grahamfourth

The line is mostly horizontal but not straight; it curves up and down slightly. It does not appear to be part of the sensor. I am pretty sure it is not a hair - it is completely white and extremely thin. There is only one such line on the entire sensor and it is not visible to the naked eye but is visible under a loupe. I have photoshopped out spots in the past but I don't think these should be there for a 5-day old camera.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Get a return authorization and hope the next one doesn't have a spot someplace else.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Everyone has that happen at some time!
Why should each of us know everything?
I've had a lot of "simple" stuff explained to me.
Yea, maybe I should have known that, but I didn't.
Now I do.

Ask away.
Helpful people will answer, simply ignore snarky people.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

This is all that you will need for that. Make sure your camera faces down when you use this.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower.html?sts=pi&pim=Y

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

You didn't click store original, so we cannot see the fully enlarged picture to analyze it properly!

ggenova64

Adorama is a reputable Company and will make good.

Canisdirus

Don't tell them you have been futzing with the sensor...just send it back.

leftj Loc: Texas

Good luck getting it replaced soon. Seems no one has D500s in stock right now.

V2volk Loc: St. Louis area

I wouldn’t touch it myself if it is brand new. If you mess with it and cause damage say goodbye to your warranty. I would be safe and ship it back as others suggested.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Nikon shows in stock.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Traveller_Jeff

Whole new camera, no question.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Test it by taking some pictures of a wall or blue sky at f/22 and check it on your computer to see if the spot or line shows up. Where did you buy the camera? One time a friend bought a Canon camera from a not so good online company and his was the same but clearly looked like an open box piece so he complained and sent it back. They eventually sent him a new replacement.

Oh, and next time you upload (not download) a pic to UHH, PLEASE tick the (store original) box. Nobody can see the spot on the photo you uploaded unless you tick that box. When you don't tick that box, the image is nothing more than a thumbnail that is useless.....

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

We need add'l info....

From your description, I'm not sure and need to ask.... Are you seeing the spot & line "on the sensor" or "in your images"? Further, are we talking about a DSLR and you're seeing the spot & line in the viewfinder or when looking in the front of the camera? If it's a mirrorless camera, it's another matter.

You mention that "the spot clearly looks like a dust particle". Usually a dust particle actually on a sensor is very unclear.. quite blurred and even "invisible" if using a large lens aperture, more distinct but still quite quite soft and blurred at smaller lens apertures. Maybe you don't mean that the spot is distinct, but that it looks like dust spots you've seen before. However, if you mean that the spot is relatively sharply defined and the camera is a DSLR, most likely the dust is on the camera's focus screen, not on the sensor. With DSLRs even a blurred looking speck seen through the viewfinder isn't on the sensor, but is on the mirror, which is very delicate, so don't be too quick to try to clean that yourself.... especially since specks on mirror or focus screen will have no effect on images taken with the camera. Of course, mirrorless cameras are another matter.

I am not at all surprised if a brand new camera had a speck of dust in it. Cameras aren't made, stored or shipped in "clean rooms". Dust happens. A speck of dust alone... or even several of them would not be a reason to return the camera, in my opinion.

The "line" you mention is more of a concern. But, again, we need more info. Are you seeing it in images or in the camera's viewfinder or when inspecting the sensor directly. It might just be a hair on the sensor. Is the line perfectly straight and running perfectly horizontally or vertically? If so, I'd suspect a failed row of pixels on the sensor and would definitely send the camera back. The same if it's a scratch on the sensor (actually on the protective filter that sits ahead of the filter... but is a permanent part of the assembly so would still require the entire sensor be replaced).

If it's just a hair on the sensor, that's easily cleaned. Another thing that can be on sensors, particularly with new cameras, is spots of oil (shutter lubricant). It's also easily cleaned.

If that line proves to be a scratch or failed row of pixels, I would not accept the camera and it's up to you whether to return the camera to the seller or contact the manufacturer under warranty (if it's even under warranty... is it a gray market purchase?)

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

That is the standard advice and it does work, but there's an easier way:

Just sit in front of your computer. Bring up a white screen (a word processor works well). Turn off the autofocus on your camera and set the lens to infinity and a small aperture (as advised). Aim your camera at the white screen and take a shot.

Using this method you don't have to wait for a clear sky. You can do it at night. You don't have to worry about structure on your wall. I should also point out that the screen doesn't really have to be white. It can be any color but black. The ISO doesn't matter except it should be low enough to avoid producing noise on the image. The shutter speed doesn't matter (as long as it's not so long that your hand gets tired and moves the camera off the screen). You can't blur the image of the sensor spots since they move with the camera.

If you're going to clean the sensor you can do this right at your desk where you're going to do the cleaning. You can easily take another shot to check your progress.