SuperFly48 Loc: NE ILLINOIS

Noticed in checking some recent images from my Nikon D7100 that I was seeing spots (freckles) in and around the top of a bunch of the images. Interestingly, those spots showed up more clearly when I enlarged the image to poster size (40" x 60") because that is how I check image sharpness and check for operator error. Those spots became more and more visible when the aperture setting was around f/16 all the way to f/32; the smaller the aperture, the more visible the spots. The lens is a Nikon 18-200mm DX. I contacted my local camera store, made an appointment and took the D7100 in specifically for a sensor cleaning after lunch today. The person handling my cleaning could not have had the camera in back for 5 minutes, he was finished that quickly. I was surprised/amazed. He has cleaned sensors in my D300 and in this D7100 in the past. No issues. This time...issues. Spots are still there when I checked test images on my HD monitor after I got the camera back home. Not as many as before he "cleaned" the sensor but enough to be seen when test images were viewed. If all I did was clean Nikon sensors there for one 8 hour workday at the rate I was charged for a 5 minute cleaning, I could buy that Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL FX current iteration lens no problem. Now I have to contact them about the matter and make another trip of around 90 minutes to 2 hours total because the cleaning was not satisfactorily. Do people really take care and pride in doing their job any longer?

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Try this: Take the lens off and shoot a blank white wall. Then invert the image to negative, increase contrast and see if the spots are still there.

SuperFly48 Loc: NE ILLINOIS

Test shot after the sensor was allegedly cleaned. Spots are there especially in the upper left corner area. IF it was a lens issue, I should have seen spots on images taken with that lens on my D850 from a few days ago; I checked a few of those images just to make sure, those shots look clean.

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SuperFly48 Loc: NE ILLINOIS

This shot was taken BEFORE the sensor was allegedly cleaned. Looks like measles or freckles there are so many spots.

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rcarol

Have you ever considered buying a cleaning kit and doing it yourself? I've thought about it but I have several camera stores that are within 30 minutes of my house that do a good job cleaning. If I were any further away, as you are, I certainly would consider it. I'ver watched several videos and it appears to be relatively easy. And since your actually cleaning the anti-aliasing filter, in most cases, there's little chance of damaging the sensor. I might be a bit more hesitant if my camera had no filter.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Actually even after 'cleaning' the spots are all over.

By the way, there is no AA filter on the D850.

Use the DL.

'Cleaned'

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Before - So much crap in threre!!!! What happened?

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ELNikkor

the shop just blew air at the sensor, have them do the cleaning right, or do it yourself...

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Here's an example of the processing that took 20-minutes. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-551677-1.html
You probably should have taken some test images before leaving the premises. Certainly, go back and have them redo / complete the work to your satisfaction, including taking test images, before leaving.

rcarol

The issue is with his D7100, not his D850.

BebuLamar

I am sorry to hear this but I am not surprised either.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Right. Sorry.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

I always clean my sensor myself with no problems and use an Artic Butterfly...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

For those experts out there as well this is of interest to me as well. But if the crap was actually on the sensor would aperture have any effect on the spots? I would think that being directly on the sensor that blocking pixels there would be no difference. So yes this is sad that if it is crap on the sensor it was not done correctly and definitely get it done again.
Or learn to do it yourself. Not really that hard and really can be done in about 5 minutes. They just didn't do it right. I have had to nearly "Scrub" my sensor one time to get a piece of crap off of it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Five minutes could be more than enough time to clean a sensor. Of course, you want to be clean when he's finished. Lightroom has a feature to show you spots.

Bringing the camera back to him with spots on the sensor isn't going to be very effective. How much time has elapsed since he gave you the camera? Changing just one lens could leave spots on the sensor, so he would not want to accept blame. If I were you, I would watch some online videos about cleaning a sensor and try it myself. I clean my own sensors, and it's a nuisance. After one swipe, some spots will be gone, but others will appear. You just have to keep at it. I use a sensor loupe to find spots - much faster that taking pictures of a wall or the sky.

https://smile.amazon.com/Carson-Camera-Sensor-Magnifier-SM-44/dp/B0091SS310/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1537100383&sr=8-7&keywords=sensor+loupe

As far as cleaning the sensor goes, if the spots aren't a major problem, I ignore them and clean them up in processing.

EZsh00ter Loc: Ottawa, On. Canada

If the spots are only showing up at smaller apertures, then its your lens that has dust in it. Try another lens. If it was from your sensor, the spots would show up at any aperture. Take your lens, hold the aperture open with the little lever on the back of it and look through it directly at a light. Your specs should reveal themselves.
Cheers,
Eric