I’m confused--take a look (Page 3): Next time it happens, immediately shoot the same shot from the same place, with a different lens set to as close to the same settings as possible...

Verryl

Next time it happens, immediately shoot the same shot from the same place, with a different lens set to as close to the same settings as possible, f/, F, shutter speed, ISO, temp, etc. If it shows up on both images, it is not the lens, leaving the sun angle, dirty sensor and other things in common.

Verryl Fosnight

TucsonDave Loc: Tucson, Arizona

jaymatt wrote:

These two photos were taken within three minutes of one another--same camera, same lens, same f stop, raw, unedited. The one of the road has spots/splotches in the upper right, and the one of the barns doesn’t. This has happened before--any explanations?

You don't mention your camera make and model. I have a Nikon D5300 and similar spots appeared recently in my viewfinder and on some photos. I used a rocket blower, the in-camera vibration to shake dust off etc. No help. I took it to Tucson Camera Repair and they found dust on the sensor and in the viewfinder area. They were able to easily clean both areas and no issues since the cleaning was completed.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Dirty sensor.

dyximan

Please read his SHORT op same camera/ same lens/ same F stop.

dyximan

jaymatt wrote:

I just took apart and cleaned everything but the sensor--I don’t feel confident enough to do that. The spots have moved, but they’re still there, recurring only in some photos. Should I send the camera in for cleaning? It’s a Canon, so should I send it to Canon, or is there some other reputable, less expensive shop that will do that?

If you happen to have a camera store nearby most can do it on the spot in my area he charge between 35 and 50 dollars And in many cases can be done while you wait. Then watch them do it and I think you'll find you're perfectly capable of doing it and it's not as sensitive as you think.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

jaymatt wrote:

These two photos were taken within three minutes of one another--same camera, same lens, same f stop, raw, unedited. The one of the road has spots/splotches in the upper right, and the one of the barns doesn’t. This has happened before--any explanations?

It looks too me as sensor spots, I had a similar condition on my cameras sensor the regular cleaning didn’t work I had to purchase a sticky device made in Germany I found out Nikon service center uses them for hard to get off grime. Goggle it it’s the one with the blue gel sticky pad, I believe I paid $25.00 or so for it.

francwoods

I was getting these a lot.
I followed Tony Northrup's video for cleaning the sensor and worked great.
https://youtu.be/aAiTy3qGg2Y

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

jaymatt wrote:

These two photos were taken within three minutes of one another--same camera, same lens, same f stop, raw, unedited. The one of the road has spots/splotches in the upper right, and the one of the barns doesn’t. This has happened before--any explanations?

What's different? Now we know the first shot was thru the windshield and the second thru an open window? Remember, when you hear hoof beats don't start looking for Zebras. Maybe clean your windshield or don't shoot thru your windshield. All sorts of funny stuff happens when you shoot thru non optical glass.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

jaymatt wrote:

These two photos were taken within three minutes of one another--same camera, same lens, same f stop, raw, unedited. The one of the road has spots/splotches in the upper right, and the one of the barns doesn’t. This has happened before--any explanations?

John, since you changed nothing, could it be something in the air. Nats? Pollen? If it was happening all the time, it would be the lens or sensor. Got me.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

jaymatt wrote:

These two photos were taken within three minutes of one another--same camera, same lens, same f stop, raw, unedited. The one of the road has spots/splotches in the upper right, and the one of the barns doesn’t. This has happened before--any explanations?

Dust on the sensor that is easily seen at higher f stops when there is a blue or white background.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

jaymatt wrote:

These two photos were taken within three minutes of one another--same camera, same lens, same f stop, raw, unedited. The one of the road has spots/splotches in the upper right, and the one of the barns doesn’t. This has happened before--any explanations?

Looks like you have some dirt on the sensor. To see if this is so, simply mount any lens on your camera, AV mode, f/22 and take a few pictures of a blue sky and use EC to go up or down a stop or two or use bracketing to take several pictures. Blue sky only. No clouds if you can help it.

Then put the pics on your computer and examine. If you have LR you can turn on the spot detection filter and see them very easily. If the spots are in the same place on all or most of your pictures, then you have a dirty sensor.

Sometimes you can't see the spots depending on the background in the picture. This seems to be why we can see spots on one of your pictures but not the other.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Spots on your sensor. It is more evident when changing f stops.
I bet a good sensor cleaning will take care of the problem.

ELNikkor

Here's what happened: you zoomed out for the road shot. At f11, you got vignetting and sensor spots, due to the characteristics of the wide angle. Same aperture for the barn shot, but, since it was zoomed in, no vignetting or sensor spots. My D750 does the same thing. You need a sensor cleaning.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

The issue some folks do not seem to realize is that there is definitively only one spot that is ON the sensor. The other spots do not exist from one image to the next so NOT sensor dust.

As to 'through the windshield', the op denied it so, not the case unless you want to say that he lies, which makes no sense. I was the first to notice that this was shot from a car using clues elsewhere in the images. The presence of the spots in the road is what led me to suggest w/o proof that it was through the windshield.

Noise due to external conditions do not present the same way as these artifacts so what is left? Flying, non settled dust within the camera when the curtain opens and shuts. First time I see this but there is always a first so.... A cleaning is due.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

ELNikkor wrote:

Here's what happened: you zoomed out for the road shot. At f11, you got vignetting and sensor spots, due to the characteristics of the wide angle. Same aperture for the barn shot, but, since it was zoomed in, no vignetting or sensor spots. My D750 does the same thing. You need a sensor cleaning.

Is the only thing that makes sense.

Zooming in or out does not influence the sensor dust location, the lens projects on the full sensor all the time.

What you describe on the other hand is dust on the back of the lens last element. That I have seen and it is what I suggested. Yet in hindsight seeing where the spots are it makes very little sense.