JimGuy

Anyone using this lens (nikkor 16-35/f4) notice the "red glow" issue? It appears in long exposures at high iso, like you might use in an extreme low light night landscape situation where you DONT want the stars to trail (500/focal length for max shutter speed).
Mine does it and Im debating on whether to replace the lens. It works fine at lower iso.
To test put on lens cap, hook up cable release, set to bulb, iso 2500 or higher and shutter speed 1 -2 minutes.
With cap on put camera in bag, leave cable release accessable, lock shutter open for a minute or two. From what I hear most of these lens's have the red glow issue.
If no cable release set for 30 sec at iso 5000. Im using a d800.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Can you fix the problem by altering temperature in post? Just wondering. If that is a fix, and the lens works great most of the time, I would be hesitant to get rid of it.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Adorama advised 4th week in March :thumbup:

JimGuy

No that wont fix it. Its a definate red glow that appears toward the rhs of dark background image when shot at hi iso longer exposure. Its worse at 16mm than 35mm, and I did the same test with my Nikkor 24-70 with no issues, so Im ruling out sensor issues. Not a color temp thing so its not something you can easily fix in pp. From what I see its a common issue with that lens. You may never notice it if you dont use it in that manner, but for $1250+ I dont expect unwanted surprises.

JimGuy

Whats this about Adorama advising?? More details please, or do you have a link to article?

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I agree with you. For that kind of money, it should just simply work. Baffling.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Not article E-Mail

346pak Loc: Texas

Good to know, I was just getting ready to pull the trigger on one. I guess I need to do further research first.

Bruinista Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

Not an expert but any chance it's a light leak issue? I say that because the shooting parameters you outlined is the same conditions where they discovered a light leak issue with the new Sony a7. Long exposures with high ISO showed streaks of light leaks. They confirmed the test by shooting with lens cap on just as you described.

JimGuy

So, is the contents of the email you received from Adorama re this lens issue a secret?

JimGuy

Not not a light leak. When testing more than once, put camera in dark closet, viewfinder curtain closed on the d800, lens cap on, triggered with cable release. Also put camera in closed camera bag, cap on, with cable accessible, same results. I hear it may have something to do with the vibration reduction, even though test was done with vr off.

mrtobin Loc: North East Ohio

I'm sorry, but your "test" makes no sense. How can you test a lens in complete darkness with the iso cranked up and the shutter opened for a prolonged time? It seems to me this will just show sensor noise, and what would you expect when heating your sensor up in with this "test".

Do the same "test" with the lens off and you will probably get similar results.

Or, maybe I just read your post wrong and do not under stand what you are trying to do.

hikercheryl Loc: Madison, NC

JimGuy,

I love my 16-35 lens. I have never experienced the issue you described. I do shoot night photographs with high ISO utilizing bulb, but never exactly as you described. My ISO is usually lower and the shutter is usually open less than 60 seconds.

When the issue is resolved, please post the details. It is important that the equipment we buy work as it is supposed. I had a serious spot issue with my D600 camera. Many chimed in that they had no issue, but they just weren't using the camera with the same setting I some of us were. My point is stick to your push to make sure you have a lens that is working properly.

JimGuy

Ok, Ill explain it again.
This is a known issue..Nikon acknowledges it. They said they can improve it, but cant fix it altogether, and offered me a couple options. I dont have a lot of confidence in Nikons repair dept as I had problems with them in the past. Granted, I dont shoot that long of exposures very often at high iso, but if I wanted to shoot the milky way, or a night landscape and didnt want star trails, I may need the high iso, and since the problem appears at 30 seconds, and you would need high iso to get results desired in described situation, there would be a red glow on the rhs of the image.
Tests I did is just the way to see if the lens has the issue. Google it and you will see Im not the only one with it.
I thought I detailed it enough, but at 16mm under conditions described a red glow appears on the rhs and top of the frame. It begins to show up at iso 5000, 30 seconds, and gets brighter as exposure gets longer. I did multiple shots starting at iso 800-5000. And at longer exposures it shows up at lower iso.
At 35mm it barely shows at iso 5000, 2 minutes, at 16mm its very obvious at iso 5000 1 minute, shows at 30 sec. It becomes noticable at iso 2000. If it were a sensor thing it wouldnt make any difference what focal length was used. It would also most likely show the red coloration across the whole frame and not just the rhs.
BUT...to rule out the sensor I did the same identical tests with my Nikkor 24-70/f2.8. No problem with that one. ISO 5000 for 3+ minutes produces no glow...solid black frame, as it should be. So, the ISSUE IS WITH THE LENS. One difference between the two lens's is the 16-35 has vibration reduction, altho I tested it with vr OFF, lenr ON. Also if you bring up the exposure in the raw file a little it shows 3 distinct intersecting "arcs" within the area in question.
When D800 sensor gets hot you will see "hot pixels"...they could be mistaken for stars since they look like little points of light. Its much more apparent with lenr off. This occurs often when shooting frames to make night time panoramas with lenr off since you're shooting one longer exposure (20-30 sec) after another, even at iso 100. common issue with any dslr.

JimGuy

Sounds like you might have gotten a good one. I hear they do exist.