Help! G3 problem with "white" subjects

[Liz]

Hi,
I sold my original G3 to a friend. Yesterday she showed me the images of all the pictures she has taken (on the LCD screen). ALL of the areas of white on all the outside images - the ones shot in daylight (not facing the sun), have a glow about them. The glow is white and it is only around the white area - it looks like a shiney white cloud. For example, if the person has a white shirt on, the white shirt and nothing else is very bright with a white glow around the area of the shirt. Nothing else on the image seems to be affected - except if it is close to the white subject. She has the CF card, so I can't post any images.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I hope it's a simple camera setting, but since I don't have the manual, I can't tell from my end. She is going on vacation Friday and of course, this is her only camera, so I'd like to give her some help. She has a large family, very little time and knows nothing about photography or digital. She just takes family snapshots, but it's important that she can shoot outside since they will be in Maine for a week.

Thanks for any help!

Liz

[Sebastian]

Hi,
I sold my original G3 to a friend. Yesterday she showed me the images of all the pictures she has taken (on the LCD screen). ALL of the areas of white on all the outside images - the ones shot in daylight (not facing the sun), have a glow about them. The glow is white and it is only around the white area - it looks like a shiney white cloud. For example, if the person has a white shirt on, the white shirt and nothing else is very bright with a white glow around the area of the shirt. Nothing else on the image seems to be affected - except if it is close to the white subject. She has the CF card, so I can't post any images.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I hope it's a simple camera setting, but since I don't have the manual, I can't tell from my end. She is going on vacation Friday and of course, this is her only camera, so I'd like to give her some help. She has a large family, very little time and knows nothing about photography or digital. She just takes family snapshots, but it's important that she can shoot outside since they will be in Maine for a week.

Thanks for any help!

Liz

Sounds like befringence, if she stops down it should get better. Happens with many lenses when wide open or thereabouts. It happens when there is a high contrast area, same as purple fringing.

[Liz]

..."befringence, if she stops down it should get better."

Sebastian,
Thanks for the info. This is probably a stupid question, but I don't have a manual. Is there a way to fix the settings to work in auto mode? In other words can you manipulate the auto settings from factory settings? I know she won't take the time to "stop down" the settings when she is outside because she just uses the camera for a snapshot point & shoot. She got this particular camera because it was a "deal" from me or she would have purchased a cheaper easier camera.

Is it the "specific" lens that is in this particular camera? Like a glitch or something that just happens sometimes? Anyway, it needs to be fixed so she can use auto without playing around with the settings every time she takes an outside picture. If not, she will have to get another camera or just deal with it. It really is aweful. She took a photo of the first communion class and the image looks like they are in heaven - it is almost all aglow.

Thanks for any advice.

Liz

[Sebastian]

..."befringence, if she stops down it should get better."

Sebastian,
Thanks for the info. This is probably a stupid question, but I don't have a manual. Is there a way to fix the settings to work in auto mode? In other words can you manipulate the auto settings from factory settings? I know she won't take the time to "stop down" the settings when she is outside because she just uses the camera for a snapshot point & shoot. She got this particular camera because it was a "deal" from me or she would have purchased a cheaper easier camera.

Is it the "specific" lens that is in this particular camera? Like a glitch or something that just happens sometimes? Anyway, it needs to be fixed so she can use auto without playing around with the settings every time she takes an outside picture. If not, she will have to get another camera or just deal with it. It really is aweful. She took a photo of the first communion class and the image looks like they are in heaven - it is almost all aglow.

Thanks for any advice.

Liz

This happens with pretty much any lens. My 70-200 shows this on bright white subject in bright sun. My Nikkor 18-35 did it as well. Full auto doesn't let you change anything, and there is nothing one can do to minimize it except stop down.

Was this your old camera? Did you ever have problems with it? Could you post a sample?

[Liz]

It's a very long story. And everyone will think I'm crazy, but here's the condensed version. I sold my old G3 to my good friend, Judy. Her daughter Lisa owned a reasonably new G2, but wanted a longer zoom. After getting the Rebel, I tried to find a used G2 for a 2nd camera, but couldn't find one, but got an excellent deal on a new G3

Anyway, I decided to switch with Lisa as I seldom use the 2nd camera now and thought she would get much more use out of it - besides I always liked the G2. So, now she has the "new" G3 and I have the G2.

The problem is - I only used the G3 a few times - all either inside or outside cloudy/no sun so no images had this halo effect. It started having the problem the day we switched cameras as she does 90% outside shots, but she didn't tell me until yesterday.

I will post an image tomorrow when after I get the card from her.

Thanks again.

Liz

[pnd1]

Hi, Liz,

I have the G5, and the only time I have ever seen a halo effect around a white subject was when I moved from a cool area to a warm area, and condensation formed on the outside of the lens.
(In some cases, it can form on the inside of the lens as well.) It can also happen in humid temperatures.

I don't know if lens condensation caused this particular problem or not, but I thought it worth mentioning.

Phil

[Liz]

I'm going to tell her to shoot more images, use another CF card - it's another day, etc. Maybe these were taken all in the same day during the week of very hot/humid weather - maybe the camera was left somewhere in the heat/humidity. I hope it's not the camera, but I used a G2 and G3 for about 2 years and this never happened. My friend Judy's G3 has never gotten results like this either.

Thanks for your wisdom.

Liz

[pnd1]

Liz,

Be sure to keep us informed on how this problem is eventually resolved. It will be useful info for all.

Phil

[Liz]

I started a new thread (G3 white glow, etc) a few threads away because I wanted to get back to the person asap. Did you see the images in that post?

The interesting thing is that I think there were images on the CF card shot a few days after the "bad" images, and they looked fine. Lisa (G3 owner) is going to take more pics this afternoon and get back to me. Maybe it resolved itself.

Sorry for the confusion with 2 threads. Please post on the updated thread. Thanks.

G3 White glow pics..Sebastian....anyone..
Liz