manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

I recently took some shots of some waterfalls and when I got home noticed the large number of "spots" on the images. Didn't think the lenses had dirt/dust on them and wondered if it could be the sensor. If it is the sensor, is there a way to clean it or is this something to never touch? If it is something to have a pro do, that is difficult since in this day and time, camera shops are rare.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Do a ' search ' on sensor cleaning.

Sarge69

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

There are many threads about this subject, here's one:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-222403-1.html

Use the search button at the top of this page.

Charles

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thank you both. Should have searched first.

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

There's a lot of good information on the Hog. First, to check if you do indeed have sensor dust (or oil spots), shoot a photo of a blue sky at f/22. Upload it to your computer, zoom in and take a look around. If your camera is under warranty, the manufacturer will do it for you.

If not, you can clean the DSLR sensor yourself. I, along with many others on this site, use the Copper Hill Images system. There are two sizes of "QuikStrip" sensor swabs, one for full-frame cameras and one for crop-sensor cameras, so be sure to order the correct size.

It's very easy to clean your own sensor; you just have to follow the instructions carefully. Here's a video that explains how to do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiUDfbQthqU

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

Not a problem. You're doing the right thing by looking for as much information as possible. Some people find sensor cleaning to be very easy, myself included, while others find it very intimidating. Only you can determine where you fit on that chart.

But if you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to come back and ask here. And Mormorazzi has a good post right above this one.

Charles

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

You were at some waterfalls which are notorious for leaving water drop marks on the lens. Please check the front of your lens first before delving into the abyss. Experience tells me that when ever around water spray, mist, wind etc. to always carry a micro-fiber cloth and clean that lens every chance you get. After spending 2 days at Victoria Falls in both Zambia and Zimbabwe I came home with only 1 useable shot due to the fine mist settling on the lens. On the bright side, I had my laptop with me and the last night there saw the problem and got the glass cleaned. (so many spots, so little time) Lesson well learned. :-(

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thanks. I'm going to have to check my lenses carefully first and make sure it isn't the problem.

In that line, what are the do's and don'ts for cleaning lenses?

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Yeah, I expected that some, but there wasn't really much spray where I was. I shot many shots and had the same spots appearing on each set. I did wipe the outer UV filter off from time to time. I actually was in the water for many shots. I would wade in to mid thigh and use a tripod. If I were home, I would post a picture or two, as shot and after clean up.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Copper Hill method gets good reviews here, I've done just fine with the Sensor Klear Loupe kit with a Lenspen included. Kit is about $60 and will last a long, long time. The magnifying loupe helps you spot dust, the Lenspen is a dry instrument that you blow on with a Rocket blower to give it a slight static charge that helps it attract dust. This is what Tony Northrup uses and is recommended in his book How to Create Stunning Digital Photography. Of course, before you touch the sensor with anything, a Rocket blower may clean it just fine, so do that first. Hope this helps...

Bob Boner

What Mr PC said. I have had 5 digital dslrs over the years, and have not had to touch anything to the sensor except a lenspen, and that only once. The rocket blower almost always does the job. I try to remember to use it prior to and just after an extended photo opportunity.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thanks for the ideas/advice, Mr. PC and Bob. I certainly wanted to check with folks before thinking about touching something to it.

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

The AA-filter is a lot tougher than most people think; on the glass-hardness scale which goes from 0 to 10, it is a 5 (diamond is 10). Don't let the FUD freak you out, dust-bunnies can be a real PITA if they're allowed to build up over time. At that point a rocket blower won't help you much.

Charles

troutisme

this is what you need and you can use it over and over

http://photographylife.com/product/sensor-gel-stick

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Could you up load a image clearly showing the "spots". I am pretty sure I can identify "dirt" on the sensor from that on a lens (though I have been fooled, see below). One thing, aside from a loose fiber moving around on the sensor, most "junk" on a sensor stays in the same location from shot to shot and will often look like a darker circle of blue in a blue sky. Easiest to see in mid-toned plain areas of an image. They usually unless huge are not visible in busy areas of varying tone and contrast and detail.

I once was fooled though by a good sized bit of gunk on a UV filter. I was using a wide angle lens focusing up close and noticed a spot moving slightly in some exposures. It really threw me for a while until I analyzed my metadata. The "spotted" exposure were all ones shot at f/16 and f/22. Some others were shot around f/5.6 with a different shutter speed and did not display the artifact. Seems the lens was stopped down far enough to almost bring into focus the surface of the glass filter that was in front of my lens. Once I cleaned my filter the problem was gone. Note, I always keep protective UV filters on my lenses to protect the lens glass elements, #s O, 1A, 1B. The only time I shoot w/o a filter is sometimes when shooting indoors for high magnification macro. Most of my filters are not the expensive types.