Sensor cleaning: I have a new dslr less than a week old. I have noticed a spot and a line on the sensor. The spot clearly looks like a dust particle, the line is unclear. I have...

grahamfourth

I have a new dslr less than a week old. I have noticed a spot and a line on the sensor. The spot clearly looks like a dust particle, the line is unclear. I have cleaned sensors before but since the camera is brand new, does anyone have recommendations as to whether to return it (UPS back to NYC) or try cleaning it myself (blowing on it with an air blower did not work).
Thank you for your input.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

grahamfourth wrote:

I have a new dslr less than a week old. I have noticed a spot and a line on the sensor. The spot clearly looks like a dust particle, the line is unclear. I have cleaned sensors before but since the camera is brand new, does anyone have recommendations as to whether to return it (UPS back to NYC) or try cleaning it myself (blowing on it with an air blower did not work).
Thank you for your input.

I would return it. The line sounds scary.

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

grahamfourth wrote:

I have a new dslr less than a week old. I have noticed a spot and a line on the sensor. The spot clearly looks like a dust particle, the line is unclear. I have cleaned sensors before but since the camera is brand new, does anyone have recommendations as to whether to return it (UPS back to NYC) or try cleaning it myself (blowing on it with an air blower did not work).
Thank you for your input.

I'm a bit surprised you even ask. First you didn't say how you noticed the spot and line and I'm assuming you didn't do anything that could have caused the spot and line? If you paid good money for a new car and the engine didn't run right, would you clean the fuel injectors even if you knew how? I'd have already demanded a return authorization.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Dust usually isn't visible to the naked eye. What do the test images look like, shot against a blue sky, or your room ceiling or a blank white paper taped to the wall? Tested at apertures like f/18? What you describe should be readily evident in these tests and the basis for returning the camera. But, if they don't show up in typical sensor dust testing, there may be more to this observation of looking at the sensor. You say 'DSLR', did you use the manual mirror lock-up to get to a view of the sensor? What prompted this review?

grahamfourth

Thanks for your input - good questions. I first noticed a spot on my images irrespective of which lens I used. Having seen this in my older dslr (which I have cleaned myself) I looked at the sensor with a loupe and spotted the dust particle. I then also noticed the “line” which did not show up in the image. Following responses thus far, it sounds quite clear I should send the camera back. Finally, and this may be a stupid question, should I request a cleaning or a whole new camera?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

grahamfourth wrote:

Thanks for your input - good questions. I first noticed a spot on my images irrespective of which lens I used. Having seen this in my older dslr (which I have cleaned myself) I looked at the sensor with a loupe and spotted the dust particle. I then also noticed the “line” which did not show up in the image. Following responses thus far, it sounds quite clear I should send the camera back. Finally, and this may be a stupid question, should I request a cleaning or a whole new camera?

Depends on the return policy of who / where you're sending it back. The preferred action is a replacement. But, they may have another policy option. You'll have to check.

Do you have a cleaning tool like a Giotto Rocket-Air to see if a simply 'blow' of the sensor resolves the dust? Does the camera have a cleaning cycle and is that cycle enabled when the camera shuts down and / or starts?

grahamfourth

The camera (Nikon D500) came from Adorama. I noticed the spot against a blue sky. F-stop was high when taking the pictures (~f/18 -ish). I do have a Rocket blower and tried that to no avail (in mirror lock up mode). I tried the in-camera sensor cleaning first and that didn’t work either.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

A line in the image, if on every image, and is edge to edge would indicate a bad row/column in the sensor array.
cleaning the sensor will not fix that as no dust will be a perfect line across the sensor.
Can you post an example image of the line?
If it is the sensor, return the camera.

grahamfourth

I am sure it is rather simple but how do you import an image?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

grahamfourth wrote:

I am sure it is rather simple but how do you import an image?

Click "Reply", don't use quick reply.
At the bottom will be a "Browse" button to select the image on your computer; select the image;
check store original; click upload; and WAIT for the upload acknowledgement and preview before clicking "Send".
Then wait for the screen to show your post.

grahamfourth

My apologies - that last question of mine about importing images was stupid

grahamfourth

Thank you Longshadow - that is very helpful. Not wanting to sound as inexperienced as I am I sometimes feel bad about questions that I think I should know the answer to but don’t.

grahamfourth

Attached is an image showing the spot. The line visible on the sensor surprisingly does not show up in the image, but is visible on the sensor itself. The spot is a particle that does not go away with an air blower.
Thanks to everyone for all your help.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

One small spot like that is fairly easy to clone out in post.

Is the line perfectly straight horizontally or vertically or does it have a curve to it?

If it is horizontal or vertical it could just be part of the sensor structure.

And if it doesn’t show up in the images there’s no problem.

And for future reference, clicking on the “store original “ check box will enable us to see the full sized image.

Ltgk20 Loc: Salisbury, NC

The line could be a sensor issue, but it could be a hair out something like that as well.