What is causing this haze?

[MattC]

Took a couple of macro shots today, and some of them had this 'haze' in them - any help on cause would be appreciated.
Setup was: 28-80 'macro' (1:2) at 80mm mounted on full extension tube set + using flash mounted on camera with diffuser.
Lens at F11, shutter speedat about 1/125th - ISO 200
Picture picture converted in AdobeRAW, and reduced in size - no other PP done.

Thanks,

Matt

[ricktas]

Do you have a 'protective' filter on your lens. Like a UV one?

[MattC]

No filter - took some other shots and they were fine - my first thought was that the yellow from the flower is somehow relecting back down the lens/extension tube causing the haze?

[stevemack]

Id say your spot on with your assumption matt

steve.

[ricktas]

agree with Steve. Certainly things like UV filters can exacerbate it, cause the light reflects of the lens front element, hits the back of the filter and bounces back down through the lens. But in this case it seems to be bouncing around inside the lens/extension tubes.

[MattC]

Thanks for all the quick replies.
Is there any way (apart from changing the background or shot) of reducing this? ie does it nomally occur when using maximum extension tubes, or at a specific aperture? or was this just a combination of things that caused the effect?

[41jas]

No filter - took some other shots and they were fine - my first thought was that the yellow from the flower is somehow relecting back down the lens/extension tube causing the haze?

That's my first thought. There wasn't something in front that was out of focus by any chance? humm...lens clean?