Autumnal Branches and Berries
Mill Pond in Wantagh, NY
For the last week or so I've had a few problems with the pictures I've been taking. At first it was just smudged areas, mainly noticeable in areas of sky; but a stop at B&H Photo - where I bought the camera body - solved that problem: It was merely dust on the sensor.
I was very relieved.
A few days later, after picking up a 'cleaning system' - which is a fancy name for a glorified squeeze bulb and nozzle - I was able to void the sensor of dust on my own. A new flaw surfaced, though, while we were upstate last weekend: There was a very distinct something (in contrast to the blurry smudges I've become accustomed to) in my pictures again - which was also mainly noticeable in areas of sky. After returning home, I was able to thoroughly clean the sensor and the lens, and the problem areas were gone. Until Wednesday - that's when I saw 'the distinct something' re-appear in my photos.
So yesterday I took some time to re-clean the lens and sensor even more carefully than I had been doing, yet the distinct something remained. Examining the lens closely in bright daylight, I observed a speck on the surface of an interior lens element - one of 18 such elements! Believing this to be the distinct something's source I took a trip to Cameta Camera in Amityville, where I had purchased the lens.
The two gentlemen there concurred with my diagnosis, and - thanks to a six months warranty they provide on used equipment - my 'new' used lens is out for a cleaning. Not wanting to be without a lens, I asked for - and received - a loaner lens. This was a basic kit lens; it's not made nearly as well as my L series, but it will suffice till I get my baby back.
To get to the point of this diatribe, today's Picture of the Day (and tomorrow's as well) had it's genesis through this allegedly inferior portal of photons. I think it came out well; and without being able to do a side by side comparison, I can only wonder how much better this shot might have looked through my temporarily out of action premier lens.
Just one of those things that make me go "Hmmm..."
Links:
"Autumnal Branches and Berries" prints available here.
More about B&H Photo.
More about Cameta Camera.
More about Mill Pond.
Camera Data
Canon
Canon EOS 5D
1/99 second
F/7.1
80 mm
50
Nov 19, 2010, 2:06:02 PM
Adobe Photoshop CS Windows
44mm
Canon EOS 5D
1/99 second
F/7.1
80 mm
50
Nov 19, 2010, 2:06:02 PM
Adobe Photoshop CS Windows
44mm
