dvier Loc: Hopkinsville Kentucky

Yes I think that is was a possibility but in some other frames I don't see anything in the view. But I was using 200-500 lens at about 400

dvier Loc: Hopkinsville Kentucky

Yes lesson learned 👍

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

That's one of the reasons I don't use "protection" filters (much... see below), and why I ask folks who are shooting for me to remove theirs, if they're using them.

Cheaper "protection" filters are especially problematic. Better quality glass and multi-coatings do better, but they cost a lot more and there's still some risk of "issues" in images.

Besides, how much "protection" can be expected from a thin piece of glass, anyway?

Generally speaking, a proper lens hood gives more and better protection while shooting... and cannot possibly cause any image problems.

And, a proper lens cap gives better protection while storing the lens... you just have to remember to remove it before taking any shots.

Watch this video and decide for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0CLPTd6Bds

Yes, I have high quality, multi-coated UV filters available to fit most of my lenses and I use them occasionally... on the rare occasion when they might actually give some protection (such as sand storms, shooting at the beach, photographing paintball battles, wet-nosed puppies or sticky-fingered little kids). Most of the time... probably 97% or more... my lenses "go naked", without "protection".

BTW, your image is also rather soft... I'd expect much sharper from a Nikkor 200-500mm. That also can be due to the filter... or it might be camera shake blur if you had VR turned off. (If you had it on, 1/400 shutter speed should have been plenty fast, even at 500mm focal length... in which case I'd be even more suspicious of the filter).

BrettProbert Loc: Clinton, PA

Dear OP. It is definitely without a doubt sun glare, too much light through the viewfinder, an out of focus leaf, too much post processing, not enough post processing, a cheap filter, a filter, no filter at all, the sun in the wrong place, your technique, your camera, the lens, and the heron definitely sabotaging your photo. The fix is simple! In the future, use a filter, don't use a filter, use an expensive filter, turn your VR off, turn your VR on, use a lens hood, don't use a lens hood, ask the heron to move so the sun doesn't show up in the picture, do way more post processing, do absolutely no post processing, fix it with the clone tool, fix it with the cloan tool, don't fix it because you should have gotten it right in the first place, be a better photographer, be a better post-processor, get a better camera, get a better lens, and find a more cooperative heron.

You're welcome. Sincerely, UHH.

leftj Loc: Texas

Finally! Someone with a specific answer. Can't believe we had to wait all day to arrive at it.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

Looking at that gear in that condition is painful but it makes a point. Thanks.

Pixelbum Loc: FIRST in flight, Ohio

Ba Da BING! Case closed...

leftj Loc: Texas

That's an extreme situation. I wouldn't want to live with a lifetime of substandard exposures just because there is a minuscule likelihood of an accident like this happening.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Besides the suggestions above, I consider GregWCIL's idea to be possible too. An small object up close, maybe a leaf blowing by at that moment.

TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

Every time someone says their filter broke but the lens did not people jump to the conclusion that the filter saved the lens. For me, I conclude that the lens is much more robust than the filter. The shape of a lens and its thickness lead me to this more obvious conclusion. Only a direct hit on the filter glass could protect the lens. A drop on the filter ring is a lot more probable and that would transfer force to both the filter glass and lens glass. If the lens was as fragile as a filter there would be a lot more cracked lenses in these instances where a lens is dropped.

leftj Loc: Texas

Or maybe a ghost!

Boentgru Loc: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

It could be a light leak. Depending on your camera configuration, check the lens mounting first.

bobben49

I replaced my UV filters with top graded circular polarized filters. It slows the shooting process down a little but I never see lens flair anymore.

Bike guy Loc: Atlanta

Seeing your photo reminded me of one I took last year. I downloaded it from my Facebook so the size and quality isn't what the original. There are four lakes near me where each lake has it's own tenant. I must have hundreds of pix of these guys. Sometimes, just being in the right place at the right time.
This photo was just as he was taking off from the lake.

whitewolfowner

You could not be more wrong. Ever heard of lens coatings? Constantly cleaning front elements in time can reduce or even completely remove them. Check out what happens to the quality of the lens when that happens. The filter, of course, will not shield a lens from a hard direct blow, but will protect it in small blows and more importantly scratches. Replacing a filter is a lot easier and cheaper than a front element or an entire lens. And the flaring issue has been addressed and tested more times than I can count and a filter (quality filter) will not cause flaring anytime a lens won't (kinda logical if you think about it) and then it MAY increase the flaring in the photo, it may not. Simple solution there, remove it for the shot and put it back on again. Giving false information and advising others into expensive mistakes is irresponsible. If you want to gamble your investment, it's your business, right and ignorance; but don't drag others that are trying to learn into it. This subject is years old and there is no excuse for the bull.