Sensor Spots? Hello After my latest shoot I had spots on a couple of photos. I have had them show up in the past at different locations. They are easy enough to process out but am...

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

Hello
After my latest shoot I had spots on a couple of photos.
I have had them show up in the past at different locations.
They are easy enough to process out but am considering wet cleaning the sensor.

The problem is that the spots aren’t always there.
Here are 2 pics taken during the same shoot.
Note 2 different spots. Neither is on the other pic. I have also used an air rocket on the sensor and nothing is visible to the naked eye.
Download and zoom makes it easier to see.
What would cause this?
Thanks
Jim

(Download)

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Have you taken a look at the sensor with a loupe?

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

I don’t have the ability to check metadata on my iPad but it appears the spot is in the same location. The zoom on each shot also appears to change so the actual spot location seems to be the same. The changing size of the spot may be from shooting at different apertures? I have had variable luck with wet cleaning sensors. Sometimes I’ve ended up just moving dust around or actually adding more! This is pretty minor in my view but you may need a professional cleaning to get rid of it.

mflowe Loc: Port Deposit, MD

Definately sensor dust. The size will change with aperture, maybe focus.

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

Thanks. I’ll look at it a little more thoroughly.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Tomfl101 wrote:

I don’t have the ability to check metadata on my iPad but it appears the spot is in the same location. The zoom on each shot also appears to change so the actual spot location seems to be the same. The changing size of the spot may be from shooting at different apertures? I have had variable luck with wet cleaning sensors. Sometimes I’ve ended up just moving dust around or actually adding more! This is pretty minor in my view but you may need a professional cleaning to get rid of it.

Check this thread created yesterday...

CaptainBobBrown

So here's what you do to check for sensor dust. 1) put a clean lens on the body in question. 2) Set the aperture to biggest aperture. E.g. f/2.8. 3) shoot an area of sky that is cloudless and preferably blue. If such a sky is not available the shoot against a light colored, unfeatured wall that fills the frame. Make sure your focus is set to the distance you are from the wall (or near infinity if shooting sky).

You only need one shot. Upload the shot to your post processing software (Lightroom, ON1, Luminar, whatever). If you've got sensor spots they'll show up clearly, especially if you zoom in. I use cleaning swabs and liquid cleaner bought from Amazon and before a trip I check every body to make sure their sensors are still clear.

Sensor spots can be hard to find if you just depend on seeing them in normal photographs because they can easily blend with the image so use the blank wall or clear sky technique to assure yourself that you've got (or not) sensor spot(s).

TreborLow

May I boast about the Pentax system. Built in to my original K-3 is a feature which not only finds the spots on the sensor but presents an image of the open front of the camera to assist finding the exact location. Remember, the image is inverted by the optics of the lens. Though rarely needed because the vibrating sensor cleans itself most of the time, I have successfully used the wet cleaning swabs designed for crop sensors. Still have the original kit purchased several years ago!
Bob

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

The best way to see the dust on your sensor is to shoot the blue sky (or other uniform background that is light and not grey where the dust might disappear). Have your lens out of focus so that only those spots on the sensor show up as in focus - they will always be in focus as they are right on the glass element in front of the sensor (be it a low pass filter or not, there is always glass in front of the sensor). Use the smallest lens opening (the highest aperture like f/22) for the clearest view of the dust.

And then review the image blown up large like one-to-one on your monitor. Scroll through the image to find the dust.

Here is a website that describes the types of dust you will find - sensor, rear element lens dust and front element lens dust. The further the dust is from your sensor the less distinct it will be.
https://photographylife.com/how-to-spot-dust-on-your-dslr-sensor

Here is a site that sells sensor cleaning supplies. The owner gave me a lesson on cleaning sensors (using my camera) and was very nice.
https://www.thedustpatrol.com/

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

Rongnongno wrote:

Check this thread created yesterday...

Hey thanks I’ll check it out.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

MichaelH wrote:

The best way to see the dust on your sensor is to ... (show quote)

Thanks for the links.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

Dust, dust, and dust.... Shoot open 2.8 and the spots will vanish as if by magic. Good luck and remember to keep it clean.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

CaptainBobBrown wrote:

So here's what you do to check for sensor dust. 1) put a clean lens on the body in question. 2) Set the aperture to biggest aperture. E.g. f/2.8. 3) shoot an area of sky that is cloudless and preferably blue. If such a sky is not available the shoot against a light colored, unfeatured wall.

Nope!
Setting it to the biggest aperture will almost assure that you see no spots.
Using the smallest aperture will make them show up.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My monitor doesn't show a spot in the top image. If you have only one spot, and it bothers you enough, edit it out. From my experience, cleaning a sensor will remove a spot or two with the first wipe but leave other spots behind. That requires several more wipes. If I have to magnify and examine an image closely to see any spots, then they're not worth removing.