topic Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Issues with 5D Mark iii

Angelasue — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 16:33:20 GMT

Really hoping someone can Help! I have had my Mark iii for a little over a year and have hardly been able to use it for work due to the way it picks up these massive reflections off of every single white surface (table linens, a piece of paper, the brides dress, a tiny white bracelet, ETC. - they all cast this hazy, white reflective light). I have been searching for a way to fix this, and am really hoping that it is something obvious that I am just missing. Before I bought the Mark iii I was shooting with two mark ii's and did not have this issue with either of them. I have also found that even after having my lenses calibrated, I end up with lots of very soft focused images. I have been shooting for eyars and have never run into these issue, so I am frustrated and perplexed. Help!

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

Waddizzle — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 16:32:58 GMT

What lens are you using?

Which metering mode are you using?

Are using a lens filter?

Do you use a lens hood?

Can you post a sample of the problem you're having?

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

Angelasue — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 16:45:41 GMT

-I have been having the issue with every lense I put on it (although it's at its worst when I have my 35mm on).

-I have played with both spot metering and evaluative metering, the issue was consistent for both.

- I do have filters on most of my lenses. I tested with the filter on and off, it was slightly better with my filter on.

-I do use a lens hood most of the time.

- I have tried attaching a photo where It is sort of a "worse case scenario" because I was using flash, so it's especially bad (you can see her white dress, and even the white flowers giving off a hazy glow) so that you see what Im talking about.

Thank you for your help!

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

RobertTheFat — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 17:17:14 GMT

@Angelasue wrote:
-I have been having the issue with every lense I put on it (although it's at its worst when I have my 35mm on).
-I have played with both spot metering and evaluative metering, the issue was consistent for both.
- I do have filters on most of my lenses. I tested with the filter on and off, it was slightly better with my filter on.
-I do use a lens hood most of the time.
- I have tried attaching a photo where It is sort of a "worse case scenario" because I was using flash, so it's especially bad (you can see her white dress, and even the white flowers giving off a hazy glow) so that you see what Im talking about.

Thank you for your help!

The bride's dress and the flowers are overexposed, and the foliage in the foreground is out of focus. I suspect that those issues are responsible for most of the problem. It's also possible that you're geting light reflected off of particulate matter in the air; using less-direct flash might help with that. High humidity can cause similar effects, especially if the light is too direct and/or too bright.

I don't think it's anything intrinsic to the camera. I've done a lot of event photography with my 5D3 in the two years I've had it and have not experienced the issue to any noticeable degree.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

Waddizzle — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 17:28:34 GMT

@Angelasue wrote:
-I have been having the issue with every lense I put on it (although it's at its worst when I have my 35mm on).
-I have played with both spot metering and evaluative metering, the issue was consistent for both.
- I do have filters on most of my lenses. I tested with the filter on and off, it was slightly better with my filter on.
-I do use a lens hood most of the time.
- I have tried attaching a photo where It is sort of a "worse case scenario" because I was using flash, so it's especially bad (you can see her white dress, and even the white flowers giving off a hazy glow) so that you see what Im talking about.

Thank you for your help!

[deleted]

What model lens were you using with the 5D3 for that shot?

The only time I have seen anything like that in my images is when I have tried to use an older lens, but with a lens mount adapter. The adapter would create a hazing effect only when images contained a lot of dynamic range. The brighter areas would haze up, just like that.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

RobertTheFat — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 17:47:20 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
@Angelasue wrote:
-I have been having the issue with every lense I put on it (although it's at its worst when I have my 35mm on).
-I have played with both spot metering and evaluative metering, the issue was consistent for both.
- I do have filters on most of my lenses. I tested with the filter on and off, it was slightly better with my filter on.
-I do use a lens hood most of the time.
- I have tried attaching a photo where It is sort of a "worse case scenario" because I was using flash, so it's especially bad (you can see her white dress, and even the white flowers giving off a hazy glow) so that you see what Im talking about.

Thank you for your help!

[deleted]

What model lens were you using with the 5D3 for that shot?

The only time I have seen anything like that in my images is when I have tried to use an older lens, but with a lens mount adapter. The adapter would create a hazing effect only when images contained a lot of dynamic range. The brighter areas would haze up, just like that.

Some very early Mark III's did have a light leak, but I'm under the impression that it affected only the metering sensitivity, not the image directly.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

Waddizzle — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 17:51:43 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
Some very early Mark III's did have a light leak, but I'm under the impression that it affected only the metering sensitivity, not the image directly.

I hate to say it, but it looks like a lens problem to me. Hopefully the problem is as simple as a dirty, smudgy, front element.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

diverhank — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 19:07:47 GMT

It appears to me this is a post processing artifact, rather than camera or lens. My 5D Mark III does not exhibit this phenomenon at all.

When I say post processing, it could mean in-camera post process as well as out of camera.

To eliminate in-camera post processing problems, try turning off the following:

1. Auto lighting optimizer

2. Peripheral illumination correction

3. distortion correction

4. chromatic aberration correction

5. Highlight tone priority

6. Resetting jpg picture style settings to standard (non-customized settings)

I don't turn any of these on. I choose to apply correction in post processing where I have more control.

