lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

This has been an ongoing problem for at least the last month but it seemed to come and go. A spot appears at the same location on the image regardless of the lens I have mounted or the aperture set. It is especially noticeable if the image has sky or very light colors in the location where the spot appears.
This afternoon I decided to test my belief that it is a camera issue and not a lens issue. I set the camera on my tripod, attached a remote release, and tested every lens I have at max aperture and again at f11. If the lens was a zoom, I tested it at minimum and maximum zoom as well. Except for the Coastar 28mm f2.8 at f2.8, all lenses had the spot at the same relative location regardless of aperture or zoom. I believe this one anomaly was due to the darker blue tint of the Coastar at wide open ap simply washed out the spot.
In the attached images I used the paint program to put a red circle around the spot.
After I tested the lenses it occurred to me to do a sensor shake to make sure this isn't an easily fixable issue. No joy, the spot is still there. After that I removed the lens and used the mirror lock up feature for sensor cleaning. Even with a 5 power magnifying lens I can see nothing on the sensor that accounts for the spot but the fact that the spot becomes more distinct with smaller aperture seems to point to a sensor defect.
Clearly this is a camera issue. Am I right in my conclusion about the sensor? I have no cleaning tools for the sensor but I have been careful about when and where I change lenses. The camera is less than 3 months old and I bought it through Amazon so returning it should not be a problem but I'd rather not if there's a solution for this that I can accomplish.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

It is a smudge on your sensor or a big dust blob. It needs to be cleaned.i have had the same thing and tried to look at it before cleaning. Never could see it even with a magnifying glass in good light.

waapl01

Then it's on ur sensor, hello!!!!!

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Lens do not cause spots on your photos. There is dust on the sensor. If your camera is mirrorless simply remove the lens, hold the body with sensor facing down and using a Rocket blower, give it a couple of blasts of air. If it is a DSLR follow user guide instructions to lock up the mirror and then blow it out.
Good luck.

waapl01

Then it's on ur sensor, hello!!!!!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

If your camera has a sensor cleaning option in the menu, turn it on. What brand? Some Nikons have had problems with lubricant/oil spots on the sensor.

But unless it is oil or some other liquid it is probably dust or a small crumb of something. It isn't big enough to be a finger print and that could have only happened if someone was mucking about inside it anyway.

If it is sticky and won't blow off then either obtain a cleaning kit and learn to use it or take it to a camera shop that offers cleaning as a service. It will seem more expensive than it should because they factor in "you ruined my sensor" from a small number of customers.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Search 'sensor cleaning' or just 'cleaning' in the search field on the top of the UHH pages. You'll find plenty to read about.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The Giottos Rocket is the standard for dust blowers. If the spot can't be blown away, then the wiping technique will be called for. If it were my camera, I wouldn't bother - too much trouble for too little result. That single spot is too easy to remove in post processing.

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

All of the above AND........your camera may have a dust delete function so you can "program" it out.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Certain Nikons have a "Dust Reference" feature. You take a picture, the camera sees where the spots are, and it keeps them out of the picture. I think you have to use the Nikon software to do that.

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

.

I've never used the feature but my canons have the same deal. You take a shot of a white piece of paper and the camera uses it to know where the dust is and work around those pixels.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Agree with all above who recommend sensor cleaning.

It is easy and as long as you use the right products in the right way, completely safe.

There are three methods; dry cleaning, wet cleaning, and combination dry/wet or wet/dry. There are a a lot of products on the market costing anywhere from $10 up to $150. Avoid the cheap stuff and expect to spend between $50 to $90 for the best cleaning systems.

Once you learn how to clean your sensor, do it on a scheduled basis to prevent this problem from occurring again.

GOOD LUCK!

MtnMan Loc: ID

Now you know what a sensor spot looks like. Be prepared for many more.

You might ba able to blow it off with a rocket blower. Follow instrctions to lock your mirror up for cleaning.

For next level cleaning I lik the Arctic Butterfly. It is a brush you charge up before use. It gets most spots. Get it from a US store like Adorama.

Last resort you need to wet clean the sensor.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Some cameras also have a sensor cleaning function hidden away in the menus. Try that first, then follow the recommendation above.

Unless you have experience, and I am guessing that you do not, I would have the sensor cleaned professionally if the two above moves do not do the trick.

You will accumulate sensor dust intermittently. This will not be the only time you have to perform this ritual of digital photography.

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Looks like dust on the sensor to me and it is relatively easy to clean yourself. There are many good tutorials about how to do it on Google.