Dirty Sensor ? (Page 3): if you have cleaned the lens yourself with a kit then i suggest that you purchase a magnifier that fits the camera. that way you can actually see the spots on...

Utah Native Loc: Utah

if you have cleaned the lens yourself with a kit then i suggest that you purchase a magnifier that fits the camera. that way you can actually see the spots on the sensor. I had trouble with my nikon D70 and purchased a kit with a magnifier in it and it made all the difference over trying to clean it by just following the instructions on wipe and blow. you can buy just the magnifier if you already have a kit.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

I blew out the sensor and cleaned all the glass and all the filters .... this is still there ... I hit auto tune to show it better. So I'm taking it in today to get it cleaned ... hopefully I won't be without it long.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Ok maybe not lol ... I am taking it in wednesday ... after the service tech catches up from being on vacation .... so in the mean time .. no photos of the sky

English_Wolf Loc: Near Pensacola, FL

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/inspecting.html (note the large spots on both shots, before and after: Lens)

Do the same test but leave the lens out, that way you eliminate one source of dust spots.

Then do the same shoot with the lens and compare the two shots. Dust that spots that move are from the lens. If this is the case and you have cleaned the lens first, you likely have dust INSIDE the the lens. Zooms are more prone than fixed lenses to this problem.

Note to DYOs: the area below the sensor is literally covered by dust you cannot remove, so much so that it is like a yellow cake, (just like the fine dust stuck on your computer components near fans).

A full cleaning is needed once every years for those who change lens frequently (like me). On Nikon, I have found that they use a black foam to reduce the shutter vibrations and that foam falls apart!!! (big chunk of it front of the sensor!)

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

That is defiantly on the sensor. Just go get a small lens brush and gentaly wipe it. But got in one direction. If they are still there, then have it cleaned. Make sure you use the blower too.
Most of the time you can have a lot of dust on your lens and it will not show up on your pictures. I have saved a picture taken with a lens that has a broken front glass. And the picture is almost perfect. I will look around and post it.
Erv

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

photogrl57 wrote:

quote=docrob quote=photogrl57 The best moon shot... (show quote)

1 use the healing brush
2) no your camera does not need a good cleaning
3) dust is everywhere why would it not be on the sensor?
4) a tip.....if you take the time to hand spot each one of these guys you will learn alot about your image quality......

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

docrob wrote:

quote=photogrl57 quote=docrob quote=photogrl57 ... (show quote)

I love a good post processing as much (or more in some cases) than the next guy but that is too much like work LOL
I did manage to find a camera repair service here locally that does the cleaning in 90 minutes for an extra 20 bucks so the camera is there as we speak
Thank you everyone for responding .. y'all were very helpful :)

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Yay the sensors are clean woot woot !!

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

photogrl57 wrote:

Yay the sensors are clean woot woot !!

That's great. Here is the link that shows you how a little dust will not really hurt you pictures. I found this hard to beleive. But a picture is worth a thousand dust spots, ha.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches
Erv

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Erv wrote:

photogrl57 wrote:

Yay the sensors are clean woot woot !!

That's great. Here is the link that shows you how a little dust will not really hurt you pictures. I found this hard to beleive. But a picture is worth a thousand dust spots, ha.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches
Erv

Aparently my camera was loaded.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

photogrl57 wrote:

Erv wrote:

photogrl57 wrote:

Yay the sensors are clean woot woot !!

That's great. Here is the link that shows you how a little dust will not really hurt you pictures. I found this hard to beleive. But a picture is worth a thousand dust spots, ha.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches
Erv

Aparently my camera was loaded.

Your problem was the sensor, this was to show you that dust in your lens isn't a big deal. If you get dust, or oil on the sensor, your going to see it on your pictures.
Erv

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Erv wrote:

quote=photogrl57 quote=Erv quote=photogrl57 Yay... (show quote)

Yep I still have a few spots on the viewfinder I guess at least when you look in it you can see them but they don't show up in the photos ... he got as much off as he could ... but those don't bother me at all ... I don't even see them anymore ... it's the ones that I did see that bugged me. If I hadn't taken that shot of the moon yesterday I wouldn't have even known so I guess everything happens for a reason.

julesreyesmarko Loc: Los Angeles

I had a similar problem a couple years ago. I thought the dust on my lens was the problem until I cleaned the lens inside and out(which I don't recommend). Then I looked at the sensor and there was the culprit. I bought a lens pen which was designed to clean sensors, and followed the instructions. And low and behold the spots disappeared.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

julesreyesmarko wrote:

I had a similar problem a couple years ago. I thought the dust on my lens was the problem until I cleaned the lens inside and out(which I don't recommend). Then I looked at the sensor and there was the culprit. I bought a lens pen which was designed to clean sensors, and followed the instructions. And low and behold the spots disappeared.

I'll have to look into getting one of those ... I've had the camera approximately 5 years and this is the first cleaning by a pro... now that it's clean upkeep should be more basic.

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

photogrl57 wrote:

The best moon shot I ever took ... so far and I noticed these spots ... which aren't on the photo of my dog taken just after... so I hit auto tone and omg what a mess
Does this mean my camera needs to go in for a good cleaning ? I just looked at the telephoto lens and it is dusty could it be just from that do you think ?

Hello photogrl57: Here is the website of one of our fellow UHH members he does all kinds of camera repair work, and at what seems to my to be a reasonable cost. So if your local repair shop doesn't work out he might, or he might advise you on how to do it yourself. Good luck. http://www.discountcamerarepair.com/