You didn't say what post processing programs you are using. If you are using one (like Light Room or Photoshop), it is possible that a filtering effect has been inadvertently activated (automatically applied to your pictures) when you download them. I've seen this sort of effect applied to wedding and portrait pictures in post before. I'd inspect the pictures directly off the SD or CF cards to see if the artifacts are there.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

ebiggs1 — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 13:22:05 GMT

Well I really don't know how much experience the afore mentioned commentators have had in African-American weddings but I suspect it is little to none. This was, and is, one of my favorite challenges and I love to shoot them. The biggest problem with any dark skinned person and a white dress is the DR is beyond what the camera can do. If you desire the details of the face and also in the dress you need to really watch your settings.

This is your problem. Never use direct flash, never. Always shoot RAW. And be careful in your post editor which should be Photoshop/Lightroom if you do desire the best results. These are the best and is what the best successful pros use. Sometimes you must do extra special tricks in post to get the best looking shot. That is why you must shoot RAW.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

RobertTheFat — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 14:36:28 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
Well I really don't know how much experience the afore mentioned commentators have had in African-American weddings but I suspect it is little to none. ...

Something tells me you'd be wrong.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

ebiggs1 — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 14:38:27 GMT

"Something tells me you'd be wrong."

I fear not!

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

diverhank — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 15:32:14 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:
Well I really don't know how much experience the afore mentioned commentators have had in African-American weddings but I suspect it is little to none. ...
Something tells me you'd be wrong.

The only thing he is right was I don't shoot weddings. The 5DIII can easily handle the DR difference...that's a load of you know what.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

ebiggs1 — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 17:16:34 GMT

"...that's a load of you know what."

Yes sir you got that correct.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

Waddizzle — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 17:24:40 GMT

"The biggest problem with any dark skinned person and a white dress is the DR is beyond what the camera can do."

When he refers to DR, he is referring to Dynamic Range, or the amount of contrast in the photo.

I think your issue is related to the high contrast nature of the shot, too. Different metering modes in High Dynamic Range shots produce different results. Full power, direct flash on the subject can turn an ordinary photo into a High Dyamic Range shot, too.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

ebiggs1 — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 17:53:49 GMT

"Full power, direct flash on the subject can turn an ordinary photo into a High Dyamic Range shot ..."

Absolutely. Direct flash in this case and mostly must be avoided. The shot has to have mostly correct settings in the camera but this shot will only be made in post.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

Angelasue — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 18:43:02 GMT

Thanks all for the input. I really appreciate your time.

I should add that the included "example" photo was shot in RAW, had not yet been edited or corrected at all in either photoshop or lightroom, and actually was not with direct flash. Flash was bouncing backwards of the tent wall behind me. (I suspect it was at about 1/4 power, as it's almost never set to full power. Cant quite remember), But either way, this problem with white's giving off that relfective, glowy haze happens without flash too, with every type of skin tone, and all my lenses. I posted that specific photo just to demonstrate the probelm because it is SO obviouse with the flash (and because the shot was a bit over exposed). I saw on the back of my camera how bad it was (because the issue is evident immediately, before I do any out of camera port-processing). As with almost every time i shoot, I got frustrated with the hazey whites, switch back over to my mark ii using almost identitcal setting, and have no issue. When I screw up and over expose a photo, I expect to lose detail in the highlights, but this white haze is a totally new to me!

I know the mark iii is amazing, I've shot with other photographers' models, and didn't run into anything like this. Is it possible that is an actual hardware issue with mine?

Thank you for those of you that offered some good suggestions! I will definately play with some different metering modes, and see if adjusting the auto lighting optimizer and the peripheral illumination correction helps at all. Thank you, thank you for the input!

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

Waddizzle — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 19:06:01 GMT

@Angelasue wrote:
Thanks all for the input. I really appreciate your time.

I should add that the included "example" photo was shot in RAW, had not yet been edited or corrected at all in either photoshop or lightroom, and actually was not with direct flash. Flash was bouncing backwards of the tent wall behind me. (I suspect it was at about 1/4 power, as it's almost never set to full power. Cant quite remember), But either way, this problem with white's giving off that relfective, glowy haze happens without flash too, with every type of skin tone, and all my lenses. I posted that specific photo just to demonstrate the probelm because it is SO obviouse with the flash (and because the shot was a bit over exposed). I saw on the back of my camera how bad it was (because the issue is evident immediately, before I do any out of camera port-processing). As with almost every time i shoot, I got frustrated with the hazey whites, switch back over to my mark ii using almost identitcal setting, and have no issue. When I screw up and over expose a photo, I expect to lose detail in the highlights, but this white haze is a totally new to me!

I know the mark iii is amazing, I've shot with other photographers' models, and didn't run into anything like this. Is it possible that is an actual hardware issue with mine?

Thank you for those of you that offered some good suggestions! I will definately play with some different metering modes, and see if adjusting the auto lighting optimizer and the peripheral illumination correction helps at all. Thank you, thank you for the input!

If you see the problem under virtually all circumstances when the shot has white content like that, then let Canon Service check it out. You could have a defective camera.

Considering how many 5D3 uses are out there not experiencing your issue, I would lean towards your camera's performance being the exception, not the rule.

Re: Issues with 5D Mark iii

ebiggs1 — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 21:05:43 GMT

"... if adjusting the auto lighting optimizer and the peripheral illumination correction helps ..."

It won't and neither will changing exposure modes. These suggestions are just grasping at straws. If it makes you feel better reinstall the firmware. There may be and update but a call to Canon Service just might be necessary. Piece of mind anyway.

BTW, that photo is totally salvageable. It sure looks like direct flash. What flash do you use? "... it was at about 1/4 power, as it's almost never set to full power." You also might check that setting to make sure.