Hi, Paul
Yes it's the 40mm HR-W Rodenstock. Well spotted!
The sun was at 90º to the wall, coming from the right of the scene. I was aware that sun could be hitting the lens and some of the shots were taken with a Lee WA hood on. Those shots also had a polarizer (because I cannot unscrew it from the holder!). I also put a black filter pouch over the (empty) glass filter slot at the top of the hood.
None of those steps seemed to make much difference.
Because I thought the problem was back-related (after taking all the above steps), I did not test another lens. At the next location I rotated the camera and took random shots at various angles. Two exhibited the same problem and I cannot recall whether I had the hood on or not. They are attached and were taken also at about 90º to the sun which was coming from the left of the frame. You can see similar ghosting.
None of the other shots in the sequence show ghosting.
So, now that I know it is not the back, I will test the lens more to see what I have to do to avoid the problem.
How does one find out about this ghosting problem? I'm amazed it can happen with the sun behind you.
I am also surprised you say it occurs with a RS 90mm lens. Is that the new very expensive one? A lens in that range is the only missing item from my kit. Is there a 90 lens which is less likely to flare?
Thank you for your help.
Roger
Hello Roger
I assume the lens is the 40mm HR-W Rodenstock?
If so were you shooting into the sun or at an angle where the sun was able to hit the front of the lens. The reason I ask is that the top example shows the classic flare that the 40mm can get when exposed to the sun, where the front element of the lens is being exposed to rays of the sun. The 40mm can have terrible problems with sun flare, and can get a large red center flare. The top shot seems to shot this, but not sure about the yellow on the LCC.
I use the 40mm quite a bit on an IQ260 but always have the Lee wide angle hood installed. Even then I have to watch the angle of the sun as sometimes I get the flare issues.
I recently read about another photographer who sent his 23mm back to Rodenstock and they recoated it, and that reduced the flare issues that his 23 HR had. Not sure if they had to totally pull the lens apart, but I assume they had to. My recent history with Rodenstock high cost glass, I would not want them pulling my lens apart. But I am probably an exception.
The 40mm will give the center flare and can ghost even with the sun behind you, however it's not as bad as the 90mm HR, which is terrible for this (ghosting).
I personally don't feel it's your back, especially if the 60mm worked OK.
Paul Caldwell