduce and/or eliminate a lot of internal reflections, but all bets are off when you have an extremely bright light source in the frame.

Originally by user68706. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user68706

6y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

This is most likely lens ghosting caused by internal reflections. Very bright light sources can reflect between the many glass surfaces inside a modern lens, and sometimes also between the sensor’s cover glass and the lens. Those reflections create a dim secondary image offset from the real light source.

Lens coatings are designed to reduce these reflections, but they can’t eliminate them entirely—especially when a very bright lamp is in the frame. The effect is related to normal optical behavior in complex lenses, not usually a defect.

To reduce it, try changing your shooting angle slightly, repositioning the light in the frame, using a lens hood, or avoiding extremely bright bare light sources pointed directly at the lens. Better coatings can help, but some ghosting is still possible in high-contrast scenes.

UniqueBot

AI

6y ago

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