Photography Question

[Buzzard]

Can any experts tell me what might be causing the spots that you see in this picture? Every once in a while they show up for no obvious reason. I cant find any pictures where it's happened in daylight outdoors. Seems like it's limited to pics using flash, although I can't positively confirm that. My wife says they're orbs?! The camera is a Panasonic DMC-TZ5 if that is any help.

Thanks for any help.

[Regulator75]

Your wife is partially right. They are optic orbs, not the paranormal kind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orb_(optics)

Orb artifacts are captured during low-light instances where the camera's flash is used, such as at night or underwater. The artifacts are especially common with compact or ultra-compact cameras, where the short distance between the lens and the built-in flash decreases the angle of light reflection to the lens, directly illuminating the aspect of the particles facing the lens and increasing the camera's ability to capture the light reflected off normally sub-visible particles.

[Buzzard]

Thanks Regulator.

Can anything be done about it....short of buying a better camera?

[Regulator75]

Most compact cameras are prone to this. It doesn't happen every time, so try taking a couple shots instead of just one.

[Save Us Sutter]

Hmm, I was just going to tell you it was snowing.

Learn something new every day.

[firebug]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Thanks Regulator.

Can anything be done about it....short of buying a better camera?

Caused by a wide open lens (aperture) and a flash that is located close to the center of the lens.

In a compact camera not much you can do other than avoid these types of low-light situations.

Moving to an off-camera flash or using a tripod and a resulting longer shutter speed (smaller aperture) would also reduce this.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Can anything be done about it....short of buying a better camera?

Not much, unfortunately. Getting the lens farther from the flash is the key, and when you've got a fixed lens and a fixed flash, it obviously isn't going to happen. Keep in mind that even the best point and shoot cameras will be prone to this, so don't lose any sleep over it.

[Jimmy Stang]

And what's with the flip-flops?

[Buzzard]

Thanks for help guys.

Yeah, ya know, it's not an expensive camera by any means, but its only a couple years old, and was kind of pickin' me that this was happening. Now that i know its a common thing I don't feel too bad.

I was just dusting it off today for a vacation starting tomorrow. Land of flip flops and optical orbs....here we come